Buddhism Understanding Thai Buddhism for Evangelism Dana Bratton & Asher Mathew 2005

The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama ( BC) l Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded in India c.525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. There are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide. Born a prince and raised in luxury, he left his family and possessions at the age of 29 to search for an ultimate solution to the problem of the suffering.

Basic Beliefs and Practices o The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the four noble truths.

The Three Refuges (Jewels) o The Buddha o The Dharma (teachings, doctrine) o The Sangha (the Order)

Tripitaka l “Three baskets” 1. Vinaya Pitaka—monastic rules 2. Sutta Pitaka—teachings of the Buddha a.Versions of the Law b.Other Lives 3. Abhidhamma Pitaka—supplement to the doctrines (esoteric)

The Teachings of the Buddha The Four Noble Truths

Preface to the Four Noble Truths: The Middle Path Two extremes to be avoided: (1) Hedonism (2) Asceticism This Middle Path is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.... By avoiding these two extremes, we discover a Middle Path, a path which opens the eyes, which bestows understanding, and which leads to peace of mind, to wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana. l

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering l

2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering *Some traditions make (c) a craving for prosperity or for personal happiness. l

3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering l

4. The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the cessation of suffering l

Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold Path l Right views (Samma ditthi) l Right intent (Samma sankappa) l Right speech (Samma vaca) l Right conduct (Samma kammanta) l Right livelihood (Samma ajiva) l Right effort (Samma vayama) l Right mindfulness (Samma sati) l Right concentration (Samma samadhi) Wisdom (prajna) Morality (sila) Meditation (samadhi) l

1. Right Views l The Four Noble Truths l The doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman) –Transitoriness (anicca): impermanence –The Five Components or Aggregates (skandhas) of human personhood –Interdependent Origination l Karma & Samsara (rebirth) l Nirvana (what is it?) (Eightfold Path, continued) l

The Five Components (skandhas) of personhood Person Body (rupa) Mind (nama) Sensation (vedana) Consciousness (vinnana) Perception (sanna) Volition (sankhara) (No-self, cont’d)

The doctrine of Interdependent Origination (Paticca Samuppada) The interdependence & relativity of all things (No-self, cont’d) l

The wheel of becoming

1. Ignorance 12. Aging & Dying Impulse to Exist Con- scious- ness Six Senses 11. Birth 10. Becom- ing 6. Contact 7. Sensations 8. Craving 4. Mind- Body 9. Cling- ing Greed Delusion Hatred Heaven Hell Human Realm Demon Realm Animal Realm Hungry Ghost Realm 2.2. l

2. Right Intent (Resolution) Right intent or resolution is the intent or resolution to live & act in accordance with right views. (Eightfold Path, continued) l

3. Right Speech l No lying l No slander l No harsh or rude talk l No profanity l No impolite or abusive language l No idle or foolish chatter l Strive to use language meaningfully & usefully l Learn to maintain “noble silence” (Eightfold Path, continued) l

4. Right Conduct l No harming & killing l No stealing l No lying & deceitfulness l No sexual immorality l No use of intoxicants l Eat moderately & not after noon. l Stay away from dancing, singing, & dramatic spectacles. l Do not use garlands, scents, unguents, or ornaments. l Do not use high or broad beds. l Do not accept gold or silver (money in general?). (Eightfold Path, continued) The Five Precepts (for everybody) & the Ten Precepts (for monks & nuns) l

5. Right Livelihood (Vocation) l Choose professions that promote life, peace, & spiritual progress (especially life in the l Specifically prohibited professions: poison peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher, manufacturer & trader of liquor & other intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader, tax collector, caravan trader. (Eightfold Path, continued) l

6. Right Effort (purification of the mind) l Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind from arising l Getting rid of such states of mind that may already exist l Bringing about good & wholesome states of mind l Developing & perfecting good & wholesome states of mind that are already present (Eightfold Path, continued) l

7. Right Mindfulness l Activities of the body (breathing, walking, sitting, eating, heartbeat, etc.) l Feelings (anger, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, etc.) l States of mind (thoughts, ideas, etc.) l Ways of conceptualizing things (the Four Noble Truths, the Wheel of Becoming, etc.) Focusing of attention on: (Eightfold Path, continued) l

8. Right Concentration l One-pointed concentration l The four absorptions: 1Detachment from all sense objects & from negative states of mind; thought processes accompanied by joy 2Cessation of all mental activities; internal calm, peace of mind, joy to the point of great elation 3Cessation of all passions & prejudices; continued sense of joy 4Cessation of joy; total tranquillity & equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship) Preliminary concentration on the Four Sublime Moods: love, compassion, cheerfulness, & impartiality (Eightfold Path, continued) l

Four Stages of Advancement along the Noble Eightfold Path 1 Belief in permanent self 2 Doubt 3 Belief in religious rituals 4 Sensual craving 5 Ill will 6 Desire for rebirth in worlds of form 7 Desire for rebirth in formless realms 8 Pride 9 Self-righteousness 10 Ignorance of the true nature of things l

The Historical Evolution of Buddhism

The Major Buddhist Traditions l Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”) - Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia l Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”) - China, Korea, & Japan (& Tibet & Mongolia) l Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”) - Tibet & Mongolia Vajrayana is a development within the Mahayana tradition. l

The Spread of Buddhism Spheres of Influence Theravada Mahayana Vajrayana Buddhism out of India by 1000 AD l

Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching)

Chinese Buddhist celebration

The monks come daily to each home for an offering

Coming of age to be a monk

Monks

Tiger Cave Mountain where they have a foot bone of the Buddha

Atop Tiger Cave Mountain

Revering the foot of Buddha

Why haven’t they responded to the Gospel? l Not sharing the Gospel with Thai Buddhists in an understandable Way l Communication gap between Thai Buddhists and missionaries l To be Thai is to be Buddhist l Lack of contextualization is partly responsible for lack of response among the Thai people

II. General approach to contextualization in Thailand l Right attitude towards Thai culture l All that God created is good l Acknowledging Thai values which are biblical values l Use caution in choosing Thai Buddhist words to explain Christian truth l Using Buddhist words to express Christian concepts l Designing new vocabulary to Christian concepts l Necessity of on-going contact to produce biblical understanding among Thai Buddhists l Sharing the Gospel with Buddhists, not Buddhism l Necessity of loving people as they are

III. Thai concepts that may be adopted to explain the Gospel l The origin of suffering (dukkha) and the attainment of true happiness l Happiness is impossible because life is suffering (dukkha) l True origin of Dukkha is Adam and Eve’s ignorance (avijja) l True happiness is possible when the true source of Dukkha is identified l Dukkha, Anicca, and Anatta may be used to describe God’s relationship with man l Israel is a source of suffering (dukkha) to God l Israel’s devotion to God is impermanent (anicca) l Israel destroys herself by her actions and disobedience to God (anatta)

Sharing the Gospel continued l A probable misunderstanding by Thai Buddhist listeners l Merit transference (pattidana) and the Cross of Christ l Theravada Buddhism denies existence of merit transference l Two examples of merit transference as practiced by Thai Buddhists i. Cloth Offering Ceremony at a Funeral ii. Entering the Buddhist Priesthood l Double transference of merit in Christ Jesus has infinite merit which is transferred to man l Man’s guilt is transferred to Jesus l Discussing merit transference with Thai Buddhists l Merit transference provides an escape from Karma

IV. A Motivation to Avoid Sin: Shame l Shame orientation versus guilt orientation l The nature of shame in Thai Society Motivation to avoid sin because of shame V. Illustrations from Thai history used to illustrate the biblical truth of substitution and sacrifice l The self Sacrifice of Queen Suriyothai. l The Contest for Chiang Mai, determined by who could stay underwater the longest.

Teach ESL, Christian songs, and the Bible These two girls accepted Christ!

Tsunami devastation on Phi Phi Island A horrible tragedy, but an opportunity to help and for evangelism