Buddhism Beliefs and Philosophy

1. Buddhism Beliefs and Philosophy

2. Views • Not Theology, but Philosophy • Do not worship their founder • Do not worship gods or deities • Not a religion of dogma • Focus on attaining salvation • Nirvana

3. Noble Truths • Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory • suffering originates in our desires • Suffering will cease if all desires cease • There is a way to realize this state: the Noble Eightfold Path

4. Suffering • Dukha • Suffering or frustration • Cannot control everything in our life

5. Principles of Non-Existence • Anicca – nothing in the universe is permanent • Anatman – we are not permanent • We are ever changing ideas and emotions • When desire ceases, so too will Dukha

6. The Matrix and Buddhism

7. Wheel of Birth and Death • Differences between Hindu and Buddhism • No eternal self in Buddhism • Karma understood slightly differently • Personality developing on moment-to-moment basis • Impressions of good and back actions carry on

8. Liberation – Freed from the Illusion