1. THE BASICS OF BUDDHISM ;

2. Some Crash Courses Introduction to Buddhism (Stop @ 8:08)
Now, read the “Story of Buddha’s Enlightenment” and answer the questions
Buddhism Notes
Objectives: Identify the major tenets of Buddhism; Introduce the fundamental principles related to the beginnings of Buddhism

3. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha = “Enlightened One”)
Thought of himself as a Hindu
Maintained Hindu beliefs such as individual self, karma and dharma
HOWEVER,
Denied the existence of gods
Taught priests were not necessary
Caste system should be abolished
Established monasteries and convents …for what?
Understood the cause of human suffering – and its cure!
“One thing I teach:
suffering and the end of suffering.
It is just ill and the ceasing of ill that I proclaim.”  -- The Buddha
Monasteries and convents where followers could devote themselves to pursuing the truth for themselves.

4. The Teaching: The Four Noble Truths
The Noble Truth of Suffering
The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering
The Noble Truth of the Path (dharma)

5. Beyond this…?
Buddha intentionally left no central authority, structure, and writings
This led to a VARIETY of schools of thought and adaptations found in various cultures
He trusted that each person could listen to his teaching and select, test and self-actualize truth for his or her self. However, eventually his followers recorded his teachings in The Three Baskets of Wisdom.

6. Theravada & Mahayana
Buddhist beliefs vary significantly, but all share an admiration for the figure of the Buddha and the goal of ending suffering and the cycle of rebirth. 
Theravada Buddhism
Prominent in Southeast Asia
Atheistic and philosophical in
nature
Focuses on the monastic life
and meditation as means to
liberation

7. Theravada & Mahayana Mahayana Buddhism Prominent in China and Japan
Incorporates several deities, celestial beings, and other traditional religious elements.
Path to liberation may include religious ritual, devotion, meditation, or a combination of these elements
Zen, Nichiren, Tendai, and Pure Land are the major forms

8. The Noble Truth of Suffering
Suffering is UNIVERSAL
Everyone experiences suffering, sickness, pain, unhappiness and death
Although there are passing pleasures, they vanish in time

9. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering (Attachment)
DESIRE is the cause of suffering
People suffer because they desire things, crave something more, and cling to their thoughts
People are attached to SELF and this can never be satisfied
Even pleasure causes suffering, because pleasure must end

10. The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering (Liberation)
It is possible to end suffering if one is aware of his or her own desires, thoughts, self-attachment and no longer clings to them.
As a living being, one will always desire things like air, water, comfort, kindness, etc. However, one should not be controlled by desires.
If one can be freed from being controlled by desires then NIRVANA can be achieved.
Nirvana is the condition of wanting nothing
Some interpretations that it is freedom from the cycle of birth & death

11. The Noble Truth of the Path
By changing one’s thinking and behavior (to no longer be ruled by desires), one can be awoken
This way of thinking and behaving is called the Middle Way and can be pursued through the practice of following the Eightfold Path

12. Following the Middle Path: The practice of the Eightfold Path
Wisdom
Right View or Undersanding (1)
Right Thought (2)
Ethics
Right Speech (3)
Right Action (4)
Right Work or Livelihood (5)
Meditation
Right Effort (6)
Right Mindfulness (7)
Right Concentration (8)

13. The Eightfold Path: Wisdom
Right View or Understanding
Strive to clearly understand (internalize) the Four Noble Truths
Strive to clearly understand the workings of one’s own mind
Right Thought
Strive to have the right sense of motive, intention, attitude, mind-set and commitment (Remember Karma!)
Avoid dwelling on the past or the future (Be in the Present), avoid thoughts of greed, ill will or fear

14. The Eightfold Path: Ethics
Right Speech
Strive to speak kindly and thoughtfully
Avoid lies, slander, harsh words and frivolous speech
Right Action
Strive to act morally towards all living things (Karma!)
Live in the moment, do each thing fully without attachment to the results
Right Work or Livelihood
Have a vocation that does not harm the others (people, nature, ecosystem etc.)

15. The Eightfold Path: Meditation
Right Effort
Seek enlightenment with practice, determination and follow-through
Right Mindfulness
Be fully aware and conscious of your body, feelings, and mind
« Awareness of pure awareness is…a taste of nirvana  »
Right Concentration
Focus attention; strive to become one with the object of your mind
« Concentration and mindfulness go hand and hand in the job of meditation. Mindfulness directs the power of concentration…concentration furnished and powered by mindfulness can penetrate into the deepest level of the mind. Too much awareness without calm to balance it will result in the ‘Stone Buddha’s syndrome.’ »

16. The Three Jewels
Over time the “Three Jewels” provided the loose structure of Buddhism
The Buddha
The Dharma
The Sangha
“The Buddha’s like the doctor; the Dharma, his medicine; and the Sangha, the hospital staff. You can put your life in their hands.”

17. The Buddha From the Sanskrit root budh meaning ‘to awaken’
Title given to Siddhartha because he attained enlightenment
More generally it refers to any self-realized or enlightened person
Statue on Landau Island of Hong Kong, swastika on chest!

18. The Dharma
Sanskrit referring to virtue, law, cosmic process, discipline , reality or truth
Refers to the teachings of Buddha
More generally it refers to all that leads to the truth

19. The Sangha Sanskrit for gathering or assembly
Refers to the monastic order established by the Buddha
The term "Sangha" is used in the Theravadin tradition to mean only Buddhist monks and nuns
In the Mahayana tradition -- all wisdom seekers who identify themselves as Buddhists
Colloquially -- congregations of Buddhist temples.
More generally it refers to any lay (non-priest) followers or communities of practice
The term "Sangha" is used in the Theravadin tradition to mean only Buddhist monks and nuns, or -- in the Mahayana tradition -- all wisdom seekers who identify themselves as Buddhists, or -- colloquially -- congregations of Buddhist temples.

20. Now Complete the Venn Diagram Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
You must have at least ten differences and a minimum of five similarities
Objective: Compare and contrast principles of Hinduism and Buddhism

21. Check for Understanding
What is the purpose of the Eightfold Path?
What is the purpose of the Three Jewels of Buddhism?