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miraculous birth
story
Father sheltered
him from the world
He went out
into the world
and saw the
four sights
Quest to End
Suffering
- First followed teachings of
Brahmins
-
right understanding
right thoughts
(intentions)
right speech
right action
5 precepts for
moral conduct
Five Precepts:
Do not take life
Do not take what is not given
Do not distort facts
Refrain from misuse of the senses
Refrain from self-intoxication
through alcohol or drugs
right
right
right
right
livelihood
effort
mindfulness
meditation
What is a principle
base religion?
Buddhism differs from Western religion in
that it is based on principles
Buddhas Death,
Serves as a teaching
At age 80 told followers he was nearing the end of his life.
- Fell ill after eating spoiled food
- Taken to Kusinara
- Entered Parinirvana
Pilgrimage sites
designated by the
Lumbini -- birthplaceBuddha
Bodh Gaya, Bihar - Site of
the enlightenment
Sarnath Site of the first
sermon (Chaukhandi
Stupa)
Kushinagar -- Site of the
Buddha's paranibbana
Three Jewels
The Buddha
Different meanings
Historical, Shakyamuni
Buddha
Three Bodies of Buddha 1)
Enlightened wisdom
2) Celestial aspect
- appears in Bodhisattvas
- communicates the
Dharma
3) Manifestations such as
Shakyamuni Buddha
Three Jewels
The Dharma
What is Dharma? (discuss!)
teachings
Emphasis varies from school to school
Texts/stories/myths
- Pali Cannon
Tipitaka (3 Baskets)
- monastic Discipline
- teachings
- scholarly writings
- Stories of lives of Buddha and
Bodhisattvas
- Jataka stories
Personal Experience
Three Jewels
The Sangha
community
Buddhism emerged in a
highly patriarchal
society
Buddha did allow women to
become members of the
Sangha
Buddhist teachings are not
inherently sexist
Affect of cultural biases
Rita Gross
Buddhism after Patriarchy
Buddhism's view of
women is ambiguous.
Some Buddhists
emphasize the
irrelevance of gender
but others claim that
women should strive to
be reborn as men
because women's
capacities are limited.
As is the case with all
major world religions,
Buddhism's institutions
are patriarchal.
Buddhist Worldview
What is reality?
Nontheistic
Metaphysics not the Buddhas issue
Focused on reality of suffering, Dukkha
Impermanent Materialism ?
Emptiness/ Suntata
Nothing endures
Empty of permanent existence
Interdependent
Skandha
Five types of phenomena that
objects cling to as a bases for
a sense of self
Buddhist doctrine describes
five aggregates:
1)
2)
3)
4)
"form" or "matter
"sensation" or "feelings
"conception", "cognition",
"mental formations",
"impulses",
5) "consciousness" or
"discernment
All change and are impermanent
Goal of Buddhism
Karma: nothing
permanent to pass on
Actions set other actions
in motion
Cause and affect
Three root afflictions
Greed, Hate, delusion
What is Nirvana?
Gary Gach
Nirvanano longer
fueled by toxins
Greed, anger, denial
Nirvanasensation of all
suffering (comes from
misunderstanding), Removal
of Rompa Sections,
translation of freedom
Nirvana: state of
flames going out
No longer causes and
conditions
Practices to end
Suffering
Meditation
Vipassana (insight)
Begin by noticing the breath
Observe emotions and thoughts
Non-judgmentally, let them pass
Devotion
Do not worship the Buddha
Venerate, see has guide
Some believe in intercessory prayer
What is
Emptiness?
suchness or thus-ness
Buddhism on the
move
Followers believed had a
message to spread
Major division happened
regarding Buddhas
teachings
250 BCE, 3rd Council,
Great Schism Theravada
and Mahayana
Two dominant schools
emerged
Still exist today, more
over lap
Theravada
"Way of the elders"
Dominates Buddhism in Southeast Asia
Three Jewels
Buddha = teacher and example
Emphasis is on historical person, lessons
and teachings of his life
Theravada
Ideal
Arhat a person
striving for
enlightenment
Strives through ones
own actions for
enlightenment
Theravada
Practice
Vipassana (insight) Meditation
Progress is up to the individual
Humanity is on its own in the universe
Prime attribute of enlightenment is wisdom (bodhi)
Loving-kindness
Compassion
Equanimity
Joy in the happiness and wellbeing of others
Mahayana
The great vehicle
Buddha = Three
Buddhas
1) Formless enlightened
wisdom
2) Celestial
there to provide grace in
quest for enlightenment
3) Body of transformation
historical manifestation
of Buddha nature
Mahayana
Dharma = the grace of experience
Uses pali cannon and Jataka tales
especially experience of the practitioner
Sangha
Broader definition
Monks and nuns but also laity
Mahayana
Ideal
Bodhisattva Buddha in the making
Bodhisattva vows
Theravada
Human beings are
emancipated by selfeffort
Mahayana
Human aspirations are
supported by divine
powers and graces
they bestow
Key virtue is
compassion
Attainment requires
constant commitment
is primarily for monks
& nuns
Religious practice is
relevant to life in the
world and therefore,
laypeople.
Theravada
Ideal: Arhat who remains
in nirvana after death
Practice centers on
meditation
Buddha: a saint, supreme
teacher and inspirer.
Minimizes metaphysics.
Minimizes Ritual
Mahayana
Ideal: Bodhisattva
Practice include
petitionary prayer
Buddha a savior
Elaborate metaphysics
Emphasizes ritual
A Mahayana
Example
Zen Buddhism
Aimed at helping
everyone to realize
their Buddha nature,
awaken the pure mind
Japan
Reverence of
natural world from
Shinto
Dominance of
Mindfulness
Incorporation of
warrior code
http://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=_
WAi2fwUqN4
Zen Ox Herding
Pictures
Nam: Devotion,
Myoho: mystic law
Renge: cause and effect,
Kyo: sutra
Two groups
Soka Gakkai International
Nichiren Shoshu
Dedicating Merit
Accumulation of merit assists in
rebirth in the pure land
Can dedicate merit to others
Tibetan Buddhism
Vajrayana Diamond Way or
Thunder Bolt vehicle
Exists in many places, peak is
in Tibetan Buddhism
Tantric
combines beliefs in magic and
esoteric philosophy
emphasizes mystic symbols,
sacred chants, and devotional
techniques
Tibetan Buddhism
Differs in absorption of local
religions
Bon
Indigenous beliefs
Nature deities
Incantations
[blessings/curse/exorcisms]
Two Suzukis
Bring Zen to American
DT Suzuki, Rinzi Zen
Lightening path
More emphasis on Koans
Focus
- Mindfulness
- Compassion
Great impact in America
Insight Meditation
Society
Started retreat center in 1975
We offer meditation retreats rooted in
Theraveda Buddhist teachings of ethics,
concentration, and wisdom.
Soka Gakkai
International (SGI)
Exception to the segregated Buddhist norm
Japan-based society
promotes Nichiren Buddhism
Lotus Sutra
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo--is the primary
practice of SGI members.
Buddhist Ideals,
Real world Realities
Buddhism in Japan
During WW II
Compliancy and support of
nationalistic governments
imperialist
Doctrine of selflessness leading to
no indv. Independence
Buddhism subservient to state
In Bhutan
Discrimination against ethnic
Nepalese people many families
had lived in Bhutan for more
than 200 years
More than 106,000 living as
refugees in Nepal
Children denied education,
health care and future in
Bhutan
Tragic intersection of cultural,
religious and ethnic persecution
Human Rights Watch