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A Voyage of Discovery

A Voyage of Discovery. Buddhism. The Basics. A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is real Founder: Siddhartha Gautama All humans are prone to suffering, born in a state of disease

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A Voyage of Discovery

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  1. A Voyage of Discovery Buddhism

  2. The Basics • A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is real • Founder: Siddhartha Gautama • All humans are prone to suffering, born in a state of disease • The goal of Buddhism is attaining Nirvana (the extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, and all that keeps the life cycle going) • Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism

  3. Siddhartha Gautama: • born about 560 BCE and died about 483 BCE • born into a Hindu warrior caste, prince • was married at 16 years old and fathered one son • at 19 he encountered four things his father had tried to shield from him • The Great Going Forth, 29 years old • reached enlightenment by taking up meditation on suffering and the cycle of rebirth • converted many countrymen by preaching that moksha could be attained by the Middle Way

  4. The Four Passing Sights The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him): • old age • illness • death • asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a self-disciplined life)

  5. The Middle way A healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life. • Rejects indulgences • Rejects extreme asceticism “A violin string that is pulled to tight snaps when strummed, one that is to loose does not make a sound; It must be strung just right to make the right music”

  6. Gautama Reaches Enlightenment Encounters with “Mara” the god of death who sends his daughters to tempt him with fear and passion • Discontent • Delight • Desire Gautama touches the ground, “grounds himself”. He overcomes the distractions of Mara and enters a meditative trance which brings him deep into himself • His own previous lives • The lives of others • The Four Noble Truths

  7. Focal Elements of Buddhism The Three Jewels: • Buddha • Acknowledge the authority of the Buddha • Sangha • Acknowledge the authority of the monastic community of monks and nuns • Dharma • Acknowledge the authority of the teachings of Buddha on living a moral life

  8. Comparison to Hinduism Shared cosmology • universe is cyclical samsuramoksha/nirvana Rejects the institutional aspect of Hinduism Accepts deities but holds that only the human mind can win salvation Teachings available to everyone No “atman” • Samsura: In Hinduism the transference of the atman, in Buddhism the transference of energy, one’s Karma • Three Marks of Existence • AnattaAniccaDukkha

  9. Three Marks of Existence Anatta: There is no permanent self. There is no essence, we are constantly changing Anicca: All existent things are constantly changing, there is an ongoing flow Dukkha: Suffering is part of the human condition, a natural result of anatta and anicca.

  10. Karma As in Hinduism, is the moral law of cause and effect. In Hinduism Karma affects the rebirth of the atman In Buddhism Karma itself is transferred. At conception a person already has a particular status of Karma Because of the importance of morality, Buddhism has Five Precepts

  11. Five Precepts For All For Monks & Nuns Do not eat after noon Do not watch dancing or shows Do not use garlands or perfumes Do not use a soft or high bed Do not accept gold or silver • Do not take life • Do not take what has not been given • Do not engage in sensuous misconduct • Do not drink intoxicants Intention is important to immoral action

  12. The Four Noble Truths The cause of suffering is desire or attachment Life is filled with suffering: both physical and mental The path to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path To cease suffering one must cease desiring

  13. Right Mindfulness Right Conduct Right Meditation The Eight Fold Path Right Effort Right Speech Right Livelihood Right intentions Right Views

  14. Reaching Enlightenment Following the eightfold path to its end is to reach Nirvana, the extinction of desire, suffering • Still living –arhat • Let go of individual existence • No longer attached to affairs of the world • Compassionate toward all living things • Final nirvana comes with death of the body • Nirvana means “blowing out”

  15. Divisions of Buddhism Three Rafts for Crossing the River • Theravada Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism: • Vajrayana Buddhism:

  16. Theravada Buddhism • Prevalent in Southeast Asia • Orthodox, follows early texts of Buddhism • Teachings are important, more than the person • Emphasizes monastic life, hierarchy • Monks • Nuns • Laity

  17. Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism: Tripitaka “the three baskets” (contains the words of the Buddha) VinayaPitaka – the code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns Sutra Pitaka – discourses attributed to Gautama AbidharmaPitaka – examines the Buddha’s psychological and Buddhist doctrine

  18. Mahayana Buddhism: • Largest division of Buddhism • Focus on Buddha himself, divine savior • Salvation comes from the grace of Buddha • Bodhisattvas- buddhas in the making

  19. Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism: Lotus Sutra the final teachings of the Buddha which makes Enlightenment available to everyone Tripitaka (Mahayana version) Perfection of Wisdom a treatise on how to achieve the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva

  20. Vajrayana Buddhism • Predominately in Tibet, often called Tibetan Buddhism • Adherents can achieve nirvana now • Harness sensual energies to fight desire • Mandalas- sight • Mudras- movement • Mantras- sound • Tantricism- sex • Hierarchy of clergy, lamas, Dalai Lama

  21. Dalai Lama Who is the Dalai Lama? • A bodhisattva(someone who compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism) • The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader • The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese communist government forced them out of Tibet in 1959

  22. Material Scriptures Stupas hold important relics of the Buddha or other important figures Temples used for religious devotions and to enshrine images of buddhas Pagodas large stupas

  23. Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Similarities • Emphasis on peace and compassion • Long monastic tradition • The practice of meditation • Some parallels between the life of Jesus and Buddha

  24. Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Differences • Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not • Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of suffering • The understanding of the meaning and purpose of suffering

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