Buddhism

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Buddhism
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A Way of Life

• To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is
  more of a philosophy or 'way of life'
• The major tenets are
• (1) to lead a moral life(2) to be mindful
  and aware of thoughts and actions(3) to develop
  wisdom and understanding
• (Introduction to Buddhism)

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Who was the Buddha?

• Born Siddhartha Gautama in 563 B.C.E.
• He was of the noble caste in India
• At the age of 29 he rejected the life of luxury
• He sought enlightenment and the solution to
  suffering (Introduction to Buddha)

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The Wandering Ascetic

• He followed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six
  years
• Then he realized even this was too extreme
• He became Buddha, the Awakened Oneat the age of
  35
• He spent the remaining 45 years of his life
  teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind
  he had achieved
• (Introduction to Buddha)

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The Four Noble Truths

• 1- To live is to suffer
• 2- The cause of suffering is self-centered desire
  attachments
• 3- The solution is to eliminate desire and
  attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (extinction)
• 4- The way to Nirvana is through the Eight-Fold
  Path
• 
  (Introduction to Buddhism)

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What is the Eight-Fold Path?

• Wisdom
• Right understanding
• Right motivation

• Moral discipline
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood

• Mental discipline
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right meditation

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Three Marks of Existence

• Anicca (Sanskrit anitya) impermanence
• Dukkha (Sanskrit duhkha) unsatisfactoriness
• Anatta (Sanskrit anatman) non-self
• (Three Marks of Existence)

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Buddhist Metaphysics

• Dukkha life in this world is filled with
  suffering
• Anicca everything in this world is impermanent
• Anatta the self/soul is also impermanent there
  is no eternal, unchanging self (no soul no
  atman)
• (Metaphysics)

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What do Buddhists believe?

• Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments
  (karma)
• Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind
• Once Gautama Buddha died, after 80 years of life
  in this world, having achieved Nirvana and
  teaching multitudes his way of life, he ceased to
  exist as a distinct being
• Buddhism is non-theistic Buddha is not the
  Buddhist God he is just a revered teacher

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How are Buddhism and Hinduism Similar?

• Buddhists and Hindus believe
• Karma is a cycle of cause and effect
• Similar actions will lead to similar results
  (Santina)
• Dharma is duty
• Samsara is the cycle of rebirth
• (Major Differences)

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How are Buddhism and Hinduism Different?

• Buddhism rejects
• Authority of the ancient Vedic texts
• The Vedic caste system
• The Vedic and Hindu deities
• The efficacy of Vedic worship and ritual
• The concept of Brahman
• (Major Differences)

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For Example

• There are no supreme dieties in Buddhism
• Buddha is not an Avatar, he is a holy man
• Buddha is omniscient, not omnipotent
• Moksha is happiness on earth while Nirvana is an
  escape from it entirely
• (Major Differences)

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Schools of Buddhism - Theravada

• Oldest school of Buddhism
• Found in southern Asia (Sri Lanka, Burma,
  Thailand, etc.)
• Monasticism is the ideal life for achieving
  Nirvana
• A do-it-yourself approach to enlightenment
• Focus on wisdom and meditation
• Goal is to become a Buddha
• Pali Canon word of Buddha
• (Theravada Ideal)

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Schools of Buddhism - Mahayana

• Developed first century C.E.
• Found in Northern Asia (China, Japan, etc.)
• Buddhism for the masses
• Group, not individual end to suffering
• Believe Buddhas can help lead to enlightenment
• "Agamas" as well as Pali Canon
• Diverse schools and sects
• (Bodhisattva Ideal)

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Schools of Buddhism - Tibetan

• Developed 7th century C.E.
• A mix of Theravada Mahayana
• Rituals (Tantra)
• Mantras (chanting)
• Mandalas Thankas (symbolic images)
• Mudras (hand gestures)
• Bodhisattvas, including living Lamas (Dalai Lama)
• Scriptures
• Between the 11th and 14th centuries, the Tibetans
  translated every available Buddhist text into
  Tibetan..
• Tibetan Book of the Dead

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Schools of Buddhism Zen

• The meditation school
• Seeks sudden enlightenment (satori) through
  meditation, arriving at emptiness (sunyata) and
  the Buddha Nature
• Use of meditation masters (Roshi)
• Beauty, arts aesthetics gardens, archery, the
  tea ceremony, calligraphy, etc.

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What are some Buddhist texts?

• Tripitaka aka the Three Baskets
• Vinaya (discipline) rules for monastic life
• Sutta (discourse) sermons of the Buddha
• Abhidhamma (metaphysical teachings)
• Dhammapada collected sayings of the Buddha

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The Spread of Buddhism

• Within two centuries after the Buddha died,
  Buddhism began to spread north and east into Asia
• By 13th century Buddhism had disappeared from
  India

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Buddhist Populations
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A quick note about the Citations

• All of the information in this presentation comes
  from Buddhanet.net
• The citations reference the articles on the cite

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