Buddhism Begin by becoming aware. Wake up.

Buddhism is…  A religion based on a path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the nature of life.

Key Features of Buddhism  Pacifism: All war is unjust.  Enlightenment through meditation.

Setting Buddhism in History  Sixth Century BCE  Shramanas (religious wanderers) in India offer alternatives to Brahminism and ritual sacrifice.  Siddhartha was born ca. 560 BCE in a Himalayan hill-town (Modern Nepal.)

Siddhartha Guatama  A prince, son of a leader of the Sakya clan.  Married, had a son, Rahula.  While son was a baby, ca. age 29, Siddhartha asked:  Why are men born, only to suffer sickness, the decrepitude of old age, and eventually death?

The Great Awakening  Siddhartha embarked on a journey of searching.  After about 6 years of searching, he reached enlightenment, Nirvana, and became the Buddha.  Out of compassion for humanity, he left the transcendental, eternal realm, to help others along the path.

Four Noble Truths 1)Life as we know it is an experience of suffering. (dukkha) 2)The cause of suffering is ignorant craving. 3)Suffering can be overcome. 4)Suffering can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.

The Eightfold Path 1)Right view (way to see the world) 2)Right intention 3)Right speech 4)Right discipline 5)Right livelihood 6)Right effort 7)Right mindfulness 8)Right concentration

Nirvana  The final goal of Buddhism.  An indescribable state of cessation from the struggle to exist, in which the almost endless cycle of life and its countless rebirths comes to an end.

Karma  The universal law of action and reaction binding upon all creatures that keeps them in an almost endless cycle of reincarnation.

Buddha  Buddha is not a god.  Buddha is any man (person?) who has achieved Nirvana.  Siddhartha is referred to as “Guatama the Buddha”  There are many “Buddhas” Maitreya Buddha, Lingying Temple, Hangzhou, China

The Five Precepts  I undertake to observe the rule 1)To abstain from taking life. 2)To abstain from taking what is not given. 3)To abstain from sensuous misconduct. 4)To abstain from false speech. 5)To abstain from intoxicants as tending to cloud the mind.

Do This:  Write a code of conduct for university life based on the Five Precepts of Buddhism.  You can find them explained in Eastman, pp

Dhammapada, pp  I did not assign this reading. However…  It is a nicer read than pp

The Dhammapada  Verses focus on the central goal of awareness through meditation.  Verses outline the Four Noble Truths. The following pages expand the ideas.  Verses lead us to understand that Nirvana is not pre-ordained at birth. It is earned through discipline and meditation.

Worship by performing duties 1)Parents are sacred to their children. 2)Pupils should respect and obey teachers. 3)Marriage is sacred. 4)Friends, relatives, and neighbors have responsibilites to one another. 5)Relationship between master and servant. 6)Relationship between the religious and the laity.

Ten Duties of the King  See Eastman pp for a list.  Applicable to all who govern others in any capacity.  Do this: Make a list of all relationships you can think of where the Duties of the King might be applicable.

The Dalai Lama  Do this: The Dalai Lama has lived in exile from Tibet since In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  Find out why.

Comparing Religions  Basis of the Religion: Theism? How was it founded? Worship?  Names to Remember: God(s)? Prophets? Key Religious Figures?  Key Words: Misc. Vocabulary  Basic Tenets: What do followers believe? What is important to them?  Places to Visit: Shrines? Places of importance.