1. Buddhism

2. The Buddha- review Siddhartha Gautama Warrior/prince
Mother died when he was only one week old
Warrior/prince
The 4 Passing sights
Not safe any more
Despair
Great going forth
Luxury was unsatisfactory
The Middle Way

3. Sangha
After the enlightenment, the Buddha searched his five former companions and they reconciled with him and became his first followers
The Buddha attracted many people
The Buddha thus formed the Sangha- community
His son became Buddhist

4. Nirvana
At the age of 80, the Buddha became extremely ill after eating a spoiled food
The Buddha sensed that he was going to die and called his disciples. Told them that everything must die including him.
He then offered a final advise: “You must be your own lamps, be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves.”
The Buddha then turned on his right side and died passing forever into Nirvana

5. The Buddha today Not god but human Avatar of Vishnu
Many Buddhists do not pray to him
Buddhists follow his example

6. Arhat
An arhat is someone who has attained enlightenment but has not died yet
The Buddha was an arhat
Arhats are considered saints

7. Buddhist teachings
The Buddha’s teachings play a key role in defining the religious life of Buddhism rather than the Buddha himself.
It is impossible to know exactly what the Buddha taught.
He did not write down his teachings, nor did his early disciples.
The only written versions were recorded several hundred years after his death.
The core of what is generally regarded as basic Buddhism are the Three Jewels
The Buddha
The Dharma
The Sangha

8. JEWEL OF BUDDHISM: THE BUDDHA
Practice meditation (experiential dimension)
He is an ideal human being whom other human beings should imitate
He is not usually thought of as being dead but as existing in a timeless dimension beyond the world
JEWEL OF BUDDHISM: THE BUDDHA

9. JEWEL OF BUDDHISM: The Dharma
Buddha’s teachings- (doctrinal dimension)- about how to view the world and how to live properly
The Buddhist dharma is not the same as the Hindus dharma- ethical duty

10. World Religions Chapter 4
3 characteristics of Buddhist Dharma (teachings)
Buddhism
Inner wisdom, vs. faith in God:
Buddhist truths do not come from Divine revelation outside the person.
(e.g. 10 commandments, burning bush, Transfiguration)
Buddhist truths discovered by looking inside.
Doctrine based on observation of “what is”.
A psychologically-centered religion
World Religions
Chapter 4

11. Karma in Buddhist world:
The moral law of cause and effect
It functions hand in hand with samsara
The nature of one’s rebirth depends on the status of one’s karma
Because Buddhism denies the transference of any self or soul, personal identity depends entirely on karma.
When an individual dies, his or her karma continues on its particular trajectory bringing about rebirth.
At conception the new person is possessed of this particular status brought on by the karma of the previous life.

12. Buddha’s teachings The teachings are practical
He refused to talk about god and faith
His refusal to talk about something else besides how to end suffering is called his noble silence
He speculated about unanswerable questions like a man who had been wounded by an arrow but refused to pull it out until he knew everything about the arrow and the person who shot it. The wounded man would die before he could get all the information he wanted.

13. JEWEL OF BUDDHISM: The Sangha
Monastic/religious community
The community is divided between monks, nuns, and laity
Show commitment to being Buddhist
(social dimension)

14. The 5 Pricepts
Because karma is affected by the moral adequacy of one’s actions, morality is of pressing concern for Buddhism.
The moral life requires observance of the Five Precepts:
Do not take life
Do not take what is not given
Do not engage in sensuous misconduct
Do not use false speech
Do not drink intoxicants

15. The five precepts apply to all Buddhists.
The following precepts are added for monks and nuns:
6. Do not eat after noon (12:00)
7. Do not watch dancing or shows
8. Do not use garlands, perfumes, or ornaments.
9. Do not use a high or soft bed.
10. Do not accept gold or silver.