-Buddhism- -Confucianism- -Taoism-

-Buddhism--Confucianism--Taoism-

Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama: • Lived 563 B.C. E. – 483 B.C.E • In southern Nepal • He is the “Enlightened One” The father of Buddhism

Buddhism • At 29yrs old Siddhartha Gautama • While sitting under the bo tree, he experienced • The Great Awakening • Wandered India searching for religious truth • He spent years meditating, studying, and preaching

Buddhism • The Buddha shared his ideas with anyone who would listen. • He was teaching a religion that was devoid of: • Authority • Ritual • Tradition

Buddhism • It was • Empirical • Scientific • Pragmatic • Therapeutic • Egalitarian • Directed at individuals

Buddhism • Buddha’s key discovery is known as the Four Noble Truths. • The first truth is Dukka. Which refers to life's suffering. All of life is suffering and pain • Buddha believed that the pains we feel in life could be cured through Buddhism.

Buddhism • Buddha’s key discovery is known as the Four Noble Truths. • The second truth is Tanha. • Pain is caused by the desire for wealth and power.

Buddhism • Buddha’s key discovery is known as the Four Noble Truths. • The third truth is the solution for Tanha: the knowledge and understanding that there is a way to end suffering and overcome desire.

Buddhism • Buddha’s key discovery is known as the Four Noble Truths. • The fourth truth is the real solution for Tanah: nirvana. It comes in the form of the Eight Fold Path. • Achieve nirvana with excellent conduct and kindness to all

Buddhism • The Eight Fold Path: You must have all of the following qualities to cure Tanha. • The Right Knowledge: • You must have the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. • The Right Aspiration: • You have to want to reach true enlightenment for the Eight Fold Path to work. As in Taoism As in Confucianism

Buddhism • The Eight Fold Path: You must have all of the following qualities to cure Tanha. • The Right Speech: • You need to take notice of how often you feel the need to deviate from the truth. • The Right Behavior: • Do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, or take drugs or intoxicants.

Buddhism • The Eight Fold Path: You must have all of the following qualities to cure Tanha. • The Right Livelihood: • Your occupation can not go against the teachings of the Buddha. • The Right Effort: • You have to be dedicated and always try to follow the way of the Buddhist. Unlike Taoism

Buddhism • The Eight Fold Path: You must have all of the following qualities to cure Tanha. • The Right Mindfulness: • You have to be aware of every part of yourself. Your thought and your feelings. • The Right Absorption: • If you lose delusion, craving and hostility, the three poisons. You will see things how they should be.

Buddhism • If you follow the Four Noble truths you could reach Nirvana, which is the ultimate goal for every Buddhist. • “Nirvana is permanent, stable, ageless, and deathless; it is power, bliss and happiness, the secure refuge, and the shelter. • incomprehensible peace

Buddhism • Buddha believed in reincarnation. • He saw it as a wave. • He said that nothing will be identical to this life in the next, “Pari Passu”.

Buddhism • There are three groups of Buddhist today. • Hinayana: The Little Way • Mahayana: The Great Way • Vajrayana: The Diamond Way

Buddhism • Hinayana: The Little Way • They prefer to call their Buddhism “Theravada” • The way of the Elders. • They follow the Pali Canon records. • Believed that Progress lies with the individual. • Believe that there is no God to help you get through life. As in Confucianism

Buddhism • Hinayana: The Little Way • The prime attribute is wisdom “Bodhi”. • Sangha: Monasteries filled with spiritual dynamos where Theravada thrived. • They believe that their religion was for these high priest to teach and pass on. • They would only use meditation and invocations to strengthen their faith.

Buddhism • Mahayana: The Great Way • Claim that they represent the true line of succession, from the Buddha. • That Buddha reached Nirvana and returned to teach others how to reach it as well. • They believe that there are Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to help them through life. • Bodhisattvas: A person that has attained enlightenment, but postpones Nirvana in order to enlighten others.

Buddhism • Mahayana: The Great Way • The prime attribute is compassion “Karuna”. • Believe that the religion is primarily for the average person. • They added supplications, petition, and calling out Buddha’s name for strength.

Buddhism • Vajrayana: The Diamond Way • The way to realize Buddha’s wisdom and compassion. • Vajrayana started in Tibet. • The essence of Vajrayana Buddhism is Tantra. • It teachings gives the advantage of reaching Nirvana in a single life time by using, and focusing all the energies in the body.

Buddhism • Vajrayana: The Diamond Way • Mantras: Fashion sounds into holy formulas • Mudras: Turn hand gestures into scared dances • Mandalas: Use icons who’s holy beauty empowers

Buddhism • Vajrayana: The Diamond Way • The Dali Lama is the Vajrayana’s version of a Bodhisattva. • The Dali Lama has reincarnated himself 13 times, so he can continue to lead the Tibetan people.

Buddhism • Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana: The Rafts • They all have a single founder. • They all deal with the metaphor, using a raft to cross life’s river. • Once you cross the river the realm of God is no distant place. It is where you now stand. • They all have very lavish temples and shrines. Unlike Taoism

Buddhism • Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana: The Rafts • They all believe in the kindness to all creatures, the non-killing of animals, the elimination of caste barriers in religion and their reduction in social matters. • Buddhism thrives in every Asian land, except the one that gave birth to it: India Main Menu

Confucianism • Confucius: • Was born around 551 B.C. in Lu in the Shantung Province • Father was upper class • Born out of wedlock • He never knew his father • He and his mother lived in poverty The father of Confucianism

Confucianism • Confucius was one of the worlds best teachers • He founded the philosophical school called Ru • He died at the age of 74 • He never thought of himself as a sage • His teachings were recorded by his students in the Analects

Confucianism • With his death began his glorification • His teachings have touched almost every Chinese student for the past two thousand years. • Confucius believed that tradition was the key to peace. • He believed that tradition would show them the way back to a happy, stable China.

Confucianism • Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his thoughts: • Jen: Is the ideal way for one to carry oneself through life. “Measure the feeling of others by one’s own.” • Chu Tzu: If Jen is how a person should be, then Chu Tzu is how a person should act.

Confucianism • Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his thoughts: • Li: The way things should be done. It is the way you should act in what ever role you play in life. • A father should be a father, and a ruler should be a ruler. Unlike Taoism • Te: Translates to “Power”. How the people with power, use it. For a person to be a great leader his followers must choose to follow him.

Confucianism • Confucius had Five Ideals that guided his thoughts: • Wen: Victory goes to the state with the highest culture. Art has the power to ennoble the human spirit. China placed the scholar-bureaucrat at the top of its social scale, and its soldiers at the bottom.

Confucianism • Confucius believed that without human relationships, there would be no self. • There are Five Constant relationships in life: • Parent and Child • Husband and Wife • Elder Sibling and Junior Sibling • Elder Friend and Junior Friend

Confucianism • People have to warrant the respect and power that comes with their positions in life. Power and respect are not a given, they must be earned. • He believed that if everyone followed the five ideals, the effect would be wide-spread through family, community, and the world. Unlike Taoism As in Buddhism

Confucianism • Confucius shifted China’s focus from heaven to earth. Though he did not remove heaven from the picture. • He saw that his country could not serve it’s people, so how was it going to serve it’s ancestors. • He believed that somewhere in the universe there is a power that is on the side of right.

Confucianism • You should be able to work out your problems with out involving the courts. • Confucianism has the power to change entire civilizations for the better. It affects every aspect of life and makes it better.

Confucianism • Confucius repeatedly calls for self-examination • Confucius focused on the individuals, the people, more than anything else. Unlike Taoism As in Buddhism Unlike Taoism Main Menu

Taoism • Lao Tzu: • Was born around 640 B.C. • No one is really sure about any dates or places. The father of Taoism

Taoism • Lao Tzu was not pleased with his people, so he left and went on a journey. • On his journey, an official asked him to leave a record of his beliefs. • He wrote a 5,000 character book called Tao Te Ching • The book became the foundation of Taoism

Taoism • The Tao Te Ching is in effect the Taoist bible. • It centers around the concept of Tao: “the way” or “the “path” • Strong emphasis is placed on non-action; that is, the absence of aggressive action

Taoism • There are three meanings of “Tao” • Tao- The way to ultimate reality. This Tao is way to vast for a person to comprehend or fathom. • Tao- The way of the universe. The norm, the rhythm, and the driving power in all of nature. Deals more with the spiritual side then the Physical side of things.

Taoism • There are three meanings of “Tao” • Tao- The way of human life. It refers to the way that we mesh with the Tao of the universe.

Taoism • Just like the three meanings of Tao. All three were designed to facilitate the power of Tao through “te” • There are three types of Taoism: • Philosophical Taoism • Religious or Popular Taoism • Vitalizing Taoism

Taoism • Philosophical Taoism: • Is a reflective look at life • Relatively unorganized • Teaches what you should understand • You work on improving yourself • Seeks power through knowledge • Sought to conserve “te” and not to expend is on friction and conflict.

Taoism • Philosophical Taoism: • Wu Wei- The perfect way to live life, and reduce conflict and friction • Combines supreme activity and supreme relaxation • The conscious mind has to get out of the way of its own light. • For one to perfect the wu wei lifestyle. • A lifestyle above excess and tension. As in Buddhism

Taoism • Religious Taoism: • Became a full fledge church • Its programs are active • “The Taoist priesthood made cosmic life-power available for ordinary villagers.” • Their power was with magic, the harnessed higher powers for human ends. • Want to help transmit “Ch’i” to people that can not get it on their own. As in Buddhism

Taoism • Vitalizing Taoism: • The programs are active • Relatively unorganized • Teaches what you should do. • Is a self help program • You work on improving yourself • Want to increase the amounts of Tao or “te” in their life • They do this through “ch’i”

Taoism • Philosophical, Religious and Vitalizing Taoism • All center on how to maximize their Tao. • They honor hunchbacks, cripples because the tallest tree gets the axe first. • Their temples blend in with the landscape. They do not stand out. Unlike Buddhism and Confucianism

Taoism • Philosophical, Religious and Vitalizing Taoism • They all teach that people will be at their best when they are living in harmony with their surroundings. • They consider ceremonies pompous and downright silly. • They feel there is nothing to gain from social correctness and the meticulous observance of propriety. Unlike Confucianism Unlike Buddhism

Taoism • The Taoist believe in opposites, and that things in nature have a way of working themselves out. Unlike Confucianism Unlike Confucianism Main Menu

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