Buddhism

1. Buddhism Project created by:Trevor Block & Erin Bater * = Presentation

2. *What is Buddhism? Buddhism is a religion, (although most people would argue it to be a lifestyle), based on the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama. Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha – the idea or highest spiritual potential existing within all beings. Dharma – the teachings of Buddha. Sangha – The community of those who have obtained enlightenment.

3. *Tipitaka • Buddhism is documented in the Tipitaka. It was documented 83 BCE in Sri Lanka. The language that it is recorded in is Pali. The script that it is recorded in is Sinhala. The Tipitaka is about 11 times the size of the bible, but you don’t need to read every chapter, sutra, because Buddha has just explained the same four noble truths to his audiences under different circumstances.

4. *The Four Noble Truths • There is suffering. • There is cause for suffering. • There is cessation of suffering. • There is path leading to the cessation of suffering.

5. *Origin of Buddha • “Buddha” is a title and not a name in itself. It means “one who is awake” (in the sense of having “woken up to reality”). Buddha was first given to a man who was Siddhartha Gautama approximately 2,500 years ago. Siddhartha did not claim to be a God and Buddhists have never regarded him as a God. He was just a human being who became Enlightened, understanding life in the deepest way possible.

6. *The Eightfold Path[Attainment of Enlightenment] • Aim: To attain final liberation called Nirvana. • Instruments: Your mind and body (Nama-rupa). • Procedure: Follow the Noble eight-fold path. Wisdom • Right View – To understand wholesome deeds, unwholesome deeds and comprehend the law of Karma. • Right Intention – The intention of non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion.Ethical Conduct • Right Speech – Abstaining from false speech, malicious speech, harsh speech and idle chatter.

7. Right Action – Abstaining from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. • Right Livelihood – Abstaining from wrong and corrupt means of livelihood.Mental Development • Right Effort – Awakening zeal for abandoning of unwholesome states and arising & sustaining of wholesome states. • Right Mindfulness – The four foundations of mindfulness (satipattana) namely contemplation on body, contemplation on feelings, contemplation on mind and contemplation on mind-objects. • Right Concentration – Abandoning of five hindrances namely lust, ill-will sloth-torpor, worry-agitation and doubt through jhanas.

8. Meditation • Buddhism began encouraging its practitioners to engage in mindfulness, smrti (sati). Mindfulness is developing a full consciousness of all about you and within you. If it is in a special, seated posture, or simply going about your life. This is the kind of meditation that Buddha himself engaged in under the bodhi tree, and is referred to in the seventh step of the eightfold path.

9. *Five Buddhist Precepts • These 5 precepts are the moral code of Buddhism. • Do not kill. • Do not steal. • Do not indulge in sexual misconduct. • Do not make false speech. • Do not take intoxicants.

10. **Introduction To Buddhism In Japan Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan in 538 A.D. when a brilliant image of Buddha, along with scripture-scrolls and ornaments were introduced to Emperor きっめい. Controversy started immediately over whether a foreign cult should be accepted or not. Many orthodox clans, such as the もののべ and なかとみ clan, believed that the Shinto religion should be the only religion, as Japan already had it’s indigenous religion.

11. Further Conflict The そが clan supported the idea of Buddhism, as they believed it had much to offer to their culture, and would enrich their culture. Thus, Emperor きっめい deferred the matter to the そが clan. 40 Years later, Prince しょとく declared Buddhism as the official religion. He believed that Buddhism would make Japan a cultural and unified, refined country. Because of しょとく, Buddhist temples were built in Japan, and Buddhism was finally established on Japanese soil.

12. なら Period (710-784 A.D.) After the death of しょとく, Buddhism continued to blossom in Japan. Buddhist temples in this time were not just a center of prayer, they were also schools, hospitals, and orphanages. It was Japan’s new way of life. As the number of monks increased they were separated and classified into 6 schools: さんろん、ほっそ、けごん、りつ、くしゃ、と　じょじつ。 It was the same way that the Chinese was divided.

13. *Six Buddhist Schools • さんろん // Teaches to refrain from choosing between opposing positions, and to tread a middle way. • ほっそ // Teaches that all things are a mind-evolution, and are neither in themselves, real or unreal. • けごん // Teaches that the center of teaching is the equality of all things, and the dependence of all things on each other.

14. りつ // Teaches the rules and regulations for the communial life of monks and nuns. • くしゃ is considered to be a knock-off of the Indian school, Sautrantika. • じょじつ is considered to be a knock-off of the Indian school, Servastivada. The last two schools mentions, くしゃ and じょじつ, teach the original texts and principle’s.

15. へいあん Period (794-1185 A.D.) In 784, the Japanese capital transferred from 　なら to きょうと, and apparently it became the Buddhist center of Japan. Two new schools were introduced from China:　てんだい and しんごん。 These new schools overshadowed the previous six.

16. Two New Buddhist Schools • しんごん // Teaches that englightentment (Nirvana) is not a foreign reality that takes ages to achieve, but that it is a real possibility in this lifetime. • てんだい // Teaches that the Lotus Sutra is the concept that all beings possess Buddha-Nature.

17. かまくら Period (1185-1333 A.D.) This whole period had the two previous schools decline, and many more schools appear in Japan, teaching Zen Buddhism. The sect-founder of the Kamakura Period noticed that all the truthful and meaning text lay in the Lotus Sutra, but that it would be too difficult for the normal person to understand. He simply proclaimed that muttering the title Lotus Stura (Myoho-renge-kyo) would be sufficient to find oneself in the highest state of enlightenment. This, ‘Zen Buddhism’, is what’s practiced today in Japan.

18. *Types of Buddhism • There are three types of Buddhism: Theraveda [Southern], Mahayana [Eastern], and Tibetan [Northern]. • The Buddhism taught in Japan is Mahayana Buddhism. This sect teaches the Pali Canon, the religious text, and additional texts and beliefs. Nirvana is achieved by practicing universal compassion.

19. *Karma Karma is a big part of the Buddhism religion. The theory of karma is that when you do good things, good things happen to you in return. This theory also goes for the opposite; when doing bad things, bad things will happen to you in return. This is why the Japanese are mostly so very well mannered, and have respect for all people. Karma has shaped the culture of Japan.

20. Buddhist Influences in Japanese Culture

21. *Grace at Meals • いただきます! Yes – That famous phrase said before every meal originates from Buddhism! This means “With thankfulness, I accept this meal by reflecting on my own work, to see whether I deserve it.” • ごちそさま! This is said after every meal, and means “May this offering be well received to keep my body in good health and to fulfill the good wishes of all beings.” The original meanings of the words spoken in a prayer called “がっしょ” have been lost, but they are uttered and convey the teachings of Buddhism to be thankful of all beings who gave them life in the world.

22. Daily “Greetings” • “すみません!” This word simply shows that one acknowledges that they have not properly responded to another’s kindness. • “ありがとう”, literally meaning “I am obliged.” The Japanese are very serious and feel strongly about obligations, and etiquette. [Trevor wouldn’t do so well there]

23. じゃんけん! • はい! This game is the most popular game that the Japanese play. We used to do this everyday last year several times, but now we barely do =(. However, in Japan they play it from when they’re young, all the way until they’re 80+. This game conveys the profound Buddhist teaching of interdependence and relativity.

24. おりがみ おりがみ follows precise and determined patterns to create beautiful shapes and objects we see in our everyday world.The idea of Buddhismin origami is creating aeverlasting design outof something that isperishable.

25. Buddhist Rights of Passage

26. Birth When a child is born, a report is issued to the village office, where the name will be entered into the family register called こせき. The first feast is held seven days after the child is born, and is when they’ll take the child to a temple and have them blessed.

27. Marriage • To get married, both partners must come to a ward office with two witnesses to sign documents for the marriage to be legal. The wedding is held in a Buddhist Temple, and initiated with a vow to the Buddha. After offering incents to the Buddha, the couple receives ritually purified water, then drink sacred rice wine offered to the Buddha from three wine cups. They both drink three times each, symbolizing homage to the three treasures of Buddha. This is called drinking the さん-さん-くど pledge. Then the じゅず, or Buddhist Rosary containing 108 beads, is given to the couple, and the wedding rings are exchanged.

28. Death The funeral is held at a Buddhist Temple and the service lasts one hour. After that, the body is taken to the crematorium. On the 49th day after death, another service is held at the temple or at home, as it is believed that karma takes a new form on that day. A memorial day service is done on every 1st, 3rd, 7th, 13th, 17th, 23rd, or 33rd year after this.

29. Buddhist Festivals　Ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ

30. *Buddhist Festivals In Japan • しゅしょ　サービス New Year’s Day • せつぶん　サービス Heralding of Spring • ねはん　サービス Buddha’s Nirvana • ひがん　サービス Spring+Fall Equinox • はな　まつり Birth of the Budha • お-ぼん Buddhist Memorial Day • さげき　サービス Buddhist Thanksgiving • じょど　サービス Buddha’s Enlightenment • じょや　サービス New Year’s Eve

31. しゅしょ Service – New Year’s Day A spiced rice wine (とそ), and pounded rice cakes (もち), are served at breakfast for three days as a sign of prayer for longitivity and health. One usually makes a trip to a Buddhist temple and makes courtesy calls on friends or relatives.

32. *せつぶん Service • Roasted beans are thrown at the doorways and rooms saying “Out with the devil, in with good fortune!” This is held on February 3rd, the day before the beginning of spring. (According to the Japanese Lunar Calendar)

33. ねはん Service • This day is to celebrate the death of ぐあたま Buddha, who passed away on February 15th, 2500 years ago. • At a temple, this is celebrated by hanging a scroll depicting Buddha’s Nirvana surrounded with many disciples, and even animals, weeping over his death.

34. はな まつり • はな　まつり, is the equivalent of Christmas, for Buddhists. A little Buddha is placed on a flower bed, resembling the birth of Buddha in the Limbini garden. Buddhists bless the Buddha on this day. • This is celebrated on April 8th.

35. *O-Bon • This literally translates to “hanging upside down”, the feeling that someone suffers physically and mentally when someone is hung upside down. • Legend says that a monk found his dead mother, thinned and yearning for food. He tried to feed her food, but they ignited into fire before she could consume them. That monk went to Buddha, and he said that no one had taken care of her when she had passed away. The Buddha suggested that on July 15th, to gather up all the monks for a memorial service, and bring food, water, and clothing for her to be spiritually cleaned and refreshed. The monk was very relieved to have his mother saved from hunger and isolation in the other world.

36. O-Bon service takes 4 days starting on July 13th. The first day is called むかえ-ぼん, and the last day is called おくりーぼん. On the eve of むかえーぼん, people bring lanterns and welcome the spirits back home. Bullocks and horses are made of eggplants and cucumbers for the spirits to mount on. The people enjoy special feasts with the spirits, as a way to spend time with them on their trip back to Earth. On おくりーぼん, people send the spirits on boats called shoryobone, filled with all kinds of foods and a lit lantern. It is said that the boats reach the shore across the ocean at the time of the next O-Bon, so no spirits will be hungry or lonely again.

37. せがき Service • This lies sometime in the summer when people want to get together and give money and food the poor. It’s a Buddhist’s Thanksgiving. Unlike us, they don’t eat gigantic feasts on this day, they just help those who are in desperate need.

38. じょど Service • Lies on December 8th, which is the day people believed ぐあたま Buddha achieved full enlightenment. The service celebrating his enlightenment is held at a Buddhist Temple, reminding everyone of it’s significance in the world.

39. *じょや Service • New Year’s Eve. At the stroke of midnight, the sounds of bells ringing 108 times will be heard. This symbolizes the expulsion of the 108 human defilements believed to be accumulated in the past year. Many people wait to hear the bells, and gather around them in the hundred thousands. Most people even start their pilgrimages to a specific temple or shrine at this time.

40. *One Hundred and Eight [108] • 108 has a big significance in the religion of Buddhism. At New Year’s Eve, the bell is rung 108 times to symbolize the 108 earthly temptations one must overcome to achieve Nirvana. Most temples have 108 steps leading up to them. Rosaries will have 108 beads. • At first, this is a tricky calculation, but here’s the explanation of 108. The Three Sense Experiences x The Six Senses = 18 Aversion or Craving to these experiences = 18x2 = 36. Past, Present, and Future incidents of Aversion or Craving= 36x3 = 108 The three sense experiences : Good, Bad, Neutral. The Six Senses : Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, Hearing, Consciousness.