Buddhism Chapter 8 – China

INTRODUCTION  Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world  “budhi” = to awaken  founder: Siddhartha Gotama “The Buddha” - the enlightened one 2500 years ago  India was home to its founding

 Some say Buddhism goes beyond being a religion  Is more of a philosophy (way of life)  Buddhist path is summed up as: 1) to lead a moral life 2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and 3) to develop wisdom and understanding

BUDDHA (SIDDHARTHA GOTAMA)  born into a royal family in Nepal  at 29 came to believe that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness  he explored the different teaching religions and philosophies of the day to find the key to human happiness

 for 6 years he studied and meditated and finally came upon what he called “the middle path” and he himself was enlightened  After his enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism (known as Dhamma, or Truth)  The Buddha died at the age of 80

TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM  Four Noble Truths 1) life is suffering 2) suffering is caused by craving and aversion 3) suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained 4) the Noble 8-fold path leads to the end of suffering

Noble 8 – fold Path  Wisdom - right view - right intention  Ethical Conduct - right speech - right action - right livelihood - right effort  Concentration - right effort - right mindfulness - right concentration

THE FIVE PRECEPTS  Not to take the life of any living thing  not take anything not freely given  to abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence  to refrain from untrue speech  to avoid intoxication (losing mindfulness)

KARMA  is the law that every cause has an effect, (our actions have results)  Karma underlines the importance of all individuals being responsible for their past and present actions

 How can we test the karmic effect of our actions? The answer is summed up by looking at (1) the intention behind the action, (2) effects of the action on oneself, and (3) the effects on others

MISC. 1. Was Buddha a god? - no and he did not claim to be - He was a man who taught a path to enlightenment from his own experience

2. DO BUDDHISTS WORSHIP IDOLS?  They respect to the images of Buddha - not in worship - they do not ask for favors - a Buddha statue reminds them to strive to develop peace and love within themselves - in bowing to the statue they offer gratitude for the teaching of the Buddha

SKINNY BUDDHA VS. FAT BUDDHA

WHY BUDDHISM SPREAD IN CHINA  Traders and Missionaries from India brought Buddhism to China  It was a time in China of decline and despair as civil war broke out  Many died  Buddhism taught that people could escape suffering by following the teachings of the Buddha

HOW DID THE TANG RULERS VIEW BUDDHISM ?  The early Tang rulers did not practice Buddhism, but they did not interfere with those who followed it  They approved the building of temples and shrines  The Buddhist monks and nuns helped local people by running schools and providing food and shelters

 Many people opposed the religion  They thought the Buddhists had become too wealthy with the donations they had used to build their buildings  Some felt they weakened respect for family life, due to the monks and nuns not being allowed to marry  Tang officials feared the growing influence; being an enemy of Confucius

 Tang officials began to destroy many of the Buddhist monasteries and temples  Buddhism never fully recovered from the attacks in China  The Chinese Buddhist took their religion to Korea  The Korean leaders approved it  Then it was spread to Japan Buddhism in Korea