Download Slide 1

Buddhism Basics
• Attempts to give answers to life’s essential questions
• Emphasis on “things to do” rather than “things to believe”
• Direct religious experience VS blind faith
• Tolerant of any religion that allows a person to find “truth” of
himself / herself
• Different from Hinduism in that it was ‘founded’
ULTIMATE GOAL of a Buddhist
 End suffering and attain absolute peace and joy
 Enlightenment
- Freedom from ignorance
- State of permanent tranquility and peace
Buddhism Hindu Roots

Buddhism grew out of Hinduism
– Siddhartha Gautama born to Kshatriya caste
– Believed to be incarnation of Vishnu

Retained concepts:
– reincarnation, samsara, karma, dharma, moksha (nirvana)

Rejected concepts:
– caste system (Brahmin caste power) - inequality
– Could reach Nirvana (Moksha) only if Brahmin
– language of Sanskrit was for educated (elite) only
– Used common language Pali to teach
– Hindu rituals and offerings to gods
– Insignificant religious activities that took away from
quest for enlightenment
Buddhism founded approximately 2500 years ago in India
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA

Siddhartha Gautama
– born 563 BCE
– Kshatriya caste in present day Nepal

Came from royalty
– Kingdom of Gautama
– Father/Mother – King and Queen
– Destined to be a king also
FOUR SIGHTS OF SIDDHARTHA

Conception - descended from Heaven and
entered mother’s (Queen Maya) womb in
form of baby white elephant (purity)

Queen Maya carried him for 10 months
and could see him in the womb

Gave birth from her side with assistance
from tree branches

Water poured from the sky

At birth he took 7 steps and said “this is
my last birth”

Sages noted that he was a perfect human
form
FOUR SIGHTS OF SIDDHARTHA

King wanted to shelter him
from unpleasantness of life

At 29, visited the city 4
times and saw 4 sights:
Old man
Sick man
Dead man
Ascetic monk
1)
2)
3)
4)
Gave him a means to ending his
despair
FOUR SIGHTS OF SIDDHARTHA

‘Great Going Forth’

Inspired to leave life of luxury and find a
spiritual solution to human problems

Sought spiritual knowledge through
– meditation, breathing, reducing food
intake
– Realized self denial too extreme and
unproductive

Determined best course was the
MIDDLE WAY
– (path between both extremes; a
lifestyle of moderation)
ENLIGHTENMENT OF SIDDHARTHA






Meditated under a Bodhi tree
Remembered all of his previous lives
Removed craving and ignorance for himself
Achieved NIRVANA and was released from samsara
Stayed in this state for 7 days
Died in 486 BCE and achieved paranirvana (complete nirvana)
Buddha


Budh = ‘to awaken’
Buddha = ‘Awakened’ or ‘enlightened’ one
– awakened to nature of human condition and means of transcending it


Not necessarily divine nor a prophet
Considered a model teacher
– showed and taught his followers how to live their lives
Nirvana
• ‘blown out’
• Extinguish all worldly desires
• state of supreme realization and enlightenment
• understand truth of life and freedom from ignorance
• state of total liberation, truth, tranquility, peace
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Spring Temple Buddha
Lushan, Henan, China
128 m
Key Beliefs
3 Characteristics of Existence

Buddha’s thoughts on the nature of existence
– All things outside of Nirvana have three fundamental characteristics
DUKKHA
ANNICA
ANATTA
Key Beliefs
1. Dukkha = Dissatisfaction
– “suffering”
– all humans and animals experience suffering
 Physical, mental & emotional pain
 Disease, pain, grief, loneliness…
Key Beliefs
2. Anatta = Selflessness
– “no-self”
 (An atman)
– no ultimate reality within
– No permanent, independent self
 We are only a collection of changing
parts
Key Beliefs
3. Annica = Impermanence
–
–
–
–
world in constant state of flux
Everything changes
Environment, bodies, thoughts, perceptions, fears, hopes…
Buddha would say
– ‘The flowing is the river…’
Where were ‘you’ 10 years ago?
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
Evolved out of Buddha’s
search for the cause and
treatment of unhappiness in
life.
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. To live is to suffer
All life consists of suffering
- birth, death, sorrow, loneliness
2. Origin of suffering
The root is negative desire, craving & greed for the wrong
pleasures
Search for more than our basic needs
3. Extinction of suffering
The goal is to end suffering by removing negative desire,
craving & greed to achieve nirvana
4. Path leading to the extinction of suffering
Adopting Middle Way and follow the Noble 8 Fold Path
1
2
8
7
3
6
4
5
The Noble Eightfold Path
-
Buddhist way of Life
Means to an end of suffering
Series of steps towards Nirvana
Wisdom:
1. Right View (Understanding)
– know the 4 Noble Truths
2. Right Intention (Thought)
– Free mind from desire and craving and cruel
thought
- Nurture good thoughts
The Noble Eightfold Path
Moral conduct, Virtue
3. Right speech
- no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh
language
4. Right conduct (Action)
- by following the Five Precepts
5. Right livelihood
- avoid harmful occupations and promote peace
The Noble Eightfold Path
Contemplation:
6. Right Effort:
- Awareness of state of mind and body
- promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7. Right Mindfulness:
- become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8. Right Concentration:
- Attainment of higher state of consciousness or
tranquility through meditation
FIVE PRECEPTS

Rules to live by and follow to control improper behaviour
that may cause suffering
– Similar second half of the Ten Commandments in
Judaism and Christianity
– describes behaviors to avoid
FIVE PRECEPTS
1.
Abstain from killing or harming living beings
- translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence
2.
Abstain from stealing
- avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation.
3.
Abstain from improper sexual conduct
- For monks and nuns, this means complete celibacy
- For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual
harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage.
4.
Abstain from false speech
- name calling, gossip, etc.
5.
Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs
- The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind
More Numbers…
Triple Jewel or Three Refuges
 Created by Buddha
 Purpose:
- make it easier to follow his teachings
- protect oneself from a difficult existence
- put one on correct path of spiritual journey
Buddha (guide)
Dharma (path)
Sangha (teachers, monks & nuns)
First steps toward Enlightenment
More Numbers…
•
•
•
•
•
3
4
4
5
8
More Numbers…
Six Perfections
 Giving
 Morality
 Patience
 Vigour
 Meditation
 Wisdom
Practiced by Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattva
 one who has attained nirvana, chooses to be reborn within
samsara in order to help others on path of enlightenment
Zen Buddhism
• Cannot be taught, needs to be experienced
•
•
•
•
A form of Mahayana Buddhism
comes from the Japanese word for “meditation”
Focuses on the experience of enlightenment
The tradition extends all the way back to Buddha
India  China  Japan
Zen Buddhism
THREE POUNDS
A monk asked Tozen when he was weighing some flax, "What is Buddha?"
Tozen said, "This flax weighs three pounds.”
WASH YOUR BOWL
A monk told Joshu, "I have just entered the monastery. Please teach me."
Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your rice porridge?
The monk replied, "I have eaten."
Joshu said, "Then you had better wash your bowl."
At that moment the monk was enlightened.
Zen Teachings
The direct experience of truth (our true nature)
Zen is beyond:
 the reach of thoughts & feelings
 words used to express thoughts & feelings
 logical thinking
Zen is:
 hidden behind our thoughts, feelings, fears, personality &
ego
– this clutters the mind preventing pure insight into the truth
 emphasizes experience over speculation
 offers a path to freedom from this ‘bondage’
Two schools of Zen
1 - Rinzai Sect – ‘Sudden awakening’ to
 Satori – Enlightenment – how do Zen
Buddhists propose we reach enlightenment?
–

Through:
Koans – tools in Zen training



Puzzles designed to short circuit the workings of
the logical, rational mind
Help lead to direct insight into the true nature of
the world and ultimate reality
Helps one attain a healthy vigorous mind
Two schools of Zen
2 - Soto Sect – ‘Gradual awakening’
- Through:
– Zazen – ‘seated meditation’ - monks sit for
hours in the lotus position
– clear the mind and gain insight
– Sanzen - Regularly meet to discuss
teachings, training and meditate
– Roshi - Zen master who has control over the disciple
Zen life
Monastic lifestyle – meditation, menial
work, structured life, devotion to teacher
 Zen can be practiced outside of the
monastery -not necessary to become a
monk or nun

Schools of Buddhism

Theravada (Sri
Lanka, Thailand,
Cambodia)

Mahayana
(China, Vietnam,
Korea)

Vajrayana
(Tibet, Bhutan,
Nepal)

Zen Buddhism
Kundun

Martin Scorcese
– The Departed, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas,
Raging Bull, Taxi Driver…
– dark side of urban life
– Catholicism

Kundun
– Early life of the Dalai Lama
– Symbolism, teachings and life
– Spiritual development and political development
– Tibetan actors
Symbols - Mandala
Symbols - Mandala

khiyl-khor -“centre of the universe in which a fully
awakened being abides” - Tibetan meaning
Sanskrit word meaning ‘circle’
 Exercise in meditation and prayer

– Helps to focus attention

Spiritual Geography
– Establishes a sacred space for spiritual teaching and
training
– Represents the spiritual home of deities and enlightened
beings

All Tibetan Buddhist monks learn to construct them
Symbols - Mandala
Symbols - Mandala

Basic structure
– Square in the centre with 4 gates enclosed by
circles
 Symbolizes the limits of physical space
– Sand
 Comes from Himalayas
 Ground to five different degrees of fineness
– Coarser grains - background
– Finer grains - details
 Dyed naturally
Symbolism

Mandala
When completed;
– chants and prayers are recited before it is swept away
– Placed in a stream or body of water
– Impermanence of the world
Sacred Writings
Tripitaka (Three Baskets) ~ considered to be the most
accurate of Buddha’s teachings which consist of:
 Vinaya-Pitaka: Basket of Discipline (monks)
 Sutta-Pitaka: Basket of Discourse

Abidhamma-Pitiaka: Basket of Further Teachings
Practices
Meditation- lotus posture
 Bowing (three times)
 Offerings & Chanting Mantras: “Om Mani Padme

Hum” which means “Hail, the jewel in the lotus”
Karma
 Dana (donations)
 Mudras
 Monks

The 14th Dalai Lama Quotes

‘My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.’

‘If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you
want to be happy, practice compassion.’

‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’

‘ We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one
nation is the suffering of humanity. The happiness of one
person or nation is the happiness of humanity.’

‘Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you
sow the seeds for another.’
The 14th Dalai Lama

Born 1935 - Lhamo Thondup
– Taktser in northeastern Tibet

Renamed - Tenzin Gyatso
– AKA - Teshe Norbu (Kundun) – “The
Presence”
Dalai Lama - “Ocean of Wisdom”

‘Discovered’ at age 2

Manifestation of the Bodhisattva of
Compassion

Assumed political power at age 15
The 14th Dalai Lama

Resides in Northern India
– Once lead Tibetan Government in
Exile but no longer - prime minister
Lobsang Sangay

Still the spiritual leader

Established educational, cultural and
religious institutions to preserve
Tibetan identity and heritage

Reputation as a scholar and man of
peace

Received Nobel Peace Prize in 1989
The 14th Dalai Lama

Has been denounced by the Chinese
government as a supporter of Tibetan
independence

Has developed a public position stating that he is not
in favour of Tibetan independence and would not
object to a status in which Tibet has internal autonomy

the PRC manages some aspects of Tibet's defense and
foreign affairs.

'Middle Way Approach'
– the Chinese government can take care of foreign
affairs and defense, and that Tibet should be
managed by an elected body
Tibet today

Part of China

Nearly 60 ethnic Tibetans, many monks and
nuns, have set themselves on fire in China
since February 2009
– protest against Beijing's rule in Tibet
– most recent incidents occurring near Labrang
monastery.
Film Assignment & Journal Entry

Film Assignment
– Write a brief essay taking a position on the following question.
In your opinion, did the Dalai Lama make the right decision
by leaving Tibet? What other options did he have?

Journal
– The concept of Nirvana is difficult to understand and is often
debated by Buddhists themselves as to who, what or where it is.
Provide your own explanation of what Nirvana is to you and give
two or three ideas that support your explanation.
http://www.cucirca.com/2010/01/11/the-simpsons-season-13-episode-6-she-of-little-faith/
Spread of Buddhism
• Is Buddha God?
• Is Nirvana God? / Place / Being
• No, a state of being
• The total cessation of suffering
•