Buddhism

Like seriously, what is Buddhism? LG: Like seriously, what is Buddhism?

1. Origins A. 6th century BCE, Siddhartha Gautama was born. i. Son of a wealthy and powerful ruler. B. Sheltered in luxury for first 29 years of his life. i. Father wanted a ruler, not an ascetic. C. Finally left the palace and encountered old-age, illness, and death for 1st time. i. Journey forever changed him.

1. Origins D. Gautama saw a man with a smile that meant peace and happiness, but in a world like this??? i. Chariot driver said Gautama just saw a holy man that achieved Nirvana. E. Gautama set out to find true liberation; nirvana. i. Subjected himself to STRICT disciplines. - Fasting and meditation.

F. For years Sidartha tried to attain nirvana. G F. For years Sidartha tried to attain nirvana. G. Then one day a local woman offered him food… i. After 7 days of STRICT meditating under a Bodhi tree, enlightenment was achieved. - It is realization, breaking away from life’s illusions.

H. Gautama says… Luxury = Empty and Useless Existence All beings can obtain Nirvana, some are just more blinded. - BREAK THE ILLUSION.

2. From Hinduism, but Different a. Differences i. Completely rejects to Vedas. ii. Completely rejects the caste system. iii. Much less emphasis on there being a soul. b. Similarities i. Concepts of reincarnation. ii. Karma. iii. Absolute liberation (a.k.a. Nirvana)

c. Two schools of Buddhism i c. Two schools of Buddhism i. Theraveda (Teaching of the Elders) - Older of the two. - Focuses much more on the self through meditative practices. ii. Mahayana (The Great Vehicle) - Much more of a focus on community and helping others.

3. The 5 Skandhas Skandhas: The 5 elements that constitute and completely explain a being’s mental and physical existence. Physical Mental Perceived Senses Impulses

4. Dharma a.  Dharma is that which upholds the natural order of the universe. *** There is no term in Buddhist terminology wider than dharma. It includes not only the conditioned things and states, but also the non-conditioned, the Absolute Nirvana. There is nothing in the universe or outside, good or bad, conditioned or non-conditioned, relative or absolute, which is not included in this term.

5. Buddhism’s Road Map A. The 4 Noble Truths i. Life is Suffering ii. Suffering has a cause: craving and attachment iii. Craving and attachment can be overcome iv. Path toward cessation of craving and attachment is the Eightfold Path: - Right, Understanding Livelihood Purpose Effort Speech Alertness Conduct Concentration

6. What is Nirvana Video a. Why can’t the notion of death, be applied to reality? i. b. What in your heart holds you back from true-happiness (nirvana)? c. How did he describe the Buddhist practice of meditation? (i.e. its purpose?) d. When and why do you want to share your practice and insight with others?

Video: What is Nirvana?

Lolz, jk… Video: What is Nirvana?

7. Two Schools… continued. Theravada Mahayana

Directions to Complete the Chart Founder(s) Where it is Today When was it founded Which one is the lesser vehicle and which one is the greater vehicle, explain what each means. What are 5 key characteristics about each school that make that school its own (i.e. what thoughts, beliefs, key words, and/or practices do they focus on, stuff like dat).

Underneath your chart… Pick which school of Buddhism appeals to you most…. Theravada or Mahayana. Then, in a paragraph explain why it appeals to you the most. Then draw a smiley face.

8. Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhists incorporate a tradition separate from Theravada and Mahayana… i. Vajrayana - Stresses yogic disciplines to transcend and redirect desire. b. Bardo Thodol (a.k.a. Book of the Dead) i. Believers feel it is directly linked to one of Buddha’s opening lines in the Dhammapada… “All that we are is a result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.”

c. Leader is the Dalai Lama i c. Leader is the Dalai Lama i. Reincarnation of one of their top leaders. d. Tibetan Buddhists are known for making Mandalas i. For meditative purposes and training discipline.

Time Lapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA3su0ECdPc Dalai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10084L3Pqsc The Joke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz06Exzp79g How to Make a Mandala http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Mandala Meaning of Mandala Colors http://yogainmyschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/colors-meaning.jpg