Buddhism by Ven. Thich nu Gioi Huong Abbess of Phuoc Hau Buddhist Temple Milwaukee

Introduction Buddhism is a religion of compassion and wisdom. It originated from Northern India in the years of 500 BC. The person commonly known as The Buddha was actually a prince named Siddhartha Gotama born in 563 BC. At the age of 29 he made the great renunciation and left the luxury life of a prince to become a penniless ascetic to find the key to human happiness.

Buddha He became enlighten , awakening. The word ‘budhi’ which means ‘to wake up’ and hence the 'Buddhism' is the philosophy of awakening. He lived for another 45 years, during which he traveled all over Northern India to teach others what he had discovered, called the Dhamma or Truth until his death at the age of 80. From Northern India his teachings spread through China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam... Asia, Europe and America Nowadays, Buddhism has 300 millions followers world-wide.

Core Teachings - Four Noble Truths Life, as we have known it, is suffering. – (fact) Suffering is caused by craving and aversion. – (cause) Suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained. – (assertion) There is a way, a practice, that will lead the end of suffering the 8-fold path – (cure)

Core Teachings – Eight-fold Path – The end of suffering 1. Right View – have a good view of things 2. Right Thought – ‘think’ about them correctly 3. Right Speech - talk about correctly 4. Right Action - do it right 5. Right Livelihood – live it right 6. Right Effort - put all effort into it 7. Right Mindfulness – be fully aware of them 8. Right Meditation – immerse yourself in it.

Core Teachings – Eight-fold Path 1. Right View (Samma-Ditthi) — Complete or Perfect Vision. Vision of the nature of reality and the path of transformation. 2. Right Thought (Samma-Sankappa) — Perfected Emotion or Aspiration, also translated as right thought or attitude. Liberating emotional intelligence in your life and acting from love and compassion. An informed heart and feeling mind that are free to practice letting go. 3. Right Speech (Samma-Vaca) — Perfected or whole Speech. Also called right speech. Clear, truthful, uplifting and non-harmful communication. 4. Right Action (Samma-Kammanta) — Integral Action. An ethical foundation for life based on the principle of non-exploitation of oneself and others. The five precepts.

Core Teachings – Eight-fold Path 5. Right Livelihood (Samma-Ajiva) — Proper Livelihood. This is a livelihood based on correct action the ethical principal of non-exploitation. The basis of an Ideal society. 6. Right Effort (Samma-Vayama) — Complete or Full Effort, Energy or Vitality. Also called right effort or diligence. Consciously directing our life energy to the transformative path of creative and healing action that fosters wholeness. Conscious evolution. 7. Right Mindfulness (Samma-Sati) — Complete or Thorough Awareness. Also called "right mindfulness". Developing awareness. Levels of Awareness and mindfulness - of things, oneself, feelings, thought, people and Reality. 8. Right Meditation (Samma-Samadhi) — Full, Integral or Holistic meditatated concentration. Breiging the whole being in various levels or modes of consciousness and awareness. This is Samadhi in the sense of enlightenment or Buddhahood.

Core Teachings – Five Precepts Guidelines for Buddhists on everyday living (the practice) 1. No killing. 2. No stealing. 3. No adultery. 4. No lying. 5. No drinking (expanding to - no getting high on intoxicants).

Not a religion of faith Buddhists do not believe in a single God or single Creator. Buddha himself never claimed to be a God. He was a first known teacher who taught the path to enlighten from his own experience. Before him and after him there are many other Buddhas (awaken ones). The Buddha image represents the ideals and ideas behind the teaching. (Buddhist structures adapt to the local cultures.)

It is a systems of beliefs Started with the teachings of Buddha – the Dhamma. Understanding the teachings through you own experience and investigation. Constantly developed and enhanced by the great masters, teachers. Very organic, it grows with the understanding of the practitioners. Each has its own practices, these practices enhance the beliefs.

Buddha’s Words on Teachings In Kalama Sutta, Buddha said: Don’t believe anything in mere hearsay. Don’t believe traditions because they happen to be old and have been passed down through many generations. Don’t believe anything because people talk a lot about it. Don’t believe solely because the written testimony of some ancient wise man is shown to you. Never believe anything that begs to be taken for granted, or because ancient precedent tempts you to regard as true. And don’t believe anything on the mere authority of your teachers.

What do we believe in Buddha Nature of beings. Free from reincarnation (Perpetual cycle of Birth - Death). Salvation from transformation of suffering. Precepts Abstain from killing. Abstain from stealing. Abstain from adultery. Abstain from lying. Abstain from intoxicants. Concentration (Meditation) Wisdom

Common beliefs system Suffering – Emptiness – Impermanence - Non-Self. Cause and Effects (Dependent Origination). Karma. Reincarnation.

What do we practice Cultivate the goodness and peace in oneself by Observing Precepts – (Abstain from killing - Abstain from stealing - Abstain from adultery - Abstain from lying -Abstain from intoxicants.), Meditation (concentration) , Wisdom (awakening) Compassion - Wisdom Reduce greed – hatred - ignorance.

Different schools in Buddhism There are different sects of Buddhism such as Theravada, Mahayana and their branches. Because the emphasis changes from country to country due to customs and culture. What does not vary is the essence of the teaching - the Dhamma or truth. Therevada is the earliest available teachings of the Buddha which are to be found in Pali literature. So it may be called the most Orthodox shool of Buddhism. All these countries Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Bangladesh... have accepted the principles of the Theravada schools.

Different schools in Buddhism Mahayana is more of an umbrella body for a great variety of schools (Tantra, Pure Land and Zen...) which are to be developed later and found in Sanskrit, Chinese literatures. Tibet, China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Nepal and indonesia etc... have followed this Mahayana school.

Buddhist Views of other religions Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolenrant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understand. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist', that is why in Buddhist history there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not try preach and to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

Credits and References Lecture and notes Ven. Gioi Huong - MSOE April 27, 2006 John Allan – Eight-fold path – Buddhanet.net Various Buddhist images from Buddhist websites. Contacts: Thich Nu Gioi Huong thichnugioihuong@yahoo.com Phuoc Hau Buddhist Temple www.phuochau.com 1575 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, WT 53215