1. 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

2. Birth 2

3. Sheltered life

4. The Four Passing Sights4

5. Leaving Home

6. The Quest
1) Meditation
2) Asceticism
Extreme self-denial 6

7. There is a Middle Way 7

8. The Temptation

9. First Sermon

10. 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

11. The eight-fold path
Meditation 11

12. Basic Buddhist Concepts
THE THREE MARKS OF EXISTENCE
Dukka - Suffering
Anicca - The doctrine of impermanence.
Anatta - The doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying substance that can be called the soul.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BUDDHISM
Nirvana- The extinction of desire, hatred, and 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. 12

13. 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

14. 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

15. The Three Bodies of the Buddha

16. Emptiness
Nagarjuna

17. Types of Mahayana Buddhism
Pure Land
Zen

18. Hotei (Laughing) Buddha

19. Vajarayana: Tibetan Buddhism