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Buddhism

Buddhism. Historical Background. Began in India Began with one man – Siddhartha Gautama Has now developed into a religious tradition that includes various interpretations of Gautama’s teachings

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Buddhism

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  1. Buddhism

  2. Historical Background • Began in India • Began with one man – Siddhartha Gautama • Has now developed into a religious tradition that includes various interpretations of Gautama’s teachings • Transcendence = A state of being that has overcome the normal limitations imposed by the human condition of physical existence

  3. Siddhartha Gautama • Full accounts of his life were not written until hundreds of years after his death • Born into a kshatriya (warrior) caste in India • Said to have had a miraculous birth out of his mother’s side • Said to be able to speak and walk at birth • When he was born, he declared he would reach enlightenment in this life and free humans of suffering

  4. Prophecy • A prophecy was made by a soothsayer that Gautama would become either a: • 1. great king/emperor • 2. sage/savior of humanity

  5. Results of the Prophecy • Guatama was not allowed to see: • 1. Old Age • 2. Illness • 3. Death • 4. Spiritual asceticism • Surrounded by luxury and “beautiful dancing girls” in his family’s 3 palaces • Shielded from the outside world • Married at 16 and had a son

  6. “The Four Passing Sights” • At the age of 29, Gautama saw suffering for the first time in the form of: • An old man • A diseased man • A corpse • A religious ascetic (someone who chooses to live a life of solitude and self-denial to attain religious/spiritual transcendence)

  7. Result of the Sights • Gautama gave up his life of wealth as a prince in order to become a spiritual ascetic • Wanted to put an end to old age, death, and suffering • Known as “The Great Going Forth” • Celebrated by Buddhists as the triumph of the spiritual over the worldly life

  8. Life of Asceticism • Joined a group of 5 ascetics who practiced this way of life to attain salvation • Fasted for the next few years on the brink of starvation • Meals = 1 piece of fruit, 1 sesame seed, 1 grain of rice • After 6 years, Gautama accepted a simple meal of rice and milk from a peasant girl…

  9. The Middle Way • Discovered the Buddhist doctrine of “The Middle Way” • Abandoned by his 5 ascetic companions • Healthy spiritual life = healthy physical life • Spiritual happiness = complete happiness • Body, mind, & spirit

  10. Journey to Enlightenment • Sat in lotus position underneath a fig tree for days in order to gain enlightenment • Tempted by the human shortcomings of fear and passionate desire • The god of death, Maru, sent his 3 daughters to tempt him, but Gautama was unmoved • Discontent, Delight, and Desire

  11. Meditative Trance • Ascended through levels of deepening awareness until he understood the true nature of the human condition • The tree is known as: the bodhi(wisdom) tree • Tempted to leave his body and enter nirvana = the state of eternal bliss that is ultimate salvation • Stayed in this world due to compassion for others; wanted to share his discoveries

  12. 1st Watch (evening): Perceived his own previous lifetimes • Saw that suffering was continuous • 2nd Watch (middle of the night): Acquired the “divine eye” – ability to see the deaths and rebirths of all living beings • Nowhere in this world is safe from death • 3rd Watch (late night): Discovered the Four Noble Truths • Perfect summation of the human condition and means for escaping it

  13. First Followers • First followers = the 5 ascetics who originally abandoned Gautama • Became arhats = saints • Buddhism as a religious tradition was born • Taught them his famous First Sermon • Shared the Middle Way and Four Noble Truths with them

  14. 4 Noble Truths • 1. To live is to suffer. • 2. The origin of suffering is caused by attachment. • 3. The cessation of suffering is attainable. • 4. The solution to suffering is the path to its cessation (Noble Eightfold Path) .

  15. Diagnosis of the Disease: Dukkha • Name of the 1st noble truth = dukkha • “suffering”, “frustration,” “dislocation,” “discomfort” • “Life is dukkha” = things are not quite as they should be, but somehow out of joint and in need of repair

  16. Problem of Dukkha • We experience dukkha when we have physical and emotional pain • We also experience it when we are happy because of impermanence (anicca) • Happiness will not continue • Our attachment to pleasant things sets us up to suffer when we are separated from them

  17. Dukkha = Unavoidable • All of life’s experiences = finite • Yet we are constantly bombarded by opportunities to become attached

  18. Determination of the Cause: Tanha • Name of the 2nd Noble Truth = tanha • “desire,” “thirst,” “craving” • Distinguishing characteristic = a selfish orientation • The desire for personal attachment or private fulfillment

  19. Tanha = Unavoidable • Also unavoidable because individuals are destined to be selfish • Tanha = an unavoidable aspect of being an individual

  20. Anatta = “No-self”

  21. Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 per cent Of everything you think, And of everything you do, Is for yourself – And there isn’t one • By Wei Wu Wei (Ask the Awakened, page 1)

  22. 3 Marks of Existence • Anicca (impermanence) • Dukkha (suffering) • Anatta (“no-self”) • All 3 are tied to tanha (personal attachment)

  23. Prescription for the Cure: The Noble Eightfold Path • Suffering is pervasive, so the path encompasses all aspects of life • Because of the Middle Way, the path sets forth a life of moderation • These are ongoing practices (not to be mastered and left behind)! • Not independent steps but are in relation with one another!

  24. The Noble Eightfold Path • 1. Right views • 2. Right intentions • 3. Right speech • 4. Right conduct • 5. Right livelihood • 6. Right effort • 7. Right mindfulness • 8. Right meditation

  25. Steps 1-2 = Wisdom • Steps 3, 4, 5 = Morality • Steps 6, 7, 8 = Concentration • All 3 focal points are essential, but the heart of Buddhist practice = concentration (meditation) • Primary Buddhist teachings are derived from the Buddha’s own meditative experience • Others must reach the same level of meditative insight to truly comprehend the teachings

  26. Nirvana • Following the steps in the Eightfold Path to its end = reaching nirvana • The “arhat” becomes enlightened and is therefore fully aware of the truth in the Buddha’s teachings • Impossible to describe precisely (even for the Buddha) • Close description = total cessation of suffering, and thus absolute peace – indescribably joyful • Buddha refused to say whether a person exists or not in nirvana

  27. “Crossing the River” • The quest for achieving nirvana = crossing a river • On this side is the realm of samsara = the ordinary world of suffering • On the far shore = nirvana • Religion’s task = the process of crossing the river • Religion = a “raft” • 3 great rafts, or “vehicles” = Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana

  28. Theravada • “The way of the elders” • Teachings of Buddhism and the figure of the Buddha = most important • Follows the earliest texts and original teachings of the Buddha • Emphasis on meditation and monastic life

  29. Mahayana • Largest division of Buddhism (over half of the world’s Buddhists) • Focuses on Buddha as a “divine savior” – nirvana is attainable due to his compassion • Revere bodhisattvas (“Buddhists in the making”) • Those who can enter nirvana but stay behind to help others out of compassion

  30. Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) • Small minority of Buddhists, but is of special interest • Believe that nirvana can be reached in this lifetime • Use sensual energies as a way of achieving nirvana, including sexual desire • Includes an institution of “lamas” – a hierarchy of clergy • Led by the Dalai Lama

  31. Video: How do they choose the next Dalai Lama? http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the arts/culture/religious-studies/how-do-they-choose-the-dalai-lama

  32. Video: Om Mani Padme Hum • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDUdT5z_CBU

  33. Video: China-Tibet Relations/Controversy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnBkD_1N1QE Video: Dalai Lama’s Response to Tibetans self-immolating as a form of protest against religious persecution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7MyCWJkohU

  34. 1. What do you think of Tibetans’ use of self-immolation as a tool of resistance to protest the religious, cultural, and political persecution they are experiencing at the hands of the Chinese government? • 2. What do you think of the Dalai Lama’s response to Tibetans’ practice of self immolating as a means of protest?

  35. Video: Tibetan monks make a sand mandala • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA3su0ECdPc

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