Buddhism The Basics

Basic Facts 2,500 years old About 400 million followers worldwide There is no belief in a personal God. It is not centered on the relationship between humanity and God but on an individual spiritual journey Can morph with different cultures and traditions…easy to spread Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent - change is always possible The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.

Gray = less than 1% Yellow-Green = 1% Blue-ish = 2%

Basic Beliefs and Terms The Three Jewels 1. Buddha – model of self-control and the ideal human 2. Dharma – total of Buddhist teachings (focus on eliminating suffering and increasing inner peace) 3. Sangha – community of monks and nuns Three Basics that Guide other teachings: 1. Change Life is impermanent, nothing remains the same 2. No Permanent Identity No self. Since we are always changing, but we are a changing mix of parts 3. Suffering Our lives are constantly filled with worries, sorrow, suffering

Basic Beliefs and Terms Karma “determines where a person will be reborn and their status in their next life. Good karma can result in being born in one of the heavenly realms. Bad karma can cause rebirth as an animal, or torment in a hell realm” Every action we take molds our characters for the future. Both positive and negative traits can become magnified over time as we fall into habits. All of these cause us to acquire karma. We live in samsara (wandering in life/ cycles of lives) We are finally released into supreme happiness and peace when we reach nirvana

The Buddha “Buddha” = Awakened or Enlightened One A Buddha is seen as a perfect embodiment of wisdom and compassion 1 st Buddha (founder of the religion) Siddhartha Gautama Born a prince in modern day Nepal After seeing suffereing (sickness, death, and a man wandering in self-deprivation), he questioned his luxurious surroundings and wanted to end suffering Sought help from many teachers Achieved Enlightenment under a bodhi tree

Primary Goal in Life To end suffering by achieving enlightenment…. Main Ideas: 1. Life is suffering, but it isn’t permanent 2. Suffering is caused by the search for permanence in an impermanent world 3. We end suffering (and the cycle of rebirth) by becoming enlightened (ultimate freedom/ nirvana)

How to Achieve Enlightenment One can realize ultimate reality/truth through meditation, learning, wisdom, etc. Here are some teachings that describe how: 5 Moral Precepts Four Noble Truths Eight Fold Path

5 Moral Precepts 1. Avoid killing or harming living beings 2. Avoid stealing 3. Avoid sexual misconduct 4. Avoid lying 5. Avoid alcohol and other intoxicating substances Positive Versions: 1. Act with Loving-kindness; 2. Be open hearted and generous; 3. Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment; 4. Speak with truth, clarity and peace; 5. Live with mindfulness

Four Noble Truths 1. The truth of suffering (Dukkha) 2. The truth of the origin of suffering (Samud ā ya) 3. The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha) 4. The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)

The Eight-Fold Path 1. Right View, Understanding; 2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion; 3. Right Speech; 4. Right Action; 5. Right livelihood; 6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality; 7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness; 8. Right Samadhi "concentration", one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness.

Schools of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma “Teachings of the Elders” Follows early disciples of Buddhism’s teachings Mahayana Buddhism Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia “Great Vehicle” Modified original teachings to spread it beyond India Focuses on impermanence Bodhisattvas = those destined to be a buddha

Unifying Beliefs of the 2 Major Schools The Buddha is our only Master. We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God. Following the example of the Buddha, who is the embodiment of Great Compassion ( mahaa-karunaa ) and Great Wisdom ( mahaa- prajnaa ), we consider that the purpose of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness, and peace; and to develop wisdom leading to the realization of Ultimate Truth. We accept the Four Noble Truths, nameley Dukkha, the Arising of Dukkha, the Cessation of Dukkha, and the Path leading to the Cessation of Dukkha; and the universal law of cause and effect as taught in the pratiitya-samutpaada (Conditioned Genesis or Dependent Origination).

Unifying Beliefs of the 2 Major Schools (cont.) We understand, according to the teaching of the Buddha, that all conditioned things ( samskaara ) are impermanent ( anitya ) and dukkha, and that all conditioned and unconditioned things ( dharma ) are without self ( anaatma ). We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to Enlightenment ( bodhipaksa- dharma ) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment. There are three ways of attaining bodhi or Enlightenment, according to the ability and capacity of each individual: namely as a disciple ( sraavaka ), as a Pratyeka-Buddha and as a Samyak-sam-Buddha (perfectly and Fully Enlightened Buddha). We accept it as the highest, noblest, and most heroic to follow the career of a Bodhisattva and to become a Samyak-sam-Buddha in order to save others. We admit that in different countries there are differences with regard to the life of Buddhist monks, popular Buddhist beliefs and practices, rites and ceremonies, customs and habits. These external forms and expressions should not be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.