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FollowingtheBuddha'sFootsteps

InstillingGoodnessSchool
CityofTenThousandBuddhas
Talmage,CA95481

INTRODUCTIONTOBUDDHISM
Asachild,SiddharthatheBuddha,wastroubledbysomeofthesamethoughtsthatchildrentodayhave.Theywonder
aboutbirthanddeath.Theywonderwhytheygetsickandwhygrandfatherdied.Theywonderwhytheirwishesdonot
cometrue.Childrenalsowonderabouthappinessandthebeautyinnature.
BecausetheBuddhaknewwhatwasintheheartsofchildrenandhumankind,hetaughteveryonehowtoliveahappyand
peacefullife.Buddhismisnotlearningaboutstrangebeliefsfromfarawaylands.Itisaboutlookingatandthinkingabout
ourownlives.Itshowsushowtounderstandourselvesandhowtocopewithourdailyproblems.

UNIT1
THELIFEOFTHEBUDDHA
LifeinthePalace
Buddhismisoneofthemajorreligionsintheworld.Itbeganaround2,500yearsagoinIndiawhenSiddharthaGautama
discoveredhowtobringhappinessintotheworld.Hewasbornaround566BC,inthesmallkingdomofKapilavastu.His
fatherwasKingSuddhodanaandhismotherwasQueenMaya.
SoonafterPrinceSiddharthawasborn,thewisemenpredictedthathewouldbecomeaBuddha.Whenthekingheardthis,
hewasdeeplydisturbed,forhewantedhissontobecomeamightyruler.HetoldQueenMaya,"Iwillmakelifeinthe
palacesopleasantthatoursonwillneverwanttoleave."
Attheageofsixteen,PrinceSiddharthamarriedabeautifulprincess,Yasodhara.Thekingbuiltthemthreepalaces,onefor
eachseason,andlavishedthemwithluxuries.Theypassedtheirdaysinenjoymentandneverthoughtaboutlifeoutsidethe
palace.
TheFourSights
SoonSiddharthabecamedisillusionedwiththepalacelifeandwantedtoseetheoutsideworld.Hemadefourtripsoutside
thepalaceandsawfourthingsthatchangedhislife.Onthefirstthreetrips,hesawsickness,oldageanddeath.Heasked
himself,"HowcanIenjoyalifeofpleasurewhenthereissomuchsufferingintheworld?"
Onhisfourthtrip,hesawawanderingmonkwhohadgivenupeverythingheownedtoseekanendtosuffering."Ishallbe
likehim."Siddharthathought.
Renunciation
Leavinghiskingdomandlovedonesbehind,Siddharthabecameawanderingmonk.Hecutoffhishairtoshowthathehad
renouncedtheworldlylifestyleandcalledhimselfGautama.Heworeraggedrobesandwanderedfromplacetoplace.In
hissearchfortruth,hestudiedwiththewisestteachersofhisday.Noneofthemknewhowtoendsuffering,sohe
continuedthesearchonhisown.
Forsixyearshepracticedsevereasceticismthinkingthiswouldleadhimtoenlightenment.Hesatinmeditationandate
onlyroots,leavesandfruit.Attimesheatenothing.Hecouldenduremorehardshipsthananyoneelse,butthisdidnottake
himanywhere.Hethought,"Neithermylifeofluxuryinthepalacenormylifeasanasceticintheforestisthewayto
freedom.Overdoingthingscannotleadtohappiness."Hebegantoeatnourishingfoodagainandregainedhisstrength.
Enlightenment
OnafullmoondayinMay,hesatundertheBodhitreeindeepmeditationandsaid."IwillnotleavethisspotuntilIfind
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anendtosuffering."Duringthenight,hewasvisitedbyMara,theevilone,whotriedtotempthimawayfromhisvirtuous
path.FirsthesenthisbeautifuldaughterstolureGautamaintopleasure.Nexthesentboltsoflightning,windandheavy
rain.Lasthesenthisdemonicarmieswithweaponsandflamingrocks.Onebyone,Gautamametthearmiesanddefeated
themwithhisvirtue.
Asthestruggleended,herealizedthecauseofsufferingandhowtoremoveit.Hehadgainedthemostsupremewisdom
andunderstoodthingsastheytrulyare.HebecametheBuddha,'TheAwakenedOne'.Fromthenon,hewascalled
ShakyamuniBuddha.
TheBuddhaTeaches
Afterhisenlightenment,hewenttotheDeerParkneartheholycityofBenaresandsharedhisnewunderstandingwithfive
holymen.Theyunderstoodimmediatelyandbecamehisdisciples.ThismarkedthebeginningoftheBuddhistcommunity.
Forthenextfortyfiveyears,theBuddhaandhisdiscipleswentfromplacetoplaceinIndiaspreadingtheDharma,his
teachings.Theircompassionknewnobounds,theyhelpedeveryonealongtheway,beggars,kingsandslavegirls.Atnight,
theywouldsleepwheretheywerewhenhungrytheywouldaskforalittlefood.
WhenevertheBuddhawent,hewontheheartsofthepeoplebecausehedealtwiththeirtruefeelings.Headvisedthemnot
toaccepthiswordsonblindfaith,buttodecideforthemselveswhetherhisteachingsarerightorwrong,thenfollowthem.
Heencouragedeveryonetohavecompassionforeachotheranddeveloptheirownvirtue,"Youshoulddoyourownwork,
forIcanteachonlytheway."
Heneverbecameangryorimpatientorspokeharshlytoanyone,noteventothosewhoopposedhim.Healwaystaughtin
suchawaythateveryonecouldunderstand.EachpersonthoughttheBuddhawasspeakingespeciallyforhim.TheBuddha
toldhisfollowerstohelpeachotherontheWay.FollowingisastoryoftheBuddhalivingasanexampletohisdisciples.
OncetheBuddhaandAnandavisitedamonasterywhereamonkwassufferingfromacontagiousdisease.Thepoorman
layinamesswithnoonelookingafterhim.TheBuddhahimselfwashedthesickmonkandplacedhimonanewbed.
Afterwards,headmonishedtheothermonks."Monks,youhaveneithermothernorfathertolookafteryou.Ifyoudonot
lookaftereachother,whowilllookafteryou?Whoeverservesthesickandsuffering,servesme."
TheLastYears
ShakyamuniBuddhapassedawayaround486BCattheageofeighty.Althoughhehaslefttheworld,thespiritofhis
kindnessandcompassionremains.
TheBuddharealizedthatthathewasnotthefirsttobecomeaBuddha."TherehavebeenmanyBuddhasbeforemeand
willbemanyBuddhasinthefuture,"TheBuddharecalledtohisdisciples."AlllivingbeingshavetheBuddhanatureand
canbecomeBuddhas."Forthisreason,hetaughtthewaytoBuddhahood.
ThetwomaingoalsofBuddhismaregettingtoknowourselvesandlearningtheBuddha'steachings.Toknowwhoweare,
weneedtounderstandthatwehavetwonatures.Oneiscalledourordinarynature,whichismadeupofunpleasant
feelingssuchasfear,anger,andjealousy.Theotherisourtruenature,thepartofusthatispure,wise,andperfect.In
Buddhism,itiscalledtheBuddhanature.TheonlydifferencebetweenusandtheBuddhaisthatwehavenotawakened
toourtruenature.

Unit2
BASICTEACHINGSOFTHEBUDDHA
Chapter1
THETHREEUNIVERSALTRUTHS
Oneday,theBuddhasatdownintheshadeofatreeandnoticedhowbeautifulthecountrysidewas.Flowerswere
bloomingandtreeswereputtingonbrightnewleaves,butamongallthisbeauty,hesawmuchunhappiness.Afarmerbeat
hisoxinthefield.Abirdpeckedatanearthworm,andthenaneagleswoopeddownonthebird.Deeplytroubled,heasked,
"Whydoesthefarmerbeathisox?Whymustonecreatureeatanothertolive?"
Duringhisenlightenment,theBuddhafoundtheanswertothesequestions.Hediscoveredthreegreattruths.Heexplained
thesetruthsinasimplewaysothateveryonecouldunderstandthem.
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1.Nothingislostintheuniverse
Thefirsttruthisthatnothingislostintheuniverse.Matterturnsintoenergy,energyturnsintomatter.Adeadleafturns
intosoil.Aseedsproutsandbecomesanewplant.Oldsolarsystemsdisintegrateandturnintocosmicrays.Wearebornof
ourparents,ourchildrenarebornofus.
Wearethesameasplants,astrees,asotherpeople,astherainthatfalls.Weconsistofthatwhichisaroundus,wearethe
sameaseverything.Ifwedestroysomethingaroundus,wedestroyourselves.Ifwecheatanother,wecheatourselves.
Understandingthistruth,theBuddhaandhisdisciplesneverkilledanyanimal.
2.EverythingChanges
TheseconduniversaltruthoftheBuddhaisthateverythingiscontinuouslychanging.Lifeislikeariverflowingonandon,
everchanging.Sometimesitflowsslowlyandsometimesswiftly.Itissmoothandgentleinsomeplaces,butlateronsnags
androckscropupoutofnowhere.Assoonaswethinkwearesafe,somethingunexpectedhappens.
Oncedinosaurs,mammoths,andsabertoothedtigersroamedthisearth.Theyalldiedout,yetthiswasnottheendoflife.
Otherlifeformslikesmallermammalsappeared,andeventuallyhumans,too.NowwecanevenseetheEarthfromspace
andunderstandthechangesthathavetakenplaceonthisplanet.Ourideasaboutlifealsochange.Peopleoncebelievedthat
theworldwasflat,butnowweknowthatitisround.
3.LawofCauseandEffect
ThethirduniversaltruthexplainedbytheBuddhaisthatthereiscontinuouschangesduetothelawofcauseandeffect.
Thisisthesamelawofcauseandeffectfoundineverymodernsciencetextbook.Inthisway,scienceandBuddhismare
alike.
Thelawofcauseandeffectisknownaskarma.Nothingeverhappenstousunlesswedeservesit.Wereceiveexactly
whatweearn,whetheritisgoodorbad.Wearethewaywearenowduetothethingswehavedoneinthepast.Our
thoughtsandactionsdeterminethekindoflifewecanhave.Ifwedogoodthings,inthefuturegoodthingswillhappento
us.Ifwedobadthings,inthefuturebadthingswillhappentous.Everymomentwecreatenewkarmabywhatwesay,do,
andthink.Ifweunderstandthis,wedonotneedtofearkarma.Itbecomesourfriend.Itteachesustocreateabrightfuture.
TheBuddhasaid,
"Thekindofseedsown
willproducethatkindoffruit.
Thosewhodogoodwillreapgoodresults.
Thosewhodoevilwillreapevilresults.
Ifyoucarefullyplantagoodseed,
Youwilljoyfullygathergoodfruit."
Dhammapada

Chapter2

THEFOURNOBLETRUTHS
OncetherewasawomannamedKisagotami,whosefirstbornsondied.Shewassostrickenwithgriefthatsheroamedthe
streetscarryingthedeadbodyandaskingforhelptobringhersonbacktolife.Akindandwisemantookhertothe
Buddha.
TheBuddhatoldher,"FetchmeahandfulofmustardseedsandIwillbringyourchildbacktolife."JoyfullyKisagotami
startedofftogetthem.ThentheBuddhaadded,"Buttheseedsmustcomefromafamilythathasnotknowndeath."
Kisagotamiwentfromdoortodoorinthewholevillageaskingforthemustardseeds,buteveryonesaid,"Oh,therehave
beenmanydeathshere","Ilostmyfather",Ilostmysister".Shecouldnotfindasinglehouseholdthathadnotbeenvisited
bydeath.FinallyKisagotamireturnedtotheBuddhaandsaid,"Thereisdeathineveryfamily.Everyonedies.NowI
understandyourteaching."
TheBuddhasaid,"Noonecanescapedeathandunhappiness.Ifpeopleexpectonlyhappinessinlife,theywillbe
disappointed."
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Thingsarenotalwaysthewaywewantthemtobe,butwecanlearntounderstandthem.Whenwegetsick,wegotoa
doctorandask:
What'swrongwithme?
WhyamIsick?
Whatwillcureme?
WhatdoIhavetodogetwell?
TheBuddhaislikeagooddoctor.Firstagooddoctordiagnosestheillness.Nexthefindsoutwhathascausedit.Thenhe
decideswhatthecureis.Finallyheprescribesthemedicineorgivesthetreatmentthatwillmakethepatientwellagain.
TheFourNobleTruths
1.ThereisSufferingSufferingiscommontoall.
2.CauseofSufferingWearethecauseofoursuffering.
3.EndofSufferingStopdoingwhatcausessuffering.
4.PathtoendSufferingEveryonecanbeenlightened.

1.Suffering:Everyonesuffersfromthesething
BirthWhenweareborn,wecry.
SicknessWhenwearesick,wearemiserable.
OldageWhenold,wewillhaveacheandpainsandfindithardtogetaround.
DeathNoneofuswantstodie.Wefeeldeepsorrowwhensomeonedies.
Otherthingswesufferfromare:
Beingwiththosewedislike,
Beingapartfromthosewelove,
Notgettingwhatwewant,
Allkindsofproblemsanddisappointmentsthatareunavoidable.

TheBuddhadidnotdenythatthereishappinessinlife,buthepointedoutitdoesnotlastforever.Eventuallyeveryone
meetswithsomekindofsuffering.Hesaid:
"Thereishappinessinlife,
happinessinfriendship,
happinessofafamily,
happinessinahealthybodyandmind,
...butwhenonelosesthem,thereissuffering."
Dhammapada
2.Thecauseofsuffering
TheBuddhaexplainedthatpeopleliveinaseaofsufferingbecauseofignoranceandgreed.Theyareignorantofthelawof
karmaandaregreedyforthewrongkindofpleasures.Theydothingsthatareharmfultotheirbodiesandpeaceofmind,
sotheycannotbesatisfiedorenjoylife.
Forexample,oncechildrenhavehadatasteofcandy,theywantmore.Whentheycan'thaveit,theygetupset.Evenif
childrengetallthecandytheywant,theysoongettiredofitandwantsomethingelse.Although,theygetastomachache
fromeatingtoomuchcandy,theystillwantmore.Thethingspeoplewantmostcausethemthemostsuffering.Ofcourse,
therearebasicthingsthatallpeopleshouldhave,likeadequatefood,shelter,andclothing.Everyonedeserveagoodhome,
lovingparents,andgoodfriends.Theyshouldenjoylifeandcherishtheirpossessionswithoutbecominggreedy.
3.Theendofsuffering
Toendsuffering,onemustcutoffgreedandignorance.Thismeanschangingone'sviewsandlivinginamorenaturaland
peacefulway.Itislikeblowingoutacandle.Theflameofsufferingisputoutforgood.Buddhistscallthestateinwhich
allsufferingisendedNirvana.Nirvanaisaneverlastingstateofgreatjoyandpeace.TheBuddhasaid,"Theextinctionof
desireisNirvana."ThisistheultimategoalinBuddhism.EveryonecanrealizeitwiththehelpoftheBuddha'steachings.
Itcanbeexperiencedinthisverylife.
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4.Thepathtotheendofsuffering:ThepathtoendsufferingisknownastheNobleEightfoldPath.Itisalsoknownas
theMiddleWay.
Chapter3

THENOBLEEIGHTFOLDPATH
WhentheBuddhagavehisfirstsermonintheDeerPark,hebeganthe'TurningoftheDharmaWheel'.Hechosethe
beautifulsymbolofthewheelwithitseightspokestorepresenttheNobleEightfoldPath.TheBuddha'steachinggoes
roundandroundlikeagreatwheelthatneverstops,leadingtothecentralpointofthewheel,theonlypointwhichisfixed,
Nirvana.TheeightspokesonthewheelrepresenttheeightpartsoftheNobleEightfoldPath.Justaseveryspokeisneeded
forthewheeltokeepturning,weneedtofolloweachstepofthepath.

1.RightView.TherightwaytothinkaboutlifeistoseetheworldthroughtheeyesoftheBuddhawithwisdomand
compassion.
2.RightThought.Wearewhatwethink.Clearandkindthoughtsbuildgood,strongcharacters.
3.RightSpeech.Byspeakingkindandhelpfulwords,wearerespectedandtrustedbyeveryone.
4.RightConduct.Nomatterwhatwesay,othersknowusfromthewaywebehave.Beforewecriticizeothers,weshould
firstseewhatwedoourselves.
5.RightLivelihood.Thismeanschoosingajobthatdoesnothurtothers.TheBuddhasaid,"Donotearnyourlivingby
harmingothers.Donotseekhappinessbymakingothersunhappy."
6.RightEffort.Aworthwhilelifemeansdoingourbestatalltimesandhavinggoodwilltowardothers.Thisalsomeans
notwastingeffortonthingsthatharmourselvesandothers.
7.RightMindfulness.Thismeansbeingawareofourthoughts,words,anddeeds.
8.RightConcentration.Focusononethoughtorobjectatatime.Bydoingthis,wecanbequietandattaintruepeaceof
mind.
FollowingtheNobleEightfoldPathcanbecomparedtocultivatingagarden,butinBuddhismonecultivatesone'swisdom.
Themindisthegroundandthoughtsareseeds.Deedsarewaysonecaresforthegarden.Ourfaultsareweeds.Pulling
themoutislikeweedingagarden.Theharvestisrealandlastinghappiness.

UNIT3
FOLLOWINGTHEBUDDHA'STEACHINGS
TheBuddhaspoketheFourNobleTruthsandmanyotherteachings,butatthehearttheyallstressthesamething.An
ancientstoryexplainsthiswell.
Onceaveryoldkingwenttoseeanoldhermitwholivedinabird'snestinthetopofatree,"Whatisthemostimportant
Buddhistteaching?"Thehermitanswered,"Donoevil,doonlygood.Purifyyourheart."Thekinghadexpectedtoheara
verylongexplanation.Heprotested,"Butevenafiveyearoldchildcanunderstandthat!""Yes,"repliedthewisesage,"but
evenan80yearoldmancannotdoit."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter1

THETRIPLEJEWEL
TheBuddhaknewitwouldbedifficultforpeopletofollowhisteachingsontheirown,soheestablishedtheThree
Refugesforthemtorelyon.IfapersonwantstobecomeBuddhiststakerefugeinandrelyontheBuddha,theDharma,
andtheSangha.TheseareknownastheTripleJewel.TheSanghaarethemonksandnuns.Theyliveinmonasteriesand
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carryontheBuddha'steaching.ThewordSanghameans'harmoniouscommunity'.TheBuddha,theDharma,andthe
Sanghatogetherpossessqualitiesthatarepreciouslikejewelsandcanleadonetoenlightenment.
Arefugeisaplacetogoforsafetyandprotection,likeashelterinastorm.Takingrefugedoesnotmeanrunningaway
fromlife.Itmeanslivinglifeinafuller,truerway.
Takingrefugeisalsolikeamantravelingforthefirsttimetoadistantcity.Hewillneedaguidetoshowhimwhichpathto
followandsometravelingcompanionstohelphimalongtheway.
TheBuddhaistheguide.
TheDharmaisthepath.
TheSanghaaretheteachersorcompanionsalongtheway.
ThereisaspecialceremonyfortakingrefugewiththeTripleJewel.Withasinceremind,onerecitesthefollowingversein
frontofanordainedmonkornun.
IgototheBuddhaforrefuge.
IgototheDharmaforrefuge.
IgototheSanghaforrefuge.
ForaBuddhist,takingrefugeisthefirststeponthepathtoenlightenment.Evenifenlightenmentisnotachievedinthis
life,onehasabetterchancetobecomeenlightenedinafuturelife.Onewhotakethepreceptsiscalledalayperson.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter2

THEFIVEPRECEPTS
Allreligionshavesomebasicrulesthatdefinewhatisgoodconductandwhatkindofconductshouldbeavoided.In
Buddhism,themostimportantrulesaretheFivePrecepts.ThesehavebeenpasseddownfromtheBuddhahimself.

1.NokillingRespectforlife
2.NostealingRespectforothers'property
3.NosexualmisconductRespectforourpurenature
4.NolyingRespectforhonesty
5.NointoxicantsRespectforaclearmind
Nokilling
TheBuddhasaid,"Lifeisdeartoallbeings.Theyhavetherighttolivethesameaswedo."Weshouldrespectalllifeand
notkillanything.Killingantsandmosquitoesisalsobreakingthisprecept.Weshouldhaveanattitudeoflovingkindness
towardsallbeings,wishingthemtobehappyandfreefromharm.Takingcareoftheearth,itsriversandairisincluded.
OnewaythatmanyBuddhistsfollowthispreceptisbybeingvegetarian.
Nostealing
Ifwestealfromanother,westealfromourselves.Instead,weshouldlearntogiveandtakecareofthingsthatbelongtoour
family,totheschool,ortothepublic.
Nosexualmisconduct
Properconductshowsrespectforoneselfandothers.Ourbodiesaregiftsfromourparents,soweshouldprotectthemfrom
harm.Youngpeopleshouldespeciallykeeptheirnaturespureanddeveloptheirvirtue.Itisuptothemtomaketheworlda
betterplacetolive.Inhappyfamilies,thehusbandandwifebothrespecteachother.
Nolying
Beinghonestbringspeaceintotheworld.Whenthereisamisunderstanding,thebestthingistotalkitover.Thisprecept
includesnogossip,nobackbiting,noharshwordsandnoidlespeech.
Nointoxicants
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Thefifthpreceptisbasedonkeepingaclearmindandahealthybody.Oneday,whentheBuddhawasspeakingthe
Dharmafortheassembly,ayoungdrunkardstaggeredintotheroom.Hetrippedoversomemonkswhoweresittingonthe
floorandstartedcursingloudly.Hisbreathreekedofalcoholandfilledtheairwithasickeningstench.Mumblingto
himself,hereeledoutthedoor.
Everyonewasastonishedathisrudebehavior,buttheBuddharemainedcalm."Greatassembly!"hespoke,"Takealookat
thisman!Hewillcertainlylosehiswealthandgoodname.Hisbodywillgrowweakandsickly.Dayandnight,hewill
quarrelwithhisfamilyandfriendsuntiltheyabandonhim.Theworstthingisthathewilllosehiswisdomandbecome
stupid."
Littlebylittle,onecanlearntofollowtheseprecepts.Ifonesometimesforgetsthem,onecanstartalloveragain.
Followingthepreceptsisalifetimejob.Ifonekillsorhurtssomeone'sfeelingsbymistake,thatisbreakingtheprecepts,
butitwasnotdoneonpurpose.
Chapter3

THEWHEELOFLIFE
Buddhistsdonotbelievethatdeathistheendoflife.Whenonedies,one'sconsciousnessleavesandentersoneofthesix
pathsofrebirth.
HeavenlyBeings
Humans
Asurasarebeingswhohavemanygoodthingsinlife,butstillliketofight.Theyappearintheheavensoronearth
aspeopleoranimals.
Hungryghostsarebeingswhosufferfromconstanthunger.
Hellbeings
Thesearethesixstatesonthewheeloflife.Atthetoparetheheavens,whereeveryoneishappy.Belowarethehells
wherethesufferingisunbearable.Beingscanriseorfallfromonepathtoanother.Ifonedoesgooddeeds,onewillbeborn
intothepathsofgods,humans,orasuras.Ifonedoesevildeeds,onewillbebornintothepathsofanimals,hungry
ghosts,orhellbeings.Fromonelifetothenextonecansuddenlychangefromanhumantoananimalorfromaghosttoa
hellbeing,accordingtothethingsonehasdone.
HowtoEscapetheTurningWheel
Thewheeloflifeanddeathiskeptturningbythethreepoisonsofgreed,hatred,andstupidity.Bycuttingoffthethree
poisons,wecanescapethewheelandbecomeenlightened.Therearefourstagesofenlightenment.
Buddhasperfectinenlightenment.
Bodhisattvasenlightenthemselvesaswellasothers.
Pratyekabuddhashermitswhoretreatfromtheworldtoenlightenthemselves.
Arhatsenlightenthemselves.

Unit4
THEBUDDHISTCOMMUNITY
InAsia,itisconsideredthehighesthonorifamemberofone'sfamilyleavesthehomelife.Westerners,however,maybe
shockedattheideaofanyoneleavingtheirfamilytobecomeamonkornun.Theymaythinkthisisselfishandturning
one'sbackontheworld.Infact,monksandnunsarenotselfishatall.Theydedicatethemselvestohelpingothers.They
don'twishtoownalotofthings,ortohavemoneyorpower.Theygivethesethingsuptogainsomethingfarmore
valuablespiritualfreedom.Bylivingapuresimplelifewithothersonthesamepath,theyareabletolessentheirgreed,
hatred,andignorance.
Althoughmonksandnunsliveinamonastery,theydonotentirelygiveuptheirfamilies.Theyareallowedtovisitand
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takecareofthemwhentheyareill.
Chapter1

LIFEINAMONASTERY
Adayinatemplebeginsearlyformonksandnuns.Longbeforedaybreak,theyattendmorningceremonyandchant
praisestotheBuddha.Theceremoniesliftone'sspiritandbringaboutharmony.AlthoughtheSanghaleadsimplelives,
theyhavemanyresponsibilitiestofulfill.Everyoneworksdiligentlyandiscontentwithhisorherduties.
Duringtheday,somemonksandnunsgoaboutteachinginschoolsorspeakingtheBuddha'steachings.Othersmayrevise
andtranslateBuddhistSutrasandbooks,makeBuddhaimages,takecareofthetempleandgardens,preparefor
ceremonies,giveadvicetolaypeople,andcarefortheeldersandthosewhoaresick.Thedayendswithafinalevening
ceremony.
Inthedailylifeofworkandreligiouspractice,themonksandnunsconductthemselvesproperlyandarehighlyrespected.
Byleadingapure,simplelife,theygainextraorinaryinsightintothenatureofthings.Althoughtheirlifeishardand
rigorous,theresultsareworthit.Italsokeepsthemhealthyandenergetic.Thelaity,wholiveinthetempleorvisits,
followsthesamescheduleastheSanghaandworksalongwiththem.
Chapter2

THESHAVENHEAD,ROBE,ANDOFFERINGBOWL
Ideally,monksandnunsownonlyafewthings,suchasrobesandanofferingbowl.Whilemostpeoplespendlotsoftime
andmoneyontheirhair,Buddhistmonksandnunsshavetheirheads.Theyarenolongerconcernedwithoutwardbeauty,
butwithdevelopingtheirspirituallives.Theshavenheadisareminderthatthemonksandnunshaverenouncedthehome
lifeandareapartoftheSangha.
OfferingfoodtomonksandnunsisapartofBuddhism.InAsia,itisnotunusualtoseemonkswalkingtowardsthe
villagesearlyinthemorningcarryingtheirofferingbowls.Theydonotbegforfood,butacceptwhateverisoffered.This
practicenotonlyhelpsthemonksandnunstobehumble,butgiveslaypeopleanopportunitytogive.Insomecountries
laypeoplegotothemonasterytomakeofferings.
Therobesofmonksandnunsaresimpleandmadefromcottonorlinen.Theircolorvariesaccordingtodifferentcountries.
Forinstance,yellowrobesaremostlyworninThailand,whileblackrobesareworninJapan.InChinaandKorea,grayand
brownrobesarewornforwork,whilemoreelaboraterobesareusedforceremonies.DarkredrobesareworninTibet.
Robesandofferingbowlsareveryimportanttomonksandnuns.TheBuddhasaid,"Justasabirdtakesitswingswithit
whereveritflies,sothemonktakeshisrobesandbowlwithhimwhereverhegoes."
Chapter3

THEIMPORTANCEOFTHELAITYINBUDDHISM
ThelaityareveryimportantinBuddhism,fortheyarethesupportingmembersoftheBuddhistcommunity.Theybuildthe
templesandmonasteriesandgiveofferingsoffood,robes,bedding,andmedicinetothemonksandnuns.Thisenablesthe
SanghatocarryontheBuddha'swork.InthiswaytheSanghaandlaitybenefiteachotherandtogetherkeeptheDharma
alive.
InBuddhism,itisalsoimportanttosupportthepoorandneedy.Givingtosupportreligiouspeople,however,isconsidered
averymeritoriousdeed.TheBuddhanotonlyencouragedgivingtoBuddhists,buttoanyspiritualpersonwhoissincere.
TheBuddhataughthisdisciplestobetolerantofotherreligions.Forexample,whenonelightsacandlefromtheflameof
anothercandle,theflameofthefirstcandledoesnotloseitslight.Instead,thetwolightsglowmorebrightlytogether.Itis
thesamewiththegreatreligionsoftheworld.
WhetheroneisamemberoftheSanghaoralayperson,theidealistopracticeBuddhismforthesakeofall.

UNIT5
DIFFERENTKINDSOFBUDDHISM
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Chapter1

TWOSCHOOLSOFBUDDHISM
InthecenturiesfollowingtheBuddha'slifetime,hisfollowersfaithfullypreservedhisteachingsandspreadthemtomany
countriesinAsia.Today,therearetwomainschoolsofBuddhism:TheravadaandMahayana.Theravadameans'the
teachingoftheElders'.Theravadamonksfollowthepracticesthathavebeenpasseddownbytheseniormonksfromthe
Buddha'stime,suchaslivingintheforestsandmeditating.ThegoalinTheravadaBuddhismistobecomeanArhat,a
personwhoisfreeofsuffering.TheravadaispracticedmainlyinsouthernAsiancountriessuchasSriLanka,Thailandand
Myanmar(Burma).
MahayanastressesfollowingtheBuddha'sexampleofgoingoutintotheworldanddoinggood.Mahayanameans'Great
Vehicle'.ThegoalinMahayanaBuddhismistofollowtheBodhisattvaPath.ABodhisattvaisonewhoenlightensoneself
aswellasothers.InMahayanaBuddhism,therearemanyBuddhasandBodhisattvas.ItmainlyspreadtonorthernAsian
countrieslikeChina,Tibet,Korea,VietnamandJapan.Recently,bothTheravadaandMahayanaBuddhismhavebeen
introducedintotheWest.
Chapter2

VISITINGBUDDHISTTEMPLES
Inthisunit,wewillpretendtovisitdifferentBuddhisttemples.Whenvisitingatemple,weshoulddressmodestlyand
followtherulesandcustomsofthetemple.BuddhistspaytheirrespectstotheTripleJewelbyfacingthealtarandbowing
whenenteringthetemple.Visitorsmayjoinintheworshipritualsorjustwatchquietly.
InBuddhism,themonksandnunsaretreatedwithgreatrespect.Theysitorstandinfrontofeveryoneelseandtaketheir
foodfirst.Whenwetalktothem,weshouldputourpalmstogetherandspeakpolitely.
TheravadaBuddhism
OurfirstvisitistoaTheravadaBuddhistmonasteryintheforestinThailandwhereonlythemonkslive.Wesitinthe
quietnessofasmallbambootemplebuiltonstilts,surroundedbythesoundsofchirpingbirdsandrustlingtrees.Ayoung
monkwhoisourguideexplainstous."Themonkslivealoneinhutscalled'kutis'.Theyarebuiltonstiltstokeepthe
animalsandinsectsout.Theretheypracticesittingandwalkingmeditation,whichisveryimportantfortheirspirituallife.
Infrontofeachhutisapathforwalkingmeditation.Themonkssweepthemcleantokeepfromsteppingoninsectsand
killingthem."
Theguidecontinues,"Earlyinthemorningandintheevening,themonksmeettogetherformeditationandrecitation.
Aftertheceremoniescalledpujas,theystudytheDharma.Beforeenteringthetempletheywashtheirfeetwithwater
carrieduptothemonasteryfromastreambelow.Itistraditionalforthemonksandnunstoliveintheforestaspartoftheir
earlytraining.Theolderones,however,arenotrequiredtodoso.Somemonksandnunsmaylivealltheirlivesinthe
forest,whileothersliveinthetemplesintownsandcities.
Someoneasks,"Livinginthejungle,aren'tyouafraidoftigers?"
Themonkanswers,"Sometimes,whenthemonksarewalkinginthejungle,theysensetigersfollowingthem.Butsince
theyholdthepreceptofnokilling,they'renotafraidandthetigersknowtheywillnotbeharmed."
TibetanBuddhism
NextwewillvisitaTibetantemple.AyoungTibetanboynamedLobsangisourguide.Hesmilesashetalks,"Ourtemple
isverycolorful.ItisdecoratedwithmanykindsofBuddhaimagesandwallhangingscalledthankas.Onthealtarsare
beautifullampsandincenseholders.Bigprayerwheelsaresetintothewallsofthetemple.Mantras,writtenonstripsof
ricepaper,areplacedinsidethewheels.Theyaresymbolicphraseswithdeepspiritualmeanings.Werecitethemoverand
overasweturntheprayerwheels.Therearealsohandheldprayerwheelsthatpeoplewhirlastheywalkabout.
"TousTibetans,Buddhismisahappyreligion.Myfavoritedaysarethefestivals.Peopleinmasksandcostumesactout
dramasaboutthelifeoftheBuddha.Bright,newprayerflagsarehungonthesedays.Theyblowinthewindalongthe
hillsidesandremindustoliveinharmonywithnature.Nowthatyourvisitisover,mayyougowiththespiritofthe
Buddha."
JapaneseBuddhism
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AtaJapanesetemple,wearemetbyTaro.ShewilltellusaboutherSundaySchool:"Wechant'NamoAmidaButsu'to
showourgratitudetoAmidaBuddha,theBuddhaofInfiniteLight.Webelievethatbyrecitinghisnamewewillhavea
goodlifeandbereborninhisWesternPureLand.YoucanseeastatueofAmidainthefrontofthehall.Onthealtaryou
canseeotherbeautifulthings,butthemostimportantistheofferingofricecakes.
"Iwilltellyouwhy.RiceisveryimportanttoAsianpeople.IfyouweretoaskayoungJapaneseboyorgirl,'Whatdidyou
eattoday?'Heorshewouldprobablysay,'Rice'"Whenweseericeoffered,itremindsustoofferourbesttotheBuddha.
InSundayschool,wesitinmeditationoncushionscalledzafus.Japanesemeditationiscalledzen.
ChineseBuddhism
TodaywearevisitingaChineseAmericanmonasteryinCalifornia.ItiscalledtheCityofTenThousandBuddhas.There
areovertenthousandsmallBuddhastatuesinsidethemainworshiphall.OurguideisayoungnovicenamedGwoCheng
frommainlandChina.ShecametotheUnitedStateswhenshewas10yearsoldandbecameanoviceatage11.
GwoCheng:"TheCityofTenThousandBuddhasisaBuddhistcommunitywherepeoplefromallovertheworldcometo
studyBuddhism.TheCityhasitsownschools,butyoudonothavetobeaBuddhisttoattendourschoolsortolivehere.
"Adayatthetemplebeginsat4:00a.m.withthemorningceremony.Afterthatwebow,sitinmeditation,andrecite
Sutras.Theseceremonieslifteveryone'sspiritsandhelpuslivetogetherinharmony.Wedoourceremoniesinboth
EnglishandChinese.Therearemanyceremoniesthroughouttheday.Wefinishoffthedaywithaneveningceremonyand
aDharmatalk.
"Everyonegoestoworkorschoolat8:00inthemorning.Inourschool,welearnthewayoftruthandgoodnessWealso
learnbothChineseandEnglish.Weyoungnovicesattendschoolandareintrainingtobecomenuns.Wecanbecomefully
ordainednunswhenwearetwentyone,sowehavetimetomakeupourminds.Wearenotexpectedtodoeverythingthe
nunsdo,butwedoourbest.Atfirstitwasdifficulttogetupsoearlyandtositinmeditation,butnowweareusedtoit.It's
ahealthylife!
"Afterschool,wehelpwiththetempledutiesanddootherchores.Ireallylikegardeningandplanting.Manypeopleask
meifthenoviceseverhaveanyfun.Wedo!Weareverygoodfriendsandenjoystudyingtogether.Wegoonwalksand
picnicsandsingBuddhistsongs.Thenunsarealwaysthinkingoffunthingsforustodo.Wealsoliketoseeourfamilies
wholivehereandvisitwithus."

UNIT6
BUDDHISTSCRIPTURES,SYMBOLS,ANDFESTIVALS
Chapter1

BUDDHISTSCRIPTURES
TheDharmarevealstheBuddha'sunderstandingoflife.TheBuddhainstructedcountlesspeople,buthe,himself,wrote
nothingdown,justasJesuswrotenothingdown.Theybothlivedacompletelife.Hisdisciplesrememberedhistalksand
recitedthemregularly.ThesetalkswerecollectedintobookscalledSutras.TherearemanySutras,soBuddhismdoesnot
havejustasingleholybook,liketheChristianBibleortheKoranofIslam.
ThefirstSutraswerewrittenonpalmleavesinPaliandSanskrit,ancientIndianlanguages.Theyhavebeengathered
togetherinacollectioncalledtheTripitaka,whichmeans'threebaskets'.Itisdividedintothreeparts.
SutraPitaka~Sutrasandtheirexplanations
VinayaPitaka~Rulesformonksandnuns
AbhidharmaPitaka~ThepsychologyandphilosophyoftheBuddha'steachings
BuddhiststreatSutraswithgreatrespectandplacethemonthehighestshelvesinthemostrespectedareas.
Chapter2

BUDDHISTSYMBOLS
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BuddhistsymbolshavespecialmeaningsthatremindusoftheBuddha'steachings.Themainroomorbuildingiscalleda
shrineoraBuddhaHall.Inthefrontofthisroom,thereisanaltar.Therearemanybeautifulthingsonthealtar.Hereare
someofthem.
ImagesoftheBuddha
Traditionalofferings
Dharmainstruments
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
BuddhaImages
SomepeoplebelievethatBuddhistsworshipidols,butthisisnottrue.Buddhistsbowormakeofferingsofflowersand
incenseinreverencetotheBuddha,nottotheimage.WhentheydosotheyreflectonthevirtuesoftheBuddhaandare
inspiredtobecomelikehim.Buddhaimagesarenotnecessary,buttheyarehelpful.Themostimportantthingistofollow
theBuddha'steachings.
TherearemanydifferentkindsofBuddhaandBodhisattvaimagesthatshowdifferentqualities.Forexample,astatueof
theBuddhawithhishandrestinggentlyinhislapremindsustodeveloppeacewithinourselves.Astatuewiththe
Buddha'srighthandtouchingthegroundshowsdetermination.
TraditionalOfferings
TraditionalofferingsaretoshowrespecttotheBuddha.
Flowersareofferedasremindersofhowquicklythingschange
Lightfromlampsorcandlessymbolizeswisdom
Incenseremindsonetobepeaceful
Waterrepresentspurity
FoodremindsustogiveourbesttotheBuddhas.
DharmaInstruments
TheinstrumentsusedinceremoniesandmeditationarecalledDharmainstruments.Eachinstrumenthasaspecificuse.
Forinstance,thewoodenfishishittokeeprhythm
Bellsgivessignalsinceremoniesandmeditation
Drumsannouncesceremoniesandkeepsrhythm
Gongsannouncesceremoniesandactivities
Woodenfishkeepsrhythmwhilechanting
LotusFlower
Thelotusflowerrepresentsenlightenmentdescribedinthepoem.
Thelotushasitsrootsinthemud,
Growsupthroughthedeepwater,
Andrisestothesurface.
Itbloomsintoperfectbeautyandpurityinthesunlight.
Itislikethemindunfoldingtoperfectjoyandwisdom.
TheBodhiTree
TheBodhiTreeisapipaltree,akindoffigtreefoundinIndia.AftertheBuddhaattainedenlightenmentunderthistree,it
becameknownastheBodhiTree,theTreeofEnlightenment.ItislocatedinBodhgaya,wherepeoplevisittopaytheir
respectstotheBuddha.Althoughtheparenttreeisnolongeralive,itsgrandchildrenarestillthere.
TheBuddhistFlag
AstheBuddhasatbeneaththeBodhiTreeafterhisenlightenment,sixraysoflightcameoutfromhisbodyandspreadfor
milesaround.Thecolorswereyellow,blue,white,red,orangeandamixtureofallthecolors.TheBuddhistflagwas
designedafterthesecolors.
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StupasandPagodas
StupasandpagodasaremonumentswheretherelicsoftheBuddhaandhighmonksandnunsarekeptsothatpeoplecan
showtheirrespects.Theserelicsarejewelsthatremainaftercremation.
Chapter3

BUDDHISTFESTIVALS
Buddhistshavemanyfestivalsthroughouttheyear.ThesefestivalscelebrateeventsinthelivesofBuddhas,Bodhisattvas
andfamousteachers.Duringtheseoccasionspeoplecanalsotakerefugeandprecepts,orleavethehomelifetobecome
monksandnuns.
BuddhaDay
FortheBuddhistcommunity,themostimportanteventoftheyearisthecelebrationoftheBirthoftheBuddha,his
EnlightenmentandNirvana.ItfallsonthefullmoondayinMay.Onthisday,Buddhiststakepartintheceremonial
bathingoftheBuddha.TheypourladlesofwaterscentedwithflowersoverastatueofthebabySiddhartha.This
symbolizespurifyingone'sthoughtsandactions.
Thetemplesareelaboratelydecoratedwithflowersandbannersthealtarsareladenwithofferingsvegetarianmealsare
providedforallandcaptiveanimals,suchasbirdsandturtlesaresetfree.Thisisaveryjoyousdayforeveryone.
DharmaDay
AsalhaPuja,knownas'DharmaDay',iscelebratedduringfullmooninJuly.Thisholidaycommemoratesthefirstsermon
oftheBuddhatothefivemonksintheDeerParkatBenares.
SanghaDay
SanghaDayorKathinaDayisusuallyheldinOctober.IntheTheravadatradition,monksandnunsgoonathreemonth
retreatduringtherainyseason.Aftertheretreat,thelaityoffersrobesandothernecessitiestothem.Thisdaysymbolizes
thecloserelationshipbetweentheSanghaandlaity.
Ullambana
TheobservanceofUllambanaisbasedonthestoryofMaudgalyayana,adiscipleoftheBuddha.WhenMaudgalyayana's
motherdied,hewantedtoknowwhereshewasreborn.Usinghisspiritualpowers,hetraveledintothehellsandfoundher
sufferingmiserablyfromhunger.Hebroughtherabowloffood,butwhenshetriedtoswallowit,thefoodturnedintohot
coals.
ThedistressedMaudgalyayanaaskedtheBuddha,"Whyismymothersufferinginthehells?"
TheBuddhareplied,"Inherlifeasahuman,shewasstingyandgreedy.Thisisherretribution."Headvised,"Make
offeringstotheSangha.Themeritandvirtuefromthisactwillreleaseyourmotherandothersfromthehells."Asaresult
ofMaudgalyana'soffering,hismotherandthousandsofotherswerereleasedfromtheirunhappystate.Afterthis,making
offeringstoreleasedepartedrelativesandothersfromthehellsbecamepopularinMahayanacountries.Usually,ittakes
placeinSeptember.

UNIT7
HISTORYOFBUDDHISM
Chapter1
BUDDHISMINTHEEAST
BuddhismwasfirstintroducedintoSriLankafromIndiainthe3rdcenturyBCbyMahinda,thesonofKingAsoka.There
itachievedgreatpopularityandisstillflourishingtoday.
IntheearlycenturiesAD,BuddhismwasintroducedtakentoSoutheastAsiabymerchantsandmissionaries.Thegreat
monumentslikeBorobudurinIndonesiaandAngkorThominCambodiaareevidenceofthesplendorofBuddhismin
theseregions.
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Inthe1stcenturyAD,BuddhismreachedChinawheremanySutrasweretranslatedintoclassicalChinese.
Inthe4thcenturyAD,BuddhismfounditswaytoKoreaandonintoJapan.
Chapter2
BUDDHISMINTHEWEST
Evenbeforethe17thcentury,peopleintheWestheardoftheBuddhaandhisteachingsfromearlytravelerssuchasMarco
PoloandChristianmissionaries.
Bytheearly20thcentury,manyEuropeanshadtraveledtotheEasttostudyBuddhism.Someofthembecamemonksand
inspiredBuddhismintheWest.Inthe19thcentury,ChineseandJapaneseimmigrantsbroughtmanydifferenttraditionsof
BuddhismtoAmerica.Today,therearenumerousBuddhistcentersspreadacrossEuropeandNorthandSouthAmerica.

UNIT8
JATAKATALESANDOTHERBUDDHISTSTORIES
TheBuddhawasagreatstorytellerandoftentoldstoriestogethismessageacross.StorieswerealsotoldabouttheBuddha
byhisfollowersbothtoexplainandunderstandtheDharma.Thesestorieshavebeenpasseddowntothepresentdayand
themostpopularonesaretheJatakatales,acollectionofhundredsoftalesabouttheBuddha'spastlives.Theyshowthe
kindoflifeoneshouldleadtobecomeaBuddhaoneday.Inmanyofthesestories,theBuddhaappearsasananimalto
teachthevalueofqualitiessuchaskindness,compassion,andgiving.
TheMonkeyKingandtheMangoes
Onceuponatime,theBuddhacameintotheworldasaMonkeyKingandruledover80,000monkeys.Hewasverytall
andstrongandhadwisdomlikethesun.InhiskingdomonthebanksoftheGangesRiver,therewasamangotreeasbigas
themoon.The80,000monkeysjumpedfrombranchtobranchchatteringandeatingthelovelyfruitthatwasbigandsweet
anddelicious.Sometimesaripemangofellintotheriver.
Oneday,theMonkeyKingstrolleddownstreamandcameuponariverpalacewhereahumankinglived."Soondanger
willcomeifthemangoesfloatdownstream,"hetoldthemonkeys."Pickallthemangoesandflowersonthetreesandtake
themdeepintotheforest."
Butonemango,hiddenbyabird'snest,wasleftunseenbythe80,000monkeys.Whenitwaslargeandripe,itfellintothe
riverandfloateddownstreamwherethehumankingwasbathing.
Thehumanking,whowasverycurious,tastedthebeautifulmango."Thisisdelicious!'heexclaimed."Imusthavemore.
Servants,findallthemangoesandbringthemtomeatonce!"
Deepintheforest,theservantsfoundhundredsofmangotrees.Inthetreeswerethe80,000monkeys.Whenthehuman
kingheardaboutthemonkeys,hewasveryangry,"Themonkeysareeatingmymangoes.Killthemall!"heorderedhis
archers.
"Verywell,"saidthearchersandchasedthemonkeystotheedgeoftheforestwheretheycametoadeepcliff.Therewas
nowayforthemonkeystoescape.Shiveringwithfright,theyrantotheMonkeyKingasked,"Whatshallwedo?"
"Don'tbeafraid.Iwillsaveyou,"saidtheirking.Quickly,hestretchedhishugebodyasfaraspossibleandmadeabridge
overtheclifftoabamboogroveontheotherside.
"Comemonkeys,runacrossmybacktothebamboogrove,"hecalled.Andsothe80,000monkeysescaped.
Thehumankingwatchedallthathappened.Hewasamazed,"ThisMonkeyKinghasriskedhislifetosavehiswhole
troop!AndallI'mdoingisbeingselfish.Ihavelearnedagreatlesson."Thenhecalledtohisarchers,"Putdownyour
bows.Itisn'trighttokillthisKingofMonkeys."
Forgettingaboutthemangoes,thehumankingwentbacktohispalacebytheriverandruledkindlyandwiselyfortherest
ofhislife.
TheDeerKing
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Longagoinaforgottenforest,livedadeernamedBanyan.Hewasgoldenlikethesunandhishornsglistenedlikesilver.
Hisbodywasaslargeasacoltandhiseyessparkledlikejewelsalightwithwisdom.HewasaKingofDeerandwatched
overaherdof500deer.
Notfaraway,anotherherdofdeerwaswatchedoverbyanothergoldendeernamedBranch.Inthetallgrassandshadows
ofthedeepforest,thetwoherdslivedinpeace.
Oneday,theKingofBenareswasoutonahuntandspiedthebeautifulgreenforestwherethedeerlived."Whataperfect
huntingground!"hedeclaredandintotheforestshedashedwithhisthousandsofhuntersandcameuponthetwoherdsof
deer.Withoutamoment'shesitation,henotchedanarrowinhisbow.Suddenlyhespottedthetwogoldendeer.Neverhad
heseensuchbeautifulcreatures!"Fromthisdayon,"hecommanded,"Nooneistoharmorkillthesegoldendeer."
Thereafter,hecametotheforesteverydayandkilledmoredeerthanwasneededforhisdinnertable.Astheweekswent
by,manydeerwerewoundedanddiedingreatpain.
FinallyBanyanDeercalledthetwoherdstogether,"Friends,weknowthereisnoescapefromdeath,butthisneedless
killingcanbeprevented.Letthedeertaketurnsgoingtothechoppingblock,onedayfrommyherdandthenextdayfrom
Branch'sherd."
Allthedeeragreed.Eachdaythedeerwhoseturnitwaswenttothechoppingblockontheedgeoftheforestandlaidits
headupontheblock.
Oneday,theturnfelltoapregnantdoefromBranch'sherd.ShewenttoBranchDeerandbegged,"GrantthatIbepassed
overuntilaftermyfawnisborn.ThenIwillgladlytakemyturn."
BranchDeerreplied,"Itisyourturn.Youmustgo."
Indespair,thepoordoewenttoBanyanDeerandexplainedherplight.Hegentlysaid,"Gorestinpeace.Iwillputyour
turnuponanother."Thedeerkingwentandlaidhisgoldenheaduponthechoppingblock.Adeepsilencefellintheforest.
WhenthekingofBenarescameandsawthegoldendeerreadyforsacrifice,hisheartskippedabeat,"Youaretheleaderof
theherd,"heexclaimed,"Youshouldbethelasttodie!"BanyanDeerexplainedhowhehadcometosavethelifeofthe
doe.
Atearrolleddownthecheekoftheking."GoldenDeerKing,"heexclaimed."Amongmenandbeasts,Ihavenotseenone
withsuchcompassion.Arise!Isparebothyourlifeandhers.
"Sowewillbesafe.Butwhatshalltherestofthedeerdo?""TheirlivesIshallalsospare.""Sothedeerwillbesafe,but
whatwilltheotherfourfootedanimalsdo?""Fromnowontheytoowillbesafe.""Andwhatofthebirds?""Iwillspare
theirlives.""Andthefishinthewater""Thefishshallbesparedallcreaturesoftheland,sea,andskywillbefree."
Havingsavedthelivesofallcreatures,thegoldendeerraisedhisheadfromthechoppingblockandreturnedtotheforest.
TheWoundedSwan
OnedaywhenPrinceSiddharthaandhiscousinDevadattawerewalkinginthewoods,theysawaswan.Quickly,
Devadattadrewhisbowandshottheswandown.Siddhartharushedtothewoundedswanandpulledoutthearrow.He
heldthebirdinhisarmsandcaressedit.
DevadattaangrilyshoutedatPrinceSiddhartha,"Givemetheswan.Ishotit.Itbelongstome!"
"Ishallnevergiveittoyou,Youwillonlykillit!"saidtheprincefirmly."Let'sasktheministersofthecourtandletthem
decide."
Theministersallhaddifferentviews.Somesaid,"TheswanshouldbegiventoDevadatta."Otherssaid,"Itshouldgoto
PrinceSiddhartha."Onewiseministerstoodupandsaid,"Alifebelongstoonewhosavesit,nottoonewhowilldestroy
it.Theswangoestotheprince."
PrinceSiddharthatookcareoftheswanuntilitcouldflyagain.Thenheturneditloosesoitcouldlivefreelywithitsown
kind.
AniruddhaandtheGoldenRabbit
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Oncetherewasapoorfarmerwhoofferedhisonlybowlofricetoaholymanwhowasevenpoorerthanhe.Thismeanthe
wouldhavenothingtoeatthatday.Hewentbacktohisworkandforgotallabouthavinggivenhisriceaway.Suddenlya
rabbithoppedalongsidethefarmerandjumpedonhisback.Thesurprisedfarmertriedtobrushitoff.Hetriedtoshakeit
off,hetriedtoknockitoff,buttherabbitwouldnotbulge.
Heranhometohiswife,crying,"Getthisrabbitoffmyback!"Bythistimetherabbithadturnedintosolidgold!Thewife
flippedtherabbitintotheair.Ithitthefloorwitha"Crackkk!"Oneofitsgoldenlegsbrokeoffandanotheronemagically
grewinitsplace.
Fromthatdayon,wheneverthefarmerandhiswifeneededmoney,theywouldbreakoffapieceofthegoldenrabbit.And
fromthatlifeonward,Aniruddhawasneverpoor.Thiswashisrewardforgiving.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALESSONINMEDITATION
ConcentrationontheBreath
Averysimplewayofmeditatingisconcentratingonyourbreath.Thebreathislikeabridgebetweenyourbodyandmind.
Whenyouconcentrateonyourbreathforawhile,yourbodybecomesrelaxedandyourmindbecomespeaceful.
Sitinacomfortablepositionwithyourbackstraight.
Placeyourhandsinyourlapwiththelefthandonthebottom.
Keepyoureyeshalfclosedorclosed.
Concentrateonthetipofyournose.Noticeyourbreathgoinginandout.
Lotusposture
Fulllotusisthebestsittingposture.Beginbysittinginhalflotus,thenworkyourwayuptofulllotus.
FulllotusSitontheedgeofacushion.Placeyourleftankleonyourrightthigh.Thenliftyourrightankleontoyour
leftthigh.
HalflotusLiftyourleftankleontoyourrightthigh.
Note:Itisbesttositatthesametimeandplaceeveryday.Increaseyoursittingtimelittle
bylittle.Youmaysitinachairorstandifnecessary.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

GLOSSARY
asuras:Beingswholiketofight.
Bodhitree:Apipaltreethatisknownasthe'treeofenlightenment'.ThetreeunderwhichGautamaachieved
enlightenmentandbecameaBuddha.
Bodhisattva:Acompassionatebeingwhoenlightenshimselfandhelpsotherstobeenlightened.
Buddha:TheEnlightenedorAwakenedOne.Theword'Bodhi'meanstoawaken.
BuddhaHall:ThemainroominsideaBuddhisttemple.
Buddhanature:
Dharma:TeachingsoftheBuddha
enlightenment:Understandingthetruthoflife,freedomfromignorance.
FivePrecepts:ThefiverulesofconductgivenbytheBuddhatohisdisciples:nokilling,nostealing,nosexual
misconduct,nofalsespeech,nointoxicants.
FourNobleTruths:ThefirstteachingsspokenbytheBuddha:thetruthofsuffering,thecauseofsuffering,theendof
suffering,andthePathleadingtotheendofsuffering.
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hungryghosts:Ghoststhatsufferalotbecausetheyaregreedy.
Jatakatales:storiesaboutthepastlivesoftheBuddha.
karma:'Action'orthelawofcauseandeffect.Foreveryactionthereisacause.
Kathina:A'festivalofgiving'heldinautumn,wherepeoplemakeofferingstothemonksandnuns.
lamas:Tibetanreligiousleaders.
lotusposture:Ameditationposture.
lotus:ThelotussymbolizesthepurityoftheBuddha.Itgrowsoutofmud,yetitisnotdefiledbyit.
Mahayana:ThetraditionofNorthernBuddhism.
mantras:SymbolicphrasesthatBuddhistschant.
meditation:Amethodofcalmingandtrainingthemind.
MiddleWay:ThepathinlifeprescribedbytheBuddha,thepathbetweenextremes.
Nirvana:Aneverlastingstateofgreatjoyandpeace.
NobleEightfoldPath:TheBuddha'sprescriptionforendingsuffering.Itismadeupofeightparts:rightviews,right
thought,rightspeech,rightaction,rightlivelihood,righteffort,rightmindfulness,andrightconcentration.
offeringbowl:Abowlthatnunsandmonksreceiveofferingsin.
Pali:AnancientlanguageofIndiathattheBuddhistSutraswereoriginallywrittenin.
Pratyekabuddha:Hermitswhobecomeenlightenedbythemselves.
puja:APaliwordforBuddhistworship.
Sangha:ThecommunityofBuddhistnunsandmonks.
Sanskrit:AnancientlanguageofIndiathattheBuddhistSutraswerewrittenin.
SixPerfections:ThesixidealsthataBodhisattvaperfects:givingmorality,patience,effort,concentration,andwisdom.
stupas:MonumentstotheBuddha
Sutras:TheBuddha'steachingsinwriting.
thankas:WallhangingsfoundinTibetantemples.
Theravada:ThetraditionofSouthernBuddhism.
ThreeRefuges:TheBuddha,theDharma,andtheSangha.
Tripitaka:The'threebaskets',acollectionoftheBuddha'swrittenteachings.
TripleJewel:TheBuddha,theDharma,andtheSangha.
Ullambana:ABuddhistfestivalwhenofferingsaregiventotheSangha..
WheelofLifeandDeath:Thesixworldlystatesofrebirth:gods,asuras,humans,animals,hungryghosts,andhellbeings.
zafu:AroundmeditationcushionusedinJapaneseBuddhism.
Zen:Japanesemeditation.
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THEBASICTEACHINGOFBUDDHA

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