Buddhism

1. Buddhism The Basics

2. Different Sects of Buddhism • CLASSICAL • One of the Four major World Religions • ZEN • NICHIREN SHOSHU

3. Buddhism • As of 2000, the worldwide estimate for followers of the Buddha stood at more than 250,000,000 • Buddhism, one a religion of the East, has become a popular faith in the West • American Celebrity Converts to Buddhism include: • Joan Baez • Tina Turner • Richard Gere • Larry Hagman • Harrison Ford

4. Why is Buddhism growing in the West? • “People are pursuing Eastern Religions in the United States because their message has been DRESSED UP to meet our cultural needs – they are responding to it because there is a deep awareness of a need for spiritual reality” (Walter, Martin, Zen Buddhism, Hare Krishna, and Meher Baba [Santa Ana, Calif: One Way Libraries, 1976], cassette tape, side 1.)

5. Understanding Terms • Buddhism – a religion, originated in NEPAL/INDIA by Buddha (Gautama) and later spreading to China, Burma, Japan, Tibet, and parts of southeast Asia, holding that life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the way to end this suffering is through enlightenment that enables one to halt the endless sequence of births and deaths to which one is otherwise subject. • CASTE SYSTEM - a social structure in which classes are determined by heredity 

6. Understanding Terms • ARYANS – a member or descendant of the prehistoric people who spoke Indo-European. • Indo-Iranians, Indo-European peoples who inhabited parts of what are now Iran, Afghanistan, and India. • HINDUISM - the common religion of India, based upon the religion of the original Aryan settlers as expounded and evolved in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita, etc., having an extremely diversified character with many schools of philosophy and theology, many popular cults, and a large pantheon symbolizing the many attributes of a single god. Buddhism and Jainism are outside the Hindu tradition but are regarded as related religions.

7. Classical Buddhism - History • 2,500 years ago, Hinduism reigned supreme in India, the people were subject to and enslaved by it • J. Isamu Yamamoto explains the India History: “Over three thousand years ago the Aryans (powerful group of Indo-European-speaking people) conquered the Indus Valley, the Aryans instituted Brahmanism (developed into Hinduism) and the caste system in the Indian culture, which enabled the invaders to maintain the purity of the Aryan race and establish themselves as spiritual and social masters over the native Indians” (J. Isamu Yamamoto, “The Buddha,” Christian Research Journal [Spring/Summer 1994): 11.)

8. The Hindu Caste System • The Brahmins – The PRIESTLY Scholarly • The Kshatriyas – The WARRIOR-SOLDIER • The Vaishyas – the AGRICULTURAL AND MERCHANT • The Sudras – The PEASANT AND SERVANT • Harijan – The Outcast or “UNTOUCHABLES”

9. “As the vast majority of the people were illiterate and indescribably poor, the gap widened between the few literates and the host of illiterates, between the few princes and rulers and their millions of subjects, between the few privileged of high caste and the great unprivileged population that belonged to the lower castes and outcastes. This gap grew wider and wider. And from the hopelessness among the many arose despair.”

10. Buddhism - Origin • There seemed no escape from the Oppression of an endless succession of painful lives before one could be freed to merge for eternity with the “World-Soul” • This state is know as “NIRVANA.” • The Definition of Nirvana is - FREEDOM from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations, with their consequent suffering, as a result of the extinction of individual passion, hatred, and delusion

11. Buddhism - Origin • To obtain Nirvana, one must Take the “EIGHT-FOLD PATH” • The RIGHT: knowledge, intentions, speech, conduct, livelihood, right effort, mindfulness, and meditation. • 490-410 B.C., a son of a minor Raja (KING) was born, his philosophy of life would impact the world for centuries • Gautama Siddhartha Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist Religion, was the son of SUDDHODANA, the Chieftain reigning over a district near the Himalayas in what is known today as the country of Nepal.

12. Buddha CHALLENGE!!!! • Divide into Two Teams • Pick a Speaker/Team Leader • Round 1: 1 POINT - Teams will answer 5 multiple-choice questions • Round 2: 2 POINTS - Teams will answer 5 fast questions (first one to buzz in/raise hand with get the opportunity to answer first) • Round 3: 5 POINTS – Teams will answer one loaded question… if you get it Right… you WIN!

13. Who is the Key Person/Founder of Buddhism? • Gautama Bengali Buddha • Siddhartha Gautama Buddha • Suddhodana Gautama Buddha • L. Ron Hubbard

14. What are the Key writings of Buddhism? • The Mahavastu – “The Great Story” • The Jataka Tales – “550 Stories of the former lives of the Buddha” • Triptaka – “Three Baskets” • Tantra – “Recorded in Tibetan Buddhism” • All of the Above

15. What does Buddha mean? • The Great One • The Fast one • The Fat one • The Enlightened one • The Peaceful one

16. Buddhism hold THE Deity (God) as • Jesus Christ • Moses • There is no God • Themselves

17. Who is Jesus in Buddhism? • Historically, Jesus is not part of their Religion • In the Asian Countries, Jesus is held as an Avatar (the incarnation of a god). • In The West, Jesus is held as en “Enlightened Teacher.” • All of the above

18. ROUND 2 • Be Ready • Be Fast – on 10 Seconds to Answer each question • Be Smart • Each Correct Answer receives 2 Points, each steal receives 1 point • No Correct answer, no points

19. Who is the Holy Spirit in Buddhism? • Jesus • Moses • Buddha • Rick Bonifield • Sun • No Holy Spirit • Veda • Mishna • Caliphate • A Statue

20. Which Path leads to Salvation in Buddhism? • The Only Path • The Way, the Truth, the Life • No one comes to the Father except through Christ • The Sunny Path • The Eightfold Path • The Snowy path • The Great Path • The Dark Path

21. How are Humans Saved in Buddhism? • Baptism • Immersion • Believing • Praying • Meditating • Nirvana • Church • Playing in a Rock band

22. What Happens After Death? • Nothing • Heaven • Hell • Reincarnation • Reincarnation into another Person • Nothing and then Something • Spiritual suffering • Punishment • blessings

23. Where was Buddhism Founded? • China • Japan • India • Afghanistan • Nepal • Iran • Russia • England • No Where

24. Round 3: FINAL QUESTION!!! • Name the Eight Characteristics of the Eightfold Path • The RIGHT: knowledge, intentions, speech, conduct, livelihood, right effort, mindfulness, and meditation.