World Religion Buddhism

Buddhism Origins Founded in India aprox 2500 years ago Siddhartha Gautama: The man became Buddha was born in 563 BCE He was of the Kshatriya Caste His father was the King of Shakya, now located in Nepal.

Buddhism Origins: The Early Life of Buddha He descended from heaven and entered mother’s womb in the form of a white elephant (symbol of purity) She carried him for 10 months Could see him inside of her. He was born from his mothers side, while she was standing and holding a tree At birth he immediately took 7 steps and side “This is my last birth” He lived in luxury as a prince.

Buddhism Origins: The Four Sights: Father wanted Siddhartha to live a life as a ruler, not religious He filled the streets with healthy happy people so that Siddhartha would not see anything that would trouble him At the age of 29 Siddhartha finally gets to see reality The Four Sights: Four images that Siddhartha seen on his trips to the city.

Buddhism Origins: The Four Sights: Sight 1: An old man. Suffering rom a hard life leaning on a cane Sight 2: A sick man laying on the roadside Sight 3: A corpse being prepared for cremation Sight 4: An ascetic Hindu monk, head shaven. After seeing the ascetic monk, Siddhartha decides to leave his privileged life and become a homeless beggar.

Buddhism Origins: Renunciation and Austerities Siddhartha became a wandering seeker of spiritual knowledge He learns that a life of extremes proves nothing Self denial (fasting, holding breath) does not solve actual problems Even extreme mediation while providing a trance like experience does not solve any problems. He comes up with a new idea The Middle Way: A path between both extremes, the best way to live is a life of moderation.

Buddhism Origins: Enlightenment Siddhartha was sitting under a tree in deep meditation. He suddenly remembers all of his previous lives. He sees how good deeds improves next life and bad deeds bring an unpleasant next life. In seeing this he is able to live without craving, or ignorance and achieves: Nirvana: A state of supreme realization. And: Enlightenment: An understanding of the truth of life and the freedom from ignorance.

Buddhism Origins: Enlightenment Siddhartha experienced the end of personal suffering and was releaced from the cycle of rebirth He had attained perfect wisdom and peace He stayed in nirvana for seven days pondering his future and deciding to publicize his teaching about the real world the Dharma

Buddhism Origins: The First Sermon Siddhartha became known as Buddha Buddha: the enlightened one. His first sermon was given to five Hindo monks who became his first teachers Bhikkhus: Buddha’s monks Within five years he had an order of monks known as the Sangha Bhikkhuni sangha: Female monks

Buddhism Origins: Parinirvana: At 80 years old Buddha is sick, and dying. His followers are wondering if he will name his successor. He dictates to them that there will be no successor. The rules for becoming a monk are laid down People should find their spirituality from within themselves. Monks should help people find spirituality from within Parinirvana: Complete nirvana, a release from involuntary rebirth. Reached only at death. Buddha got here

Buddhism Origins: Buddhism’s Hindu Origins Buddha born as a Hindu Some Hindu’s believe he is a incarnation of Vishnu Buddhism contains many of the elements of Hinduism: Reincarnation, samsara, karma, dharma, and nirvana Buddhism rejected Caste system, Hindu rituals, sanskrit language, idea that nirvana can be achieved only after thousands of lifetimes and after reaching Brahmin caste.

Buddhism Origins: Beliefs Challenging because of different world view. The ultimate goal is to end human suffering Different from getting into heaven… or being born into a higher class. Introspective religion: The goal is to attain personal salvation by looking within yourself. No central source of beliefs, like the bible. They have a variety of sources aimed at stopping samsara, the endless cycle of uncontrolled rebirths. Only when you have achieved nirvana are you released from samsara

Buddhism Beliefs: Women in Buddhism No distinction between men and women. Sex and gender are seen as delusions that we have because we are unenlightened humans. In past lives we live as both men and women. Being born as a woman is however seen as to have more suffering, child birth, menstruation, pregnancy. But suffering is not always seen as bad because it can lead to a more spiritual life. Women are not property Violence against women is not accepted

Buddhism Beliefs: The Three Characteristics of Existecnce All things outside nirvana have three characteristics Anicca (impermanence): the world is in constant flux. Everything is always changing Dukkha (dissatisfaction): All humans and animals experience suffering. Happiness is not permanent, sickness, death, stress will touch us all. Anatta (no-self): We cannot point to any one thing in ourselves that we can say is self. Our mental and physical state is always changing, there is no one characteristic that can define a person over time.

Buddhism Beliefs: The Five Precepts: The Five Precepts: Five rules followed by Buddhists that help people to control improper, non-beneficial behaviors that may cause suffering. Abstain from killing or harming living beings (Ahimsa) Abstain from stealing Abstain from improper sexual conduct Abstain from false speech (telling lies, rumors, gossip) Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs.

Buddhism Beliefs: The Five Precepts: Additional precepts followed by Monks, and Nuns 6. Abstain from eating after noon 7. Abstain from looking at dancing, singing, or drama 8. Abstain from the use of perfumes that tend to beautify and adorn a person 9. Abstain from using comfortable beds 10. Abstain from accepting gold or silver (money)

Buddhism Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths No one can escape death and unhappiness, if they expect to they will be dissapointed. Buddha looked at he cause of unhappiness and tried to find treatment (like a doctor) The Four Noble Truths: four central principals to an understanding of Buddhism. They relate to suffering and desire.

Buddhism Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths The Noble Truth of Suffering. To live is to suffer. Life involves birth, death, sorrow, old age, disease We do not want these things, but they will happen anyway, to try to deny them will only bring dissatisfaction

Buddhism Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths 2. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering The cause of suffering is negative desire Every source of suffering has its source in selfish desire, and ignorance. Greed causes people do harmful things. Once you meet your basic desires enjoy them, don’t be greedy (food, shelter, clothing)

Buddhism Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths 3. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering. This is the ultimate goal of Buddhism Achieved through nirvana Have to destroy your need for things Nirvana is not a place it is a state of being.

Buddhism Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths 4. The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Extinction of Suffering To end suffering one must adopt the Middle Way by following the Noble Eightfold Path By following this path you are living a life of self improvement, a Buddhist life.

Buddhism Beliefs: The Noble Eightfold Path Seen as a path of self improvement, and a path to a happier life. Right View: We need a blueprint to guide us through life Right Thought: Mind free of sensuous desire, ill will and cruelty Right Speech: Being kind will increase respect and trust. Don’t lie, criticize unjustly, gossip use harsh language Right Conduct: follow the five precepts Right Livelihood: Earn a living through occupations that do not cause harm. Right Effort: Try not to have evil thoughts, and have goodwill toward others Right Mindfulness: Be aware of your thoughts, and how you might be led astray. Full attention given to proper thoughts Right Concentration: Focus your mind on one object at a time, this will allow for peacefulness and tranquility

Buddhism Beliefs: The Three Refuges (The Triple Jewel) A refuge is a safe place The purpose of refuges in Buddhism is to help followers follow the right path and to help them on the journey. They are The Buddha (The guide) The dharma (The Path) The sangha (companions and teachers)

Buddhism Beliefs: The Six Perfections Bodhisattva: Person who has attained nirvana but chooses to be reborn within samsara in order to help others on the path to enlightenment. A Bodhisattva practices the six perfections Giving Morality Patience Vigor Meditation Wisdom

Buddhism Practices, Rituals: Buddhism does have various rituals Most of them are performed in the home Temple visits usually only on special days Puja: Practice of honoring holy beings by making an offering or chanting Bowing is done on many occasions A lay person would bow to a monk or nun as a way to show respect Monks and nuns bow to people Bow in front of sacred objects and places three times a day to honor the three refuges The most common offering is flowers, they wilt and show impermanence Incents burned to symbolize Buddha’s odor of sanctity Lighting candles represents Buddha’s enlightenment

Buddhism Practices, Rituals: Meditation Meditation leads to wisdom, which ends suffering. Meditation calms you. Allows you to follow Buddhist principles Can improve confidence, and physical health Meditation is a essential practice for all followers of Buddhism

Buddhism Practices, Rituals: Chanting Mantras Mantras are symbolic phrases that are chanted by Buddhist to help them keep in touch with their spiritual nature. Om Mani Padme Hum is a six syllable mantra meaning “Hail the jewel in the lotus”. This is a mantra of protection from all dangers.

Buddhism Practices, Rituals: Practices that Contribute to Good Karma. Participating in rituals gives merit, giving good karma Karma is the sum of good deeds - bad deeds. The amount of good or bad karma will determine future incarnations. Everyday actions, shopping, preparing meals, cleaning are all neutral. Donating to monks, food, robes, medicine, and other necessities gives good karma. Dana: Ritual where people donate to monks, people in attendance gain good karma.

Buddhism Practices, Rituals: Daily Rituals of a Buddhist Monk: 3:00am: Awakened by a wooden instrument called a mokt’ak. They wash, put away their bed, and go down to the hall for chanting. After chanting meditating monks meditate, students go to study hall, and workers go to work. 10:30am More chanting, and offering of rice to mark Buddha’s habit of eating only once a day. 12:00 Lunch: chant to remind them that food is for the body not for greed. After lunch all monks go back to their activities 6:00pm: More chanting, quiet study, or meditation follows. 10:00pm Day ends.

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: Buddhism is rich in symbols Symbols help people understand the abstract teachings The statues of Buddha help people represent him in human form to focus their deviotion

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: Mudras Mudras: Buddhist hand jestures that are often used in symbols, and in meditation. There are many mudras that symbolize different things The allow us to set a state of mind by performing a gesture.

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: Stupa Stupa: Dome shaped mound that are built to hold relics of the Buddha or other holy figures Every temple has on People walk around them three times during their devotions Some might be memorial crypts for prominent Buddhists Pilgrimages to a stupa, or the construction of a small stupa gives good karma

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: The Lotus Flower Symbolizes Buddha’s belief that everybody has the ability to rise up from an undesirable life. Buddha had a vision of human kind in a bed of lotus flowers, some in mud and some coming out of it.

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: Buddhapada Buddhapada: representation of Buddha’s footprints. Usually have symbols of Buddha all around them

Buddhism Symbols and Icons: The Wheel of life: Wheel of Life: a complete visual representation of the samsara, the endless cycle of uncontrolled rebirths. The wheel… Four concentric circles Inner circle: Bird Pig Snake: represents the three vices that keep the wheel going Greed, Ignorance, and hatred

Buddhism Festivals Buddhist commemorate important dates Not all Buddhists celebrate the same festivals at the same time Most follow the lunar calendar, but some follow the calendar of their country

Buddhism Festivals Buddha Day Celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha They believe it all happened on the same day of the year People assemble at monistaries and temples Light candles Walk around the main hall three times chanting the three refuges

Buddhism Dhamma Day Commemerates the first sermon Monks are given food In the evening food is given to the poor They observe fire Mediatate

Buddhism Festival of Floating Bowls Floating bowls made of leaves down a river When the bowls disappear so does all bad luck Video

Buddhism Milestones Buddhism did not have rituals to mark the stages of life As the religion spread the followers picked up the stages of their native culture Tradtitionaly this means that early Buddhists would follow a Hindu lifestyle In Canada they would follow a Canadian lifestyle

Buddhism Milestones: Early life At one month parents of boys take them to see the monks to get their head shaved Parents will take male children to stay with monks on school breaks and other holidays When a boy goes to temple he is seen as a novice or monk in training

Buddhism Milestones: Becoming a Monk Two steps At 7 or 8 boys enter monistary as a novice and assist monks, while taking on all Ten Precepts Ordination: At twenty monks can read write and chant a few simple texts, They shave their head as a rejection of vanity, and take a holy name, and wears appropriate robes

List of things a Buddhist monk owns Robe Alms bowl Belt Razor Filter for drinking water Staff Toothpick Warm Jacket Umbrella

Buddhism Milestones: Marriage Bride and groom go to monistary and feed monks Monks give blessing Monks do not go to ceremony

Buddhism Milestones: Funeral Most use cremation However if wood is expensive in the country burial is permitted Ceremony has procession, prayers, water pouring ritual, cremation, final prayers, and a shared meal Roads are cleared of all debris, body is hidden in funeral pyre, everyone recites tripple refuge, holy water poured on body, pyre is lit.

Buddhism Sacred Writings Tripitaka: (Three baskets) the most accurate record of Buddha’s teachings Sutras: Ideas or discourses that Buddha had that are said to give good karma by reciting them or writing them.

Buddhism Groups and Institutions: Disagreements over Buddha’s teaching has led to the formation of many schools of Buddhism. The Theravada School: Southern school. Considered more original and conservative. Does not recognise any writings after the Tripitaka. They do not see Buddha as a god. They rely on meditation and insight to attain nirvana. Arhats those who achieve nirvana are ideal perfection

Buddhism 2. The Mahayana School More liberal school Believes Buddha is a god, and that heaven is populated with gods that can be prayed to Emphasizes the importance of Bodhisattvas and worships them.

3. The Vajrayana School Emphasizes rituals like mantras and visualization Thangkas: Wall hangings that promote concentration leading to enlightenment. In Tibet the religion became entangeld with the governmance of the area The leader religion becam the leader of the country The Dalai Lama: Leader of the country, is reborn into a child that will be found by the monks using a complicated set of procedures

4. Zen Buddhism: Emerged in Japan Focuses on Mediation Monks search for enlightenment through mediation Two schools Read your book Page 198..... Its about Samurai's.....