Hmmm….

1. What is it that you want above everything else? What do you truly desire in your life? Is it absolutely essential for you to have this? What happens if you don’t get it? Hmmm….

2. Buddhism

3. Religions of South Asia

4. Indian Subcontinent

5. The essence of Buddhism • The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.” • 2,500 year old tradition. • The 3 jewels of Buddhism: • Buddha, the teacher. • Dharma, the teachings. • Samgha, the community of monks.

6. Siddhartha Gautama(563-483 BCE) • Born in NE India (Nepal). • Raised in great luxuryto be a king. • At 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentand the source ofsuffering. Why? • Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs. • Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana. • Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

7. What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire! • Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

8. Four Noble Truths • There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha) • The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

9. Four Noble Truths • The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha)

10. Four Noble Truths • The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)

11. The Jedi Warriors of Star Wars Reminiscent of ….

12. Supposed to remain calm Never give way to extreme emotions Practice self-denial including never getting married Desire leads to Attachment Attachment to Jealousy and Fear Fear leads to Hate Hate leads to the Dark Side of the Force Jedi instead dedicated themselves to meditation and training which they were supposed to use for selfless dedication to others. Jedi-Buddhism Analogy

13. Anakin Skywalker Lived by his passions despite his Master Obi-Won Kenobi’s teachings. Fell in love, secretly married, and was misled by the Dark Side to using his emotions to make him more powerful Ultimately, Anakin gives way completely to the Dark Side and becomes…

14. Four Noble Truths • To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

15. Eightfold Path Nirvana • The union with the ultimate spiritual reality. • Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

16. Part of Eightfold Path (Right Concentration) Use it to reach Nirvana (which means to extinguish or blow out – like blowing out a flame) Realization that a person is not a self but combination of materials that is part of the universe (universalization) All selfish desire is extinguished. Meditation

17. Buddhist Art and Architecture

18. Early images depict him as a robed monk. Curl of hair between eyebrows shown as a dot. Cranial bump (enlarged spot on top of head covered with hair) Large earlobes from earrings when he was Prince Siddhartha Sometimes, wheel (Eightfold Path) imprinted on palms and soles of feet. Buddha in Art

19. Meditation mudra– hands overlapping, palms facing upward Earth touching mudra – calling on the Earth to bear witness to his enlightenment Wheel of Law or Teaching mudra – right thumb and index finger touching Fear Not mudra – right hand up, palm out as gesture of protection Mudras – Symbolic hand gestures

20. His birth at Lumbini from the side of his mother Queen Maya Achieving buddhahood while meditating under a boddhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India. Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath His attainment of nirvana Scenes from Buddha’s Life

21. Buddha’s head : 2c Pakistan

25. Standing Buddha Offering Protection Red sandstone image Made in late 5th century The serene expression and contemplative gaze show the Buddha’s spirituality Embodies the qualities of inner calm and stillness, the products of supreme wisdom Strong youthful body with active stance represent his strength as a universal ruler

26. The raised right hand is in the abhayamudra gesture, which dispenses fear and provides followers of the religion with reassurance Skull protuberance depicts enlightened wisdom Halo behind head emphasizes the religiosity of Buddha

28. Buddha – 19c Thailand

29. Buddhist art in India Sanchi Stupa

30. Great Stupa at Sanchi

31. The Great Stupa of Sanchi is located in Sanchi, India. Stupas are Buddhist monuments in India, and are generally domes that cover relics of Buddha and his followers. The Great Stupa of Sanchi is the oldest and largest Stupa, and also one of the best preserved. It is a pilgrimage site. The Stupa is decorated on the outside with four gates, each adorned with elaborate symbols and scenes from the life of Buddha.

32. The Southern Gate has images from Buddha’s birth. The Eastern Gate shows Buddha’s Journey to Nirvana. The Northern Gate show’s scenes from Buddha’s life with multiple incarnations. The Western Gate Shows Buddha undergoing temptation. S N E W

33. Diagram of a Stupa

34. Buddha was cremated; his ashes were separated into 8 reliquaries. The Indian king Ashoka, built 8 stupas throughout his kingdom to bury the reliquaries. A stupa is NOT a tomb; it is a reliquary mound. People cannot enter the mound. People perform clockwise circumambulation around the mound to achieve harmony with the cosmos. Stupas

35. A stupa is a three-dimensional mandala or diagram of the universe. It is aligned according to the cardinal points with toranas (gateways) at N, S, E, and W sides. The harmika is the stone fence separating the realm of the gods. The yasti is the pole the represents the axis of the universe connecting the world with the dimension of the gods. Stone fence encloses entire structure to separate this holy area from the world. Stupas continued

36. Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

37. Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

38. Buddhist Altar

39. Types of Buddhism • Therevada Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism • Tibetan Buddhism • Zen Buddhism

40. Theravada Buddhism • The oldest school of Buddhism. • Found in southern Asia. • The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana. • Focus on wisdom and meditation. • Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.” • Over 100,000,000 followers today.

41. Theravada Buddhism

42. Mahayana Buddhism • The “Great Vehicle.” • Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan). • Buddhism “for the masses.” • Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings • Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the buddhahood of all humanity.

43. Mahayana Buddhists would regard Theravadan Buddhism as too narrow in focus as it is about individuals seeking enlightenment all for themselves (private buddhas). Mahayana Buddhists believe that unlimited compassion must be practiced to all beings Bodhisattvas are enlightenment beings who help with this; unlimited in number; they exist in this world but without attachments. Mahayana vs. Theravada Buddhism

44. Mahayana Buddhism

45. Seated Boddhisatva – 16c Bhutan

46. boddhisatva

47. Tibetan Buddhism • The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana] • Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE. • A mix of Theravada and Mahayana. • Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama. • The Tibetan Book of the Dead[Bardo Thodol].

48. The DalaiLama

49. Zen Buddhism • The “Meditation School.” • Pure Land Buddhism (Amitabha) • Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata]. • Use of meditation masters [Roshi].

50. Pure Land or Zen Buddhists say prayers and meditate in the hope that when they die Amitabha Buddha will transport them to the Pure Land of Infinite Light and Life where Nirvana is assured. Amitabha Buddha