The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Born c. 563 BCE (or 490 BCE) in Lumbini, today in Nepal Died c. 483 BCE (or 410 BCE) (aged 80) in Kushinagar, today in India 1

Birth 2

Sheltered life

The Four Passing Sights 4

Leaving Home

The Quest 1) Raja Yoga 2) Asceticism 6

There is a Middle Way 7

The Temptation

First Sermon

The Four Noble Truths 1) Life is suffering (dukkha) 2) The cause of suffering is desire (tanha) 3) The cure for suffering is in overcoming desire 4) The way to overcoming suffering is the eight- fold path 10

The eight-fold path Meditation 11

The Five Precepts

The Three Vices Greed Hatred Delusion

Basic Buddhist Concepts THE THREE MARKS OF EXISTENCE Dukka - Suffering Anicca - The doctrine of impermanence. Anatta (anatman) - The doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying substance that can be called the soul or self (Jiva) THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BUDDHISM Nirvana- The extinction of greed, hatred, and delusion/ignorance and, ultimately, of suffering and rebirth. Literally, it means “blowing out” or “becoming extinguished,” as when a flame is blown out or a fire burns out. 14

Substance Substance – a “thing” which exists independently from other things (e.g. a horse, a cat, a human). It has properties, but is not a property of another thing Property – a quality that a substance has (e.g. red, round, cold) Substance: Socrates Balding head Grey Hair

What does “No-Self” mean? Common View Buddhist View What does “No-Self” mean? Subject/Perceiver Perceptions -- Thoughts -- Feelings Perceptions -- Thoughts -- Feelings Subject/self/ perceiver Common view Buddhist View Perceptions --- thoughts ---- feelings Perceptions --- thoughts --- feelings

Theravada (Hinayana) vs. Mahayana Human beings are emancipated by self- effort, without supernatural aid. Key virtue: Wisdom Attainment requires constant commitment, and is primarily for monks and nuns Ideal: The Arhat who remains in nirvana after death * Buddha a saint, supreme teacher, and inspirer Minimizes ritual Practice centers on meditation. Human aspirations are supported by divine powers and the grace they bestow Key virtue: Compassion Religious practice is relevant to life in the world, and therefore to laypeople. Ideal: the boddhisattva Buddha is a savior Elaborates metaphysics Emphasizes ritual Includes petitionary prayer

The Three Bodies of the Buddha

Emptiness Nagarjuna

Types of Mahayana Buddhism Pure Land Zen

Zen Buddhism Two Schools: Soto & Rinzai The Goal: Satori – the enlightenment experience Rinzai Technique: Koan; for example, “what is the sound of one hand clapping”?

Hotei (Laughing) Buddha

Vajarayana: Tibetan Buddhism

Buddhism in Tibet Arrives from India about 800CE Lots of gods & a God-like Buddha Worship of some Hindu gods; e.g., Ganesha, Indra. Incorporates the pre-Buddhist Tibetan religion of Bon Bon – Shamans, Soothsayers, Necromancy, focus on death rituals, astrology, magic. Is a form of “tantric” Buddhism (Tantra): Lot’s of dancing, painting, chanting, pilgrimage, trances. Relies on the authority of the Lamas (gurus) The tradition leader of Tibet both politically and spiritually is The Dalai Lama All 14 Dalai Lama’s (Tenzin Gyatso) are thought to be the reincarnated 1st Dalai Lama, who is, in fact, the human form of the Bodhisattva of compassion

Engaged Buddhism Criticism of Buddhism There is no emphasis on social reform and social justice. Buddhism is just a self-help project. You drop out of society and go “find yourself.” Thich Nhat Hahn B 1926 in Vietnam Engaged Buddhism Living Buddha; Living Christ Bodhisattva: Compassion A true Buddhist will want to end all the suffering in the world