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Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama. Born ca. 563 BCE Context: asceticism in India and Nepal Life story: Classic story of a quest How is it unusual? How does it typify universal human experience? Four Sights: why are these shocking to Siddhartha? Enlightenment Teaching others (45 yrs)
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Siddhartha Gautama • Born ca. 563 BCE • Context: asceticism in India and Nepal • Life story: Classic story of a quest • How is it unusual? • How does it typify universal human experience? • Four Sights: why are these shocking to Siddhartha? • Enlightenment • Teaching others (45 yrs) • Presents “middle way” • Ideal of enlightenment • Not a god
Four Noble Truths • Life is suffering (dukkha) • Suffering is caused by desire • Ceasing desire will bring an end to suffering • Do this through the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path • Right views • Right intent • Right speech • Right conduct • Right livelihood • Right effort • Right mindfulness • Right concentration
5 Precepts of Right Action/Conduct • Do not kill • Do not steal • Do not lie • Do not practice sexual immorality • Do not take intoxicants
Triple Gem • I take refuge in the Buddha • I take refuge in the Dharma • I take refuge in the Sangha
Doctrines • Samsara: cycle of rebirth • Impermanence • Interdependence • No self • Nirvana
Development of Buddhism • No clear successor after the Buddha’s death • Theravada: most traditional • Mahayana: most adapting • Zen: branch of Mahayana
Theravadan Buddhism • More conservative, strict • Scriptures: Pali canon • SE Asia (Thailand) • Focus on individual effort • Best way: become a monk • Universe is not friendly (no gods to help) • Wisdom is highest virtue • Ideal: arhat heading for nirvana • Buddha is an exemplar, not a god
Mahayanan Buddhism • More liberal (innovative) • Scripture: Pali canon PLUS Lotus Sutra • more open on inclusion of women • “Big raft”: Focus on laity, all people • Priests serve laity, can marry • More a sense of power in the universe • Offer reverence for gods • Focus on compassion • Ideal: Bodhisattva who helps others • Buddha a savior, god-like • offer prayer and worship
Zen Buddhism • Most common form in West • focus on emptying, even of most sacred teachings • critical of verbal reliance, conceptions • remarkably self-critical • practices: • zazen (sacred meditation), • koan (problem/riddle) [reason is limited, have to use other forms of knowing], • leading to satori/kensho
Zen Oxherding Pictures • http://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/zbohy/Poetry/hsuyun-ox-herding.html • Or: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/mzb/oxherd.htm
Buddhist Mandalas • Focus on center • Aid to meditation • Also found in Hinduism, Jainism • Rich in symbolism