World Religions, Wk 15 – Comparing Buddhism to Full gospel beliefs

1. World Religions, Wk 15 – Comparing Buddhism to Full gospel beliefs WELCOME! Coffee, donuts and snacks are available in the Lobby!

2. India – Birthplace of Many Religions The India is the birthplace of Seven of the world's major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. Judaism and the Baha'i Faith are also practiced. According to the 2011 census, 79.8% of the population of India practices Hinduism, 14.2% adheres to Islam, 2.3% adheres to Christianity, and 1.7% adheres to Sikhism; of which 77% live in Punjab region.

3. Ancient India in ~ 600 BC. Hinduism dates back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam. From Hinduism; came: Zoroastrianism (600 BCE), Buddhism (563 BCE), and Sikhism about 1,520’s AD.

4. Modern India’s Population; 1.3B in 2019, 1.54B by 2035 Size; 1.269M Sq. miles USA - 3.797M Sq Miles (3X)

5. Words to Know About in Buddhism • Asceticism = severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. • Zen practice = the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom. Zen is meditation. • Nirvana = a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. It is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away. • Moksha or mukti, which mean liberation and release respectively. Nirvana is the profound peace of mind that is acquired with moksha (liberation) • Karma =  literally means "action" or "doing” driven by intention (cetanā) which leads to future consequences. • Dukkha = suffering, dissatisfaction • Kōans = paradoxical statement or question that is used to provoke doubt and test progress

6. Surprising Facts About Buddhism • It is ancient! The historical Buddha was alive between about 563 to 483 BCE. That means that the teachings of Buddhism have been passed down for over 2,500 years; transmitted from teacher to teacher since. • There is no single holy book. • There's no Buddhist god. It is a non-theistic belief system • It's closer to psychology than religion. • They study kōans; a paradoxical statement or question that is used in Zen practice to provoke doubt and test progress in Zen practice. • Agrees with Hinduism on karma, dharma, moksha and reincarnation. • Started by a 35 YO Indian Prince, who arose enlightened after 49 days of meditation, writing down what he learned—writings that became the basis for Buddhism.

7. Buddhism Facts • Founder: Siddhārtha Gautama, and also known as the Tathāgata ("thus-gone") and Sakyamuni ("sage of the Sakyas). Although his family was rich, he became disenchanted upon seeing suffering (disease, old age, death, etc.) He abandoned his home at age 29; joining Yoga masters; engaged in extreme asceticism joined by 5 followers. Disillusioned after 6 years; he gave up. Then, he sat under a tree for 49 days, eventually attaining Nirvana via meditation. He wrote what he had learned. • Founded in the late 6th century B.C.E;, and is now an important religion in most of the countries of Asia. asiasociety.org • Is the world's fourth-largest religion with over 520 million followers, or over 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists. • Encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted philosophies.  

8. Some Central Buddhism Beliefs - I • Accepts the central Hindu idea of reincarnation: every soul turns on a wheel through a recurring drama of birth, death and rebirth. Existence is pain. • Dharma is the moral order of the universe and a code of living that embodies the fundamental principles of law, religion, and duty that governs all ... • But, Buddhism rejects the priests of Hinduism, the formal rituals, and the caste system.  • Buddhism urged people to seek enlightenment through meditation.

9. Buddhism’s “Four Noble Truths” • All existence is dukkha; translated, roughly, to “suffering,” or “unsatisfactoriness”. A large part of the Buddha’s revelation was that life is struggle, and that we do not find ultimate satisfaction in anything we experience. This is the problem of life. • The cause of dukkha is craving. • Humans tend to blame their suffering on external causes, but the Buddha embraced the idea that the actual cause is found within the self—in the mind, specifically. Our propensity to grasp at, or push away, puts us at odds with true reality. • The cessation of dukkha comes with the cessation of craving. • Because we are the ultimate cause of our own suffering, we are also the solution. We can’t change our environment, but we have power over our reactions. • Marga, the fourth noble truth, teaches that the way out of suffering is the Eightfold Path; which shows the way out of suffering.

10. Buddhism’s 8 Fold Path Out of Suffering

11. Differences: Buddhism to Christianity • Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha: • It is a nontheistic religion; does not believe in a supreme creator being a.k.a. God • No “salvation” • No afterlife Hell • A believer is always working to find enlightenment by himself • No one scripture • Christianity is centered on the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ. • Christianity is a monotheistic religion: a Triune God: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit • Salvation is by faith (not by works), through Jesus only • The Bible points the way to Salvation, Hope, Healing , and Everlasting light

12. Compare Christianity to 8 Fold Path - I Right Understanding - "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:17). Right Intention - "He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good. . ." (Proverbs 17:20). Right Speech "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. . .If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:19, 27). Right Action - "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17)

13. Compare Christianity to 8 Fold Path - II Right Livelihood - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).Right Effort - "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31) Right Mindfulness - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Right Concentration - "Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth" (Colossians 3:2).

14. Compare Christianity to 8 Fold Path - III A comparison between Christianity and Buddhism reveals that: • both acknowledge the reality of suffering. • The Bible teaches that suffering began when mankind rejected God. • When we refuse to accept the reality of God in our lives, it results in suffering both for us and for those who are affected by our choices. • Separation from God results in temporary suffering on this earth and everlasting suffering in Hell. • Unlike Buddhism, Christianity teaches that suffering ends only in the presence of God in Heaven. We cannot get to heaven without Christ.

15. References: • Bains, Wesley; 7 Buddhism Facts, Retrieved 10/11/19, from: https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/buddhism/7-buddhism-facts-that-will-surprise-you.aspx#MJy31JH0cdgOYrUZ.99 • Comparison - Christianity and Buddhism, retrieved Oct 12, 2019 from https://www.allaboutreligion.org/comparison-christianity-and- buddhism-faq.htm Violatti, Cristian. Siddhartha Gautama, published on 09 December 2013. Retrieved 10/12/19 from, https://www.ancient.eu/Siddhartha_Gautama/