Preparing for the HSC BUDDHISM

Always remember the aspects of religion, and the adherents! What is the ultimate purpose? Religions seek to connect adherents to the transcendent (i.e. God, enlightenment, etc) Religions are ‘living’ and ‘dynamic’ because the adherents follow them and shape them. Remember the diagram…

ASHOKA Contributions to: Development 3 rd Buddhist Council – unified the Theravada text into a canon Cleansed the Sangha – forumulating the vinaya Propogation of the faith – edicts spread throughout his empire, on which were the dharma All the infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, education (significant!) His own model of compassion for living things Expression Increase in number of Buddhists More people were educated, and could read the edicts. This resulted in people using the dharma in their lives All the infrastructure – including roads, hospitals, etc as a reflection of his Buddhist beliefs His entire empire was governed with the Dharma

ASHOKA Impact Short Term: entire empire was exposed to Buddhism. Many people converted Short Term: purification of the Sangha & the Theravada texts Short Term: propagation of the faith Long Term: Buddhism moved from a sect within Hinduism to its own religion Long Term: Buddhism is one of the five major religious traditions in the world

BIOETHICS The Five Precepts To abstain from: Harming living beings Taking things not freely given Sexual misconduct False speech Intoxicating drinks/drgs The Vinaya Pitaka Rules for monastic life 227 for monks, 311 for nuns

BIOETHICS How do Buddhists view abortion? Since one of the fundamental principles of Buddhism is not to kill any living being (the first precept of the panchasila), there is nowhere in Buddhist scripture where one can find a reference to abortion being acceptable. Buddhists believe that life begins at the moment of conception and that the taking of life at any point subsequent to that is equivalent to killing a human being. Thus, the application of any form of contraception that prevents the development of the foetus subsequent to conception (such as the ‘morning-after’ pill) is an abortive practice and is thus considered to be killing. Contraception that prevents the fertilisation of the ovum by the sperm, on the other hand, is acceptable since it prevents the principle condition for the arisal of consciousness from taking place Principal beliefs Annica – impermanence – all physical things will end (including our bodies, the wider environment, the universe) Karma – our actions towards all things have consequences. Damage to the environment will have a causal effect on us.

BIOETHICS How do Buddhists view euthanasia? The Buddhist hospice movement has grown in size over recent years. One reason for this is because death is seen as a particularly valuable opportunity for spiritual development and a hospice can present the best environment for a peaceful death. However, no Buddhist hospice would practice assisted suicide. This is because assisted suicide is equivalent to intentional killing and therefore constitutes a breakage of the first precept. Even where one might feel overwhelming compassion for a sick person, it would be considered inappropriate to end their life. Why? Because, as with suicide, death does not necessarily bring to an end the suffering of the individual. The Buddhist view would be that it is better to endure as much of one’s suffering as one can now, rather than postponing it till later. Annica – impermanence – all physical things will end (including our bodies, the wider environment, the universe) Karma – our actions towards all things have consequences. Damage to the environment will have a causal effect on us.

BIOETHICS The Four Noble Truths… The Eightfold Path Right Action Includes precept: “to abstain from harming sentient beings”

BIOETHICS The Eightfold Path (continued) Right Intention Can be described as a commitment to ethical self-improvement. Commitment to: nonviolence ( ahimsa ) which results in actions that are not destructive or harmful, loving-kindness ( metta ) and compassion To ensure the right intention was used, a person would need to become educated in the correct application of right mindfulness of the situation. This would presumably instil a greater awareness of the unintentional consequences of their actions.

BIOETHICS The Eightfold Path Right Livelihood One should earn one’s living in a righteous way, peacefully and legally Buddha mentioned four specific activities that harm other beings and, so, should be avoided: The Pali Buddhist commentaries formally define the act of taking life thus: "The taking of life is the volition of killing expressed through the doors of either body or speech, occasioning action which results in the cutting off of the life faculty in a living being, when there is a living being present and (the perpetrator of the act) perceives it as a living being” A complete act of killing constituting a full violation of the precept involves five factors: (1) a living being; (2) the perception of the living being as such; (3) the thought or volition of killing; (4) the appropriate effort; and (5) the actual death of the being as a result of the action.

BIOETHICS Link the teachings back to the Five Precepts (especially “to abstain from harming living beings”) Link the teachings to the core ideals of Buddhism: Metta (loving kindness) Ahimsa (non-violence) Link the teachings to the principal beliefs of Buddhism: Karma, Samsara, Nirvana – what is the ultimate purpose for Buddhists? Discuss issues such as: Abortion and Euthanasia

BIOETHICS Some quotes Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth's living things. This lack of respect extends even to the earth's human descendants, the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet if world peace does not become a reality and if destruction of the natural environment continues at the present rate. (Dalai Lama) He who has understanding and great wisdom does not will for the harm of himself, of others, or of both. So willing, he wills for the welfare of himself, of others, of both, and of the whole world. Thus, monk, one has understanding and great wisdom. (Aguttara Nikāya.II.179) Monks, you have not a mother or a father who might tend you. If you, monks, do not tend one another, then who is there who will tend you? Whoever, monks, would tend me, he should tend the sick (Buddha) (Vin.I.302) – Can this be applied to the environement? Progress of men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings. (King Asoka)

WESAK Describe the practice & beliefs expressed: Wesak is – a celebration of the Birth, Enlightenment, Death of Buddha Typical symbols include: Lighting of Candles (a symbol of enlightenment – the light of wisdom replaces the darkness of ignorance) Releasing of caged animals (a symbol of the escape from Samsara) Bathing of the Buddha statue (a symbol of cleansing oneself of bad karma) Etc. Consider VARIANTS – make the connection between geographical/cultural differences in celebration and link to variants of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana)

WESAK Significance to Individuals An annual reminder that we are all part of the Wheel of Life Hope for our own enlightenment A remembrance of Buddha as an ordinary man who was able to escape Samsara and enter into Nirvana Significance to Communities Community gathers to celebrate a common belief Community gathers to hear the Sangha teach its wisdom (through sermons) Sangha are celebrated and the community are reminded of the Three Jewels Refuge in: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha