1. Buddhism Key Elements and Beliefs Part 1

2. Buddhism –Hindu Origins! AcceptsRejects Reincarnation Samsara Karma Dharma Nirvana Pali  Caste system (Brahmins)  Ritual (offerings / Chants)  Gods  Creation myths (futile)  Attainment of nirvana only after thousands of lifetimes – making moksha impossible to most Hindus  Sanskrit

3. Buddhism throughout the World  200 million to 600 million + adherents  predominant faith in Burma, Ceylon, Thailand and Indo- China.  followers also in China, Korea, Mongolia and Japan.  10, 000 + Buddhists in Canada  2 principal schools are Mahayana and Theravada (or Hinayana) Buddhism

6. Buddhism v. Other Great Religions  Insights of a manrevelation from the divine  Wisdom Faith  Direct inward Sacrificial rituals observation of the designed to offer human conditiondevotion to the gods

7. Buddhism view of Women  more equal in stance compared to Hinduism  women may endure more “ suffering ” (ie. childbirth)  Buddha allowed either men or women from any caste to become monks or nuns and join the Sangha (brotherhood)

8. The Buddha ’ s Buddhism  Emphasis on “things to do” rather than “things to believe” People are responsible for seeking their own spiritual fulfillment rather than being dictated to by a priest  Ritual is insignificant – Buddhism is to be free of meaningless rituals which usually involve paying a priest to perform  Avoid speculative questions (creation, Supreme power, afterlife) since there was little possibility of definitive answers = instead spend time attempting to deal with the harsh realities presented by life here and now Practical and free of mystical obsessions - questions about cosmology (creation / heaven) cannot be answer – therefore pointless

9. The Buddha ’ s Buddhism continued 4. Pali – language commonly used - accessible to all 5. Through self-effort, enlightenment could be achieved in 1 lifetime – regardless of one ’ s position in society 6. Gender is part of the illusion – Buddha ’ s Buddhism acknowledges equality between men and women and children

10. The Buddha - Enlightenment  NIRVANA state of supreme realization and enlightenment understand truth of life and freedom from ignorance state of total liberation, truth, tranquility, peace  Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dharma – Sermon in the Deer Park

12. Sermon in the Deer Park  Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dharma  The Middle Way  The 4 Noble Truths  The Noble Eight-fold Path  The 3 Marks of Existence  The 3 Refuges / Jewels  The 5 Precepts

13. Buddhism - The Middle Way

14. Buddhism – the 4 Noble Truths 1. Suffering The 4 Noble Truths 2.Origin of Suffering 3.Extinction of Suffering 4. Path to the Extinction of Suffering all life consists of suffering (dukkha) root of suffering is desire (tanha) way to end suffering is by overcoming desire to overcome desire, one must follow the Middle Way and 8 fold Path Diagnose of the disease Determination of cause of the disease Prognosis of the diseasePrescription

15. Fundamental Ethics of Buddhism is the Eightfold Path. Buddhist scriptures are filled with stories illustrating compassion, Charity and non-violence

16. The Noble Eight-fold Path Fundamental ethics of Buddhism

17. 3 Marks of Existence All things outside of nirvana have 3 fundamental characteristics 1. Anicca (impermanence) 2. Dukkha (dissatisfaction)  Experience of suffering (continuous happiness only lasts for a limited amount of time) 3. Anatta (no-self)  Cannot point to any one thing in ourselves and say it is the self  All the parts make the person (arms / leg / eye / mood / state of mind  No permanent independent self, only changing parts we that we designate as the self  The I, me, my, does not exist

18. The 3 Marks (characteristics) again!  Annica= impermanence (world in constant flux)  Dukkha= dissatisfaction (all humans and animals experience suffering) “bad axle”  Anatta= no self (no separate, eternal unchanging self)

19. 3 Refuges / 3 Jewels  I take refuge in the Buddha  I take refuge in the Dharma  I take refuge in the Shanga

20. The 5 Precepts – Rules followed by all Buddhists (monk and laypersons) 1. Abstain for killing or harming living beings (ahimsa) 2. Abstain from stealing 3. Abstain from improper sexual conduct 4. Abstain from false speech (telling lies, setting people against each other, gossiping) 5. Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs

21. Additional precepts (monks) 6. Abstain from eating after noon 7. Abstain from looking a dancing, singing, or drama 8. Abstain fro the use of perfumes and things that tend to beautify and adorn a person 9. Abstain from using comfortable beds 10. Abstain from accepting gold or silver