1. Buddhism

2. Story of the Buddha What kind of story is this?
Is it about a hero, or an “everyman”?
Does it remind you of any other stories?
Discuss your favorite detail of the story
What do you think it means? Does it express an aspect of Buddhist belief?

3. Siddhartha Gautama Born ca. 563 BCE
Context: asceticism in India and Nepal
Life story: Classic story of a quest
How is it unusual?
How does it typify human experience?
Four Sights
why are these shocking to Siddhartha?
Enlightenment
Teaching others (45 yrs)
Presents “middle way”
Ideal of enlightenment
Not a god

4. Narrative Used in religion:
To reveal
To teach memorably, personally
To alter relationships, cultivate empathy
“Religion is my story being shaped by another story” (L. Cunningham, J. Kelsay)
Life itself has a narrative quality
Certain stories are paradigms, like the Exodus or story of Buddha
Applying the story to one’s life distinguishes mere history from an experience of the sacred

5. Myth
Type of narrative
Answers questions about how people relate to sacred reality and to their world
Origins
Identity
Purpose
Universal in scope, often in setting
Deals with universal truths
Its meaning is not primarily about history (particular time and place) or science (empirical) but what is true universally (at all times and places)

6. Four Noble Truths Life is suffering (dukkha)
Suffering is caused by desire
Ceasing desire will bring an end to suffering
Do this through the Eightfold Path

7. Eightfold Path Right views Right intent Right speech Right conduct
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

9. 5 Precepts of Right Action/Conduct
Do not kill
Do not steal
Do not lie
Do not practice sexual immorality
Do not take intoxicants

10. Triple Gem I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha

11. Doctrines Samsara: cycle of rebirth (Smith: transmigration)
Governed by karma
Impermanence
Interdependence
No self
Nirvana

12. Development of Buddhism
No clear successor after the Buddha’s death
Theravada: most traditional
Mahayana: most adapting
Zen: branch of Mahayana

14. Theravada Buddhism: The Way of the Elders
Older form; more conservative (conserving)
Scriptures: Pali canon
SE Asia (Thailand)
Focus on individual effort
Strong emphasis on monasticism, Sangha
Universe is not friendly (no gods to help)
Meditation used, but not prayer
Wisdom is highest virtue
Ideal: arhat (“worthy one” who has extinguished desire)
Buddha is an exemplar, not a god

15. Mahayana Buddhism: The Big Raft
More liberal (innovative)
Scripture: Pali canon PLUS Lotus Sutra
more open on inclusion of women
“Big raft”: Focus on laity, all people
Priests serve laity, can marry
More a sense of power in the universe
Offer reverence for gods
Focus on compassion
Ideal: Bodhisattva who helps others
Buddha a savior, god-like
offer prayer and worship

16. Zen Buddhism Most common form in West
focus on emptying, even of most sacred teachings
critical of verbal reliance, conceptions
remarkably self-critical
Focus on “experiential perspective radically different from the ordinary” (Smith, 132)
practices:
zazen (seated meditation),
koan (problem/riddle) [reason is limited, have to use other forms of knowing; Smith, 134]
leading to satori/kensho

17. Zen Oxherding Pictures
Illustrate stages of spiritual growth
Herdsman = worldly “self”
Ox = true nature

18. Buddhist Mandalas Focus on center Aid to meditation
Also found in Hinduism, Jainism
Rich in symbolism
Concentric circles and squares
Figures: Buddhas, spirits
Natural elements
Color