Exploring the Religions of Our World

1. Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 6 Buddhism

2. Chapter 6 Buddhism The Basics • A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is real • Founder: Siddhartha Gautama • The goal of Buddhism is attaining Nirvana (the extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, and all that keeps the life cycle going) • Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism

3. Chapter 6 Buddhism Periods of Hindu History Page 234

4. Chapter 6 Buddhism History Facts about Siddhartha Gautama: • born about 560 BCE and died about 483 • born into a Hindu warrior caste • was married at 16 years old and fathered one son • at 19 he encountered four things his father had tried to shield from him • reached enlightenment by taking up meditation on suffering and the cycle of rebirth • converted many countrymen by preaching that moksha could be attained by the Middle Way

5. Chapter 6 Buddhism History (continued) The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him): • old age • illness • death • asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a self-disciplined life)

6. Chapter 6 Buddhism History (continued) Who is the Dalai Lama? • A bodhisattva(someone who compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism) • The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader • The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese communist government forced them out of Tibet in 1959

7. Chapter 6 Buddhism Sacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism: Tripitaka “the three baskets” (contains the words of the Buddha) Vinaya Pitaka – the code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns Sutra Pitaka – discourses attributed to Gautama Abidharma Pitaka – examines the Buddha’s psychological and Buddhist doctrine

8. Chapter 6 Buddhism Sacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures(continued) Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism: Lotus Sutra the final teachings of the Buddha which makes Enlightenment available to everyone Tripitaka (Mahayana version) Perfection of Wisdom a treatise on how to achieve the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva

9. Chapter 6 Buddhism Beliefs and Practices The Four Noble Truths Life is filled with suffering: both physical and mental The path to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path The cause of suffering is desire To cease suffering one must cease desiring

10. Chapter 6 Buddhism Right Concentration Beliefs and Practices(continued) The Noble Eightfold Path Right Mindfulness Right Conduct Right Effort Right Thought Right Speech Right Livelihood Right Understanding

11. Chapter 6 Buddhism Sacred Time Meditation Visakha “Buddha Day” Celebrating the Buddhist lifecycle Offerings to Buddha Puja Celebrating sangha

12. Chapter 6 Buddhism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces Stupas hold important relics of the Buddha or other important figures Temples used for religious devotions and to enshrine images of buddhas Pagodas large stupas

13. Chapter 6 Buddhism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces(continued) Places of Pilgrimage: • Lumbini Gardens– traditional site of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama near Nepal • Bodh Gaya– the place Gautama became enlightened • Sarnath– where Gautama preached his first sermon about the Four Noble Truths • Kushinara– traditional place of the death of Gautama

14. Chapter 6 Buddhism Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Similarities • Emphasis on peace and compassion • Long monastic tradition • The practice of meditation • Some parallels between the life of Jesus and Buddha

15. Chapter 6 Buddhism Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Differences • Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not • Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of suffering • The understanding of the meaning and purpose of suffering

16. Chapter 6 Buddhism Vocabulary • Nirvana • ascetic • Middle Way • sangha • relics • Dharma • bodhisattva • lamas • Tripitaka • The Lotus of the True Law • Perfection of Wisdom • tantric • mandala • mantra • anatma • samsara • arhat • puja • stupa • pagodas