Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Asher Mathew
2005
Buddhism
Understanding
Thai Buddhism for
Evangelism
The Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BC)
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded in
India c.525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called
the Buddha. There are over 300 million Buddhists
worldwide. Born a prince and raised in luxury, he
left his family and possessions at the age of 29 to
search for an ultimate solution to the
problem of the suffering.
The Major Buddhist Traditions
Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”) - Sri Lanka &
Southeast Asia
HOLY TEXT
Tripitaka
3.Basket of UltimateThings
(Abhidhamma Pitaka) which
consists of the four ultimate
things: Mind (Citta), Mental-factors
(Cetasikas), Matter (Rupa) and
ibbana
MAHAYANA
BUDDHISM
HOLY TEXT
SUTRAS
Sutra is a type of
religious literature present
The word sutra is a Sanskrit term that
means “discourse” (in the Pali
language: sutta). Another meaning
suggested for the
word sutra is “threads”.
SUTRAS
According to Buddhist tradition it was
Ananda, the main disciple of the
Buddha, who repeated the discourses
of the Buddha during the First
Buddhist Council. These teachings
were memorized by 500 practitioners
and during many generations they were
passed on orally.
DOCTRINES
The Teachings of the Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
Preface to the Four Noble Truths:
The Middle Path
Two extremes to be avoided:
By avoiding these two
(1) Hedonism extremes, we discover a
Middle Path, a path
(2) Asceticism
which opens the eyes,
which bestows
understanding, and
This Middle Path is the Noble which leads to peace of
Eightfold Path, namely, Right mind, to wisdom, to full
Views, Right Intent, Right enlightenment, to
Speech, Right Conduct, Right Nirvana.
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right
Mindfulness, and Right
Concentration . . . .
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
1. The Noble Truth of Suffering
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
3. The Noble Truth of the
Cessation of Suffering
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
4. The Noble Truth of the Path that
leads to the cessation of suffering
1. Right Views
The Four Noble Truths
The doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman)
– Transitoriness (anicca): impermanence
– The Five Components or Aggregates
(skandhas) of human personhood
– Interdependent Origination
Karma & Samsara (rebirth)
Nirvana (what is it?)
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(No-self, cont’d)
Body (rupa)
The doctrine of
Interdependent Origination
(Paticca Samuppada)
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
The wheel
of
becoming
12. 1.
Aging & Ignorance 2.
Dying
11. Impulse
Birth
Heaven to Exist
3.
10. Demon Con-
Becom- Human
Realm Greed Realm scious-
ing ness
Delusion
9. Hatred Hungry 4.
Cling- Animal Ghost
Mind-
ing Realm Body
Realm
8. Hell Six 5.
Craving Senses
7. 6.
Sensations Contact
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(Eightfold Path, continued)
2. Right Intent
(Resolution)
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(Eightfold Path, continued)
3. Right Speech
No lying
No slander Strive to use language
No harsh or rude talk meaningfully &
No profanity usefully
No impolite or abusive
language Learn to maintain
No idle or foolish “noble silence”
chatter
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(Eightfold Path, continued)
4. Right
Conduct Eat moderately & not after
noon.
No harming & killing Stay away from dancing,
No stealing singing, & dramatic
No lying & deceitfulness spectacles.
No sexual immorality Do not use garlands,
scents, unguents, or
No use of intoxicants
ornaments.
Do not use high or broad
The Five Precepts (for
beds.
everybody) & the Ten
Precepts (for monks & nuns) Do not accept gold or
silver (money in general?).
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(Eightfold Path, continued)
5. Right Livelihood
(Vocation)
Choose professions that promote life, peace,
& spiritual progress (especially life in the
Specifically prohibited professions: poison
peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher,
manufacturer & trader of liquor & other
intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader,
tax collector, caravan trader.
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
(Eightfold Path, continued)
6. Right Effort
(purification of the mind)
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right
Concentration
One-pointed concentration
of Buddhism
The Major Buddhist Traditions
Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”) - Sri Lanka &
Southeast Asia
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
Impermanence
Impermanence, also called Anicca or
Anitya, is one of the essential doctrines and
a part of three marks of existence
in Buddhism. ... Impermanence is
intimately associated with the doctrine of
anatta, according to which things have no
essence, permanent self, or unchanging soul.
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
The Spread Spheres of
Influence
of Buddhism
Buddhism
out of India
by 1000 AD
Theravada
Mahayana
Vajrayana
http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching)
Dharma (Buddha's Teachings)
Taiwan
Malaysia
Chinese
Buddhist
celebration
The monks come daily to each
home for an offering
Coming of age to be a monk
Monks
Tiger Cave Mountain where they
have a foot bone of the Buddha
Atop
Tiger
Cave
Mountain
Atop Tiger Cave Mountain
Revering the foot of Buddha
Why haven’t they responded to
the Gospel?
Not sharing the Gospel with Thai
Buddhists in an understandable Way
Communication gap between Thai
Buddhists and missionaries
To be Thai is to be Buddhist
Lack of contextualization is partly
responsible for lack of response among the
Thai people
II. General approach to
contextualization in Thailand
Right attitude towards Thai culture
All that God created is good
Acknowledging Thai values which are biblical values
Use caution in choosing Thai Buddhist words to explain
Christian truth
Using Buddhist words to express Christian concepts
Designing new vocabulary to Christian concepts
Necessity of on-going contact to produce biblical
understanding among Thai Buddhists
Sharing the Gospel with Buddhists, not Buddhism
Necessity of loving people as they are
III. Thai concepts that may be
adopted to explain the Gospel
The origin of suffering (dukkha) and the attainment of
true happiness
Happiness is impossible because life is suffering (dukkha)
True origin of Dukkha is Adam and Eve’s ignorance
(avijja)
True happiness is possible when the true source of
Dukkha is identified
Dukkha, Anicca, and Anatta may be used to describe
God’s relationship with man
Israel is a source of suffering (dukkha) to God
Israel’s devotion to God is impermanent (anicca)
Israel destroys herself by her actions and disobedience to
God (anatta)
Sharing the Gospel continued
A probable misunderstanding by Thai Buddhist listeners
Merit transference (pattidana) and the Cross of Christ
Theravada Buddhism denies existence of merit transference
Two examples of merit transference as practiced by Thai
Buddhists i. Cloth Offering Ceremony at a Funeral ii.
Entering the Buddhist Priesthood
Double transference of merit in Christ Jesus has infinite merit
which is transferred to man
Man’s guilt is transferred to Jesus
Discussing merit transference with Thai Buddhists
Merit transference provides an escape from Karma
IV. A Motivation to Avoid Sin:
Shame
Shame orientation versus guilt orientation
The nature of shame in Thai Society Motivation to avoid
sin because of shame
V. Illustrations from Thai history used
to illustrate the biblical truth of
substitution and sacrifice
The self Sacrifice of Queen Suriyothai.
The Contest for Chiang Mai, determined by who could
stay underwater the longest.
These two girls accepted
Christ!