Buddhism

1. Buddhism Sacred History

2. Basic Terms • Buddha – one who is enlightened; who has seen the truth of dharma • Dharma – the teaching of Buddha; Buddha revealed the teaching, dharma (his insight into the nature of the world) which must be known to follow the way of salvation • N.b. cf. Hinduism in which dharma was the law which governed the cosmos • Nirvana – final liberation; the end of bondage to the cycle of samsara

3. Emergence of Buddhism • Foundations of Buddhism • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) probably in 6th cent. B.C.. • India • Parallels some developments in Hinduism • Roughly contemporary with Upanishads which had introduced ideas of samsara, karma, etc. • W/ this developments in Hinduism came pursuit of liberation through asceticism and/or mediation • Buddhism rejects tradition of Brahmans including: • Claims for the Vedas • Caste system

4. Emergence of Buddhism • Buddhism emerged during a time of intense religious activity • Challenges to Brahmanical tradition • W/ religious rituals and sacrifice • Upanishads • Asceticism • Philosophy • Knowledge of relationship between atman and Brahman • Skepticism • Materialism • Jainism

5. Major Periods of Development • Major Periods of Development • The Early Period (6th cent. B.C.-1st cent. A.D. • Time of Gautama Buddha • Teaching consolidated and canon scriptures put down in writing • Theravada Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism emerges c. 3rd cent. B.C.. • Classical Period (1st cent. A.D. onward) • Spreads to China, Japan and Korea • Medieval Period (7th –18th cent. A.D.) • Importance of recitation of mantras • Magical rites • Modern Period

6. C. Expansion of Buddhism • Unlike Hinduism, expansionary • Adaptation to different cultural environments • Early Buddhism ‘non-theistic’ • Theravada • Southeast Asia (from 3rd cent. BCE) • Sri Lanka (3rd cent. B.C..) • Burma (now Myanmar) (3rd cent. B.C..) • Combined with indigenous shamanistic practices • Thailand (4th cent. A.D.) • Cambodia (4th cent. A.D.) • Indonesia (over 1000 inhabited islands) (4th and 5th cents. A.D.) • Hinduism (by 5th cent.)and Buddhist • Now Muslim (but cf. Bali) • By 13th cent. Sharp decline in India

7. Expansion (cont.) • Mahayana • Central and East Asia • China • Along with Confucianism and Taoism/Daoism • Pure Land • Chan • Vietnam • Chan – esp. monastic • Pure Land - villages • Korea (4th cent. A.D.) • Pure Land • Son (Chan) – esp. monastic • Along with shamanistic practices • Japan (6th cent. A.D.) • Pure Land • Zen (cf. Chan)

8. Expansion (cont.) • Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism • 7th cent. A.D. • Indigenous religion - Shamanism • Tantric Buddhism vs. Chan Buddhism • Lamaism • Lamas are spiritual leaders w/greatest authority • Emergence of the Geluk-pa • Brings together different schools of thought in Tibetan Buddhism • Dalai Lama – head of school of Geluk-pa • Series of incarnations • Incarnation of bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara • Modern Buddhism • Threatened by communism and secularism

9. Gautama Buddha • Gautama Buddha • Birth stories exhibit different attributes of the Buddha in his past lives which he was perfecting • Largely legendary accounts; point of stories is to serve as paradigms for those who wish to follow the same path • He is not a divine figure but he is given a status higher than ordinary people

10. Gautama Buddha • Gautama • Hindu of warrior class • Prince- led a sheltered, protected life • Marries at 16 and has child • By having son, he is firmly bound to the householder stage of life • Being groomed to be a chieftain

11. Mayadevi

12. Guatama & the Four Sights • Guatama is jolted by four sights: • An old man (old age) • A sick person • A corpse • A wandering beggar; one who has renounced the world

13. Gautama & The Great Renunciation • The Great Renunciation • At 29 takes on life of wandering recluse • His desertion of princely life is a rejection of things that are impermanent. • Son’s name ‘Rahula’ means ‘fetter’ • Takes on life of severe austerity and reflection going through series of teachers • But eventually takes food – represents rejection of extreme asceticism • Attains enlightenment under the bodhi tree in which he: • Understands the nature of the world • And the means to overcome suffering

14. Gautama: The 3 Watches of Night • Three Watches of the Night Under the Bodhi Tree (around 35 years old) • White: First phase of enlightenment in which he sees all his own past lives/trajectories • Black: Second phase he sees the preceding lives of all creatures • Red: Third phase he realizes the causal factors which brings about these trajectories • Upon understanding the cause, he attains radical enlightenment • Tempted to achieve nirvana but stays Buddha Undisturbed by Mara

15. Gautama: The First Sermon • Delivers first sermon: Sermon of the Turning of the Wheel which spells out his insight • Lays out idea of the ‘middle path’ • Expounds on the Four Noble Truths • Expounds on the Eightfold Path • He/she has broken bondage of samsara

16. Steering the Middle Path

17. Gautama: Founds the Sangha • Founds the sangha= community dedicated to following the path which lead to enlightenment • Following path requires withdrawal from society and joining a monastic community • Men and women may achieve enlightenment • Rejection of caste system • Different levels of attainment may be achieved • Final stage is that of arhant one who has achieved nirvana and lives as one who is completely enlightened • In Theraveda from of Buddhism, only monks & nuns may achieve enlightenment • Lay people may accumulate merit and reach a place in future life where nirvana may become possible