1. Life of the Buddha

2. Context Prince Siddhartha Gautama
Part of the Shakya Clan (hence name Shakyamuni)
Born Kapilavastu in Northern India, 563BCE
Indian religion at time was Hinduism
Buddhism part of a revolt against Hinduism: expensive sacrifices, Caste System, pessimistic view of salvation, etc

3. Siddhartha’s Birth Birth stories very symbolic
Queen Maya’s dream: elephant in side
Born in garden at Lumbini
Trees bent down to support Queen Maya
Born out of her side
Golden Skin
Walked seven steps and lotuses grew at his feet
Declared this was his last rebirth

4. Siddhartha’s Early Life
A seer called Asita told his father King Sudohanna that he would either grow up to be a great leader, or a holy man.
To make sure he became a king like him, the King kept Siddhartha in the palace for his whole life.
He was surrounded by youth, beauty, pleasure and wealth, and had no idea that life could be any different.

5. The Great Renunciation (The Four Sights)
Siddhartha began to question life, and asked what was beyond the palace walls.
He convinced his charioteer Channa to take him outside 4 times.
On these occasions he saw an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and lastly a holy man (saddhu).
The first three sights dispirited him, but the fourth gave him hope that he could figure out how to stop all the suffering in life (he was moved by great compassion)
He decided to leave his family (wife and child too – also symbolising leaving attachments behind) to become a wandering holy man in search of the truth.

6. Asceticism
Siddhartha first came across some yogins who taught him the art of meditation. He stayed with them for a couple of years, then moved on to join a group of ascetics.
Ascetics deny themselves things in order to ‘force’ the mind to see clearly. For example, a lazy person might force themselves to stand all the time.
Siddhartha decided that since he had lived a life of material luxury, he would starve himself.
Legend has it that he reduced his food until he was living on 3 grains of rice a day and almost died.
He eventually realised that this was not helping him realise the truth, and (with some help from a local girl) made himself better.

7. Enlightenment
Soon after this, Siddhartha sat under a pipal tree (commonly known as a bodhi tree) and decided he would not move until he had an answer to the world’s suffering.
For many days Siddhartha meditated, facing Mara and all of his temptations.
Eventually Siddhartha came to realise the truth about reality and became enlightened.
He was now the Buddha (enlightened one)
He spent the rest of his life travelling and teaching what he had learned.

8. Buddhist Scriptures
Dhamma

9. Teachings of the Buddha
Originally passed on orally
Meetings of Buddhists at special places during rainy seasons = passing on of recent teachings and reminders of others
People were used to remembering things ‘off by heart’ as writing was not common practice.
The rainy season lasts for many weeks – plenty of time for discussion and learning.

10. The First Council
During the first rainy season after the Buddha died (usually given as around 483BCE), Buddhists met to collate his teachings and agree on what he said.
500 senior members of the Sangha (Buddhist community) made up what is known as the ‘First Council’ and started to work through all of the Buddhist teachings to decide which ones were definitely taught by the Buddha
This work was confirmed almost one hundred years later by a second council at Vaisali in around 386 BCE

11. Canonisation
By the first century CE, the works were officially collated and organised (canonised)
These original teachings are known as the Pali Canon, and are the main scriptures of Theravada Buddhism.
The Pali Canon is accepted by all Buddhists, although schools other than Theravada also accept later works.
The Pali Canon is made up of the Tripitaka (Three Baskets). These are three different collections of writing.

12. Tripitaka (Three Baskets)

13. Other Scriptures
There are also non-canonical works that are considered important teaching aids in Buddhism.
For example, “The Questions of King Milinda” is famous in Buddhism
Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism accept many other scriptures (as well as the Tripitaka) as ‘canonical’ texts – they are written in many languages and are considered as ‘newer’ revelations of the Buddha’s teaching, still carrying the authority of the Buddha.
Theravada Buddhists would usually not accept these as authentic.

14. The Dhammapada Part of the Pali Canon (Sutta Pitaka ‘basket’)
Used by all Buddhists
Said to be the actual words of the Buddha
It ‘argues’ between the foolish person, and the wise person who understands the path of Buddhism
It aims to ‘win’ the reader over to Buddhism by logic, verse, prose, and clever argument!
This is the main text you will need to understand for this section of the course.

15. Anicca 1
(Impermanence)

16. Anicca Literally means “impermanence”
It is the idea that everything is constantly changing (even if you can’t see it)
This concept is at the root of all Buddhist belief – if you accept and understand anicca, you are on the road to enlightenment!

17. Impermanence seen in life of Buddha:
The Four Sights
Great Renunciation
Search for correct ‘path’
Travelling and teaching
His Death

18. Why so important?
Buddhists believe life is full of suffering. This suffering is mainly caused by people’s unrealistic EXPECTATIONS of things – wanting more money / wanting to be happy forever / not wanting to get old / etc. We resist change and are upset by it, we get upset when we don’t get what we want, etc. If we understand that everything is impermanent and will always change, we shouldn’t have these unreasonable expectations. We will always realise that good things come to an end, and also that bad things will also pass. This gives a realistic and truthful outlook on the world and allows Buddhists to properly understand other Buddhist teachings.

19. The Four Noble Truths – Part One
The Human Condition
The Four Noble Truths – Part One

20. The Four Noble Truths These are the basis of all Buddhist teaching
These were alluded to in the Buddha’s first sermon (The Sermon at Benares)
Buddhists use a doctor analogy to explain them:
The Buddha is the doctor who makes the diagnosis that something is ‘wrong’ – Dukkha
The diagnosis of the cause of the illness is craving (tanha) – Samudaya
There is a cure; it is to achieve nibbana – Nirodha
The prescription is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path - Magga

21. The First Noble Truth - Dukkha
Also one of the Three Universal Truths / Marks of Existence
Means ‘unsatisfactoriness’
Idea that suffering is everywhere all the time – even if we think we are happy!
Caused by failure to understand anicca

22. Second Noble Truth - Samudaya
The cause of dukkha (the actual illness) is tanha (craving)
Because you do not understand anicca, you crave permanence and possessions
You want relationships to always be good, you want to never be ill, you always want money and possessions thinking they’ll make you happy forever, etc.
This is also a link with the Three Mental Poisons (or Three Fires): Greed, Hatred and Ignorance
All this craving makes you suffer: tanha causes dukkha
This is the Second Noble Truth of Samudaya
See Dhammapada (Cravings)

23. The Three Universal Truths / Three Marks of Conditioned Existence
The Human Condition
The Three Universal Truths /
Three Marks of Conditioned Existence

24. 1st Mark: Anicca (Impermanence)
The first key concept you need to know is ‘Anicca’
The word literally means ‘impermanence’
It is the First Mark of Existence / Universal Truth
This means that everything is constantly changing
Nothing stays the same (nothing is permanent)
Everything is changing around you just now: weather, light, table, chair, apple, Bennachie – everything.
This applies to relationships and conditions as well.
See story of Nun Kisagotami (mustard seed story)

25. 2nd Mark: Anatta (No Soul)
The Second Mark of Existence / Universal Truth is Anatta
Anatta literally means ‘no soul’
This is basically Anicca applied to people!
If nothing is permanent, and everything changes, then you also constantly change.
There is no permanent ‘thing’, so there can be no eternal / lasting soul or ‘self’
Buddhists believe we are made up of five changing ‘bits’ / aggregates called the Five Skandhas.
The skandhas constantly change, so we are constantly changing.
The only thing that stays the same is our ‘label’
See Questions of King Milinda (Chariot story)

26. Sunyata (Emptiness) - Higher
This is NOT a Mark of Existence, but is related to the first two marks.
This is Anatta and Anicca taken one stage further
Found in the Prajna-Paramita Sutras
Sunyata is a Mahayana Buddhist concept – you will not find it in the ‘strict/original’ Theravada Buddhism
It states that every time you analyse something (like you did with a person for anatta) you find that no object / thing has any inherent substance – it is ‘empty’.

27. Sunyata (Emptiness) – Higher [cont]
Everything is always made up of smaller ‘bundles of bits’ (like humans are made of the skhandas)
Every named object amounts to the sum of its parts – all an object is is a particular configuration of it’s parts.
The name is just a label given to that particular collection of changing pieces.
If you analyse everything into small enough bits you find that everything is empty – has no existence of it’s own.
Car = mechanical and electrical bits = made up of smaller and smaller components = made up of basic material = made up of atoms = made up of subatomic particles = made up of ‘nothingness’!

28. If everything can reduce down to this nothingness, or emptiness, then everything is essentially the same, or linked together.

30. 3rd Mark: Dukkha (Unsatisfactoriness)
Third mark of existence is ‘Dukkha’
It literally means ‘unsatisfactoriness’ or ‘suffering’
Usual interpretation of Dukkha is suffering, but it is ‘more’ than that.
It is the dissatisfaction with life – the good and bad, the fact that things change, things failing to live up to our expectations, etc.
3 Types of Suffering: Ordinary suffering, suffering from change, and from conditioned states.
Human failure to understand anicca means that we have a misunderstanding of our ‘human condition’ and live our lives ‘wrongly’, so we ‘suffer’

31. 3rd Mark: Dukkha (cont)
Not accepting that EVERYTHING changes = We expect / hope for things to stay the same when they are good; we worry they’ll never change when they are bad; we strive to achieve goals that are ultimately meaningless  we are ignorant to the truth of the world
We are tied to the reality of samsara (the cycle of life, death and rebirth) because of our failure to understand the fact that not accepting anicca leads to dukkha, which in turn stops us becoming enlightened, and therefore keeps us tied to samsara!
We are ‘tied’ to the Three Mental Poisons of Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance which keep this cycle going.
Understanding anicca and dissolving the Three Poisons is the key to ridding ourselves of dukkha and becoming enlightened
See Dhammapada (Ageing)

32. Quick Tasks Write a SHORT paragraph to explain:
Anicca
Anatta
Dukkha
Explain briefly how the three marks of existence are linked. Use a diagram to illustrate your answer.
Higher: Explain the concept of Sunyata

33. Kamma and Skilful Means
The Goals
Kamma and Skilful Means

34. Kamma Kamma means ‘action’ It is the natural law of cause and effect
Every action is determined by something
Every action has an effect / consequence
These consequences can have either negative or positive kammic effects
Kammic effects may not be felt straight away
The ‘balance’ of kamma at the end of one life determines the ‘state’ of the next life
The aim is to build up positive kamma to gain a better rebirth and become closer to the ultimate goal of nibbana

35. Skilful Means / Skill in Means
Upaya Kausala = skilful means
This is using different strategies to ‘teach’ your audience, e.g. football rules will be taught differently to a five year old, and someone on the school team.

36. Skilful Means is using wisdom to use the appropriate method at the appropriate time
The Buddha used upaya kausala all the time – it is the message of the teaching that is important, not the method.
See parable of burning house / story of raft

37. The Four Noble Truths – Part Two
The Goals
The Four Noble Truths – Part Two

38. The Four Noble Truths - Reminder
These are the basis of all Buddhist teaching
These were alluded to in the Buddha’s first sermon (The Sermon at Benares)
Buddhists use a doctor analogy to explain them:
The Buddha is the doctor who makes the diagnosis – Dukkha
The cause of the illness is craving (tanha) – Samudaya
There is a cure, it is to achieve nibbana – Nirodha
The prescription is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path - Magga

39. The First Noble Truth - Dukkha
Also one of the Three Universal Truths / Marks of Existence
Means ‘unsatisfactoriness’
Caused by failure to understand anicca
Second Noble Truth - Samudaya
The cause of dukkha (the actual illness) is tanha (craving)
Because you do not understand anicca, you crave permanence and possessions
All this craving makes you suffer: tanha causes dukkha

40. The Third Noble Truth - Nirodha
There is a way to cure the illness of dukkha
The way to be cured forever is to achieve enlightenment (nibbana)
This is the ULTIMATE GOAL of all Buddhists
Nibbana is not a place, but a state of mind
Difficult to describe – must experience it to understand fully (fish and turtle story)
Enlightened beings are outwith the realm of cause and effect, so are not reborn when they die
See ‘What the Buddha Taught’ and ‘QKM’

41. The Theravada Ideal: The Arahat / Arahant
The Goals

42. The Arahat The Arahat is the Theravadin ideal
All Theravadin Buddhists would like to become an Arahat
An Arahat is an enlightened monk – they will not be reborn when they die
It takes many rebirths to reach the stage where one will become an Arahat in this lifetime
It takes a lifetime of dedication and study as a monk to reach this stage
Few monks become Arahats

43. Implications for Lay People
Lay people = ordinary members of the community
Ordained people = monks and nuns
Lay people in Theravada Buddhism are VERY unlikely to become enlightened
The best they can aim for is a better rebirth to get closer to being able to become an Arahat
They do this by accumulating positive kamma (they might become monks or nuns temporarily, and they will help the ordained community by providing food and clothing, etc)
They would not expect to progress in “leaps and bounds” – enlightenment is a very distant goal.
Enlightenment in Theravada Buddhism is a largely personal goal – ultimately you have to ‘do it’ on your own.

44. The Means
Three Jewels

45. The Three Jewels The Three Jewels are the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha
Also known as Three Treasures, Three Refuges, or the Tiratana
The Dhamma could not have been taught without the Buddha, and could not have been followed without the Sangha, so the three are inseparable.

46. They are known as the Three Refuges, because the Buddhist promise of devotion says:
“I take refuge in the Buddha,
I take refuge in the Dhamma,
I take refuge in the Sangha.”
Taking refuge is making a promise to be devoted to the Buddha and his teachings.
It is also a sign of the support structure of the religion – a refuge is somewhere you turn for security and guidance

47. Trikaya Trikaya = Three Bodies (of the Buddha)
This is a Mahayana concept, NOT a Theravada one!
Theravada focus on the HISTORICAL example of the man Siddhartha Gautama / the Buddha
Mahayana see different aspects to ‘him’ – the historical and the supernatural / metaphysical side

48. Buddha - Trikaya
Nirmanakaya – Human form sent to teach humans / many different bodies (Siddhartha was one)
Sambhogakaya – Eternal Buddha / what gets embodied in human form, the ‘future Buddha’ Maitreya, etc
Dhammakaya – Ultimate reality / Buddha nature (in all beings)

49. Different Interpretations of Buddha (Historical V Trikaya)
2 – Dhamma-Kaya (Truth Body) – Qualities that make up the ‘buddha-nature’ / truth of reality.
3. Sambhoga-Kaya (Enjoyment Body) – e.g. Bodhisattvas
1 – Nirmana-Kaya (Physical Body) – Siddhartha Gautama [Buddha Shakyamuni]
Mahayana
Historical Buddha Shakyamuni
TIME
Theravada
The Buddha is a historical figure ONLY – a ‘saint’. He left behind his teachings to show the ‘path’. Theravada Buddhists rely on themselves and the teachings only.

50. Dhamma Can mean ‘teachings’ / truth / way / etc
It is sometimes used to mean Buddhism
Usually seen as Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path
Scriptures can be dhamma
Central to Buddhism
Like a raft – to be used to reach enlightenment

51. Sangha Community of Buddhists Specifically monks Monks = bhikkus
Can become a monks for life, or just a short time
Monks live by 10 Precepts and many other rules in Vinaya Pitaka scriptures (laity only use 5 Precepts)
Differences between monks and laity will differ depending on school of Buddhism

52. Questions Why are the Three Refuges important? (6 KU)
Explain each aspect of the Trikaya (6 KU)
What is dhamma? (4 KU)
What is the sangha? (2 KU)
Why are the Three Jewels important? (4 AE)

53. Eightfold Path / Ethics / Meditation
The Means
Eightfold Path / Ethics / Meditation

54. Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is the core of Buddhist practice and lifestyle. It is a guide to life, with it’s basis in the central teachings of the Four Noble Truths.
Split into three sections: Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation
Not a step by step guide
All should be practiced simultaneously
All ‘stages’ are interconnected
It is seen as the ‘Way’ to achieve enlightenment
See: The Path (Dhammapada)

55. Noble Eightfold Path Right View (understanding 4NT)
Right Intention (Doing things for right reasons)
Right Speech (no gossip / idle chat / lying)
Right Conduct / Action (being useful/helpful)
Right Livelihood (a good / helpful job)
Right Effort (Work hard towards keeping to 4NT and 8FP)
Right Mindfulness (Awareness / See things in the right way / Understanding how your actions affect everything around you)
Right Concentration (Meditation)

56. Ethics / Morality
Compassion is a central value to Buddhists – it underpins all belief and action
Ahimsa = non-violence and respect for life
Metta = loving-kindness (compassion for all creatures)
Using skilful means
Gaining good kamma (to enable a better rebirth)
Altruism = putting others first as based on compassion and as seen in the Bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism

57. Meditation Develops understanding / mindfulness / concentration
Samatha Meditation = developing mindfulness, but not specifically Buddhist / won’t get you enlightened
Bhavana (Mental Culture) = specifically Buddhist / essential for enlightenment / insight into nature of reality
Not an escape from life, but developing an awareness and understanding of it!
Pure Land Buddhists believe they can become enlightened simply by meditating on a mental image of the ‘Pure Land’!

58. Questions
Explain the importance of Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech, and Right Livelihood (8 KU)
Explain the importance of Eightfold Path (3 AE)
Explain the concepts of metta and ahimsa (4 KU)
“Meditation is essential to enlightenment” – how far do you agree? (6 AE)

59. World Religion: Buddhism
Worship

60. Objects of Worship 1
Bells are used at the beginning of worship to signal when to start. It is also used as a signal of change during worship.
Some Buddhists also believe the sound is symbolic as it spreads around the room, reminding them of the effects of kamma.

61. Objects of Worship 2
Prayer Wheels are used to focus the mind during Tibetan Buddhist meditation.
The turning of the wheel moves prayers and mantras held inside, and this is believed to bring good kamma

62. Objects of Worship 3
There will always be a Buddha Image in any shrine, at home or in a temple
It is worshipped as a sign of devotion to Buddhism and to inspire people to follow his teachings

63. Objects of Worship 4
Incense is used during worship, not only for it’s nice smell, but it reminds them of the law of kamma.
The smell spreads around the room, like the consequences of our actions will have effects all over the world.

64. Objects of Worship 5
Flowers are used in worship to remind Buddhists of the most important Buddhist teaching – that nothing lasts forever.
The flower is fresh and beautiful, but it will soon wilt and die – everything constantly changes.

65. Objects of Worship 6
Candles represent the light of wisdom, shining to light the right path through life.

66. Places of Worship 1
Temples (sometimes referred to as a Wat) can be found all over the world.
They do not have to be a specific design – they can be as simple or as elaborate as you like

67. Places of Worship 2
Samye-Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist community in the Scottish Borders.
This is the main shrine in their temple.
Look for the objects of worship – how many can you see?

68. Samye-Ling

69. Shrines in Bhutan and Sri-Lanka

70. Worship in Temples
Buddhists will take their shoes off when entering a temple (for cleanliness and as a sign of respect)
Worship in temples is usually led by the monks, although you can also worship at home or in groups
Buddhist worship includes giving offerings (candles, flowers, etc)
Much of the worship will be meditation, usually on mats on the floor
They will usually chant mantras to help concentration / bring good kamma

71. Why do Buddhists Worship?
Some people wonder what the point in worship is if Buddhists are not worshipping / trying to please a God like other religions do.
Buddhist worship is for:
Helping develop concentration and become better at meditation
Developing a deeper understanding of their religion through communal and individual activity
Giving time to reflecting on the concepts of the religion, and considering the symbolic aspects of the activity.
Inspiring and helping people achieve more in their religion

72. What do you remember about Buddhist Worship?
What are bells used for? (2)
What 2 things does worshiping a Buddha image do / show? (2)
What do flowers symbolise? (1)
What do candles symbolise? (1)
Where can you find Buddhist temples? (1)
What are Buddhist temples like? (1)
What do Buddhists do before going into a temple? (1)
What 3 things might they do during worship? (3)
Total ?/12 Marks: /12 Very Good
8 or 9 /12 Good
6 or 7 /12 Okay
less than 6/12 Revise!

73. Noble Eightfold Path
Higher / Int 2

75. Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is the core of Buddhist practice and lifestyle. It is a guide to life, with it’s basis in the central teachings of the Four Noble Truths (It IS the Fourth Noble Truth [Magga]).
Split into three sections: Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation
Not a step by step guide
All should be practiced simultaneously
All ‘stages’ are interconnected
It is seen as the ‘Way’ to achieve enlightenment
See: The Path (Dhammapada)

76. Noble Eightfold Path Right View (understanding 4NT)
Right Intention (Doing things for right reasons)
Right Speech (no gossip / idle chat / lying)
Right Conduct / Action (being useful/helpful)
Right Livelihood (a good / helpful job)
Right Effort (Work hard towards keeping to 4NT and 8FP)
Right Mindfulness (Awareness / See things in the right way / Understanding how your actions affect everything around you)
Right Concentration (Meditation)

77. Samsara
Buddhists have taken on the Hindu law of samsara, and changed it slightly
It still means the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
However, in the Hindu system rebirth is reincarnation. Your soul (atman) is reborn.
In Buddhism, there is no reincarnation as there is no soul to be reborn.
Rebirth in Buddhism is more like a transfer of energy, sometimes energy that carries with it a memory (see Tibetan Buddhist idea of Tulkus / Dalai Lama etc)

78. Introduction to kamma
The energy that is passed on in Buddhist rebirth is kammic energy.
Kamma is the NATURAL law of cause and effect. You accumulate positive or negative effects throughout your life, and this affects your ‘rebirth’
Your kammic energy at the end of your life ‘ignites’ the next one.
This is like transfer of momentum in pool balls. One ball moves another, but nothing of the first ball is attached to the second.

79. Dependent Origination
According to Buddhism, everything that exists does so because of what has gone before (cause and effect)
Everything depends on other thing for their existence
Dependent Origination was a way for the Buddha to teach his followers that they are ‘agents of their own fortune’ – just because you are here because of what has gone before does NOT mean you are not in control.
You are here because of previous events and choices, but you always have the power to choose the next step. You are always in control of where you are going!

80. Wheel of Life
Symbolic representation of dependent origination (what life is really like)
Three Poisons in centre
6 realms of rebirth are the ‘slices’
12 nidanas / stages of life are the sections round the edge
The Buddha pointing to the moon represents the possibility of freedom / Nibbana
Yama is the Lord of Death – in control of samsara.

81. Quick Tasks Briefly explain samsara Briefly explain the law of kamma.
What does the Buddha use to explain how you are in control of your life?

82. The Mahayana Ideal: The Bodhisattva
The Goals

83. Bodhisattvas Boh – dee – sat - va
‘Bodhisattva’ means ‘enlightenment being’ – someone who wished to become enlightened
Bodhisattvas act out of great compassion
In order to become fully enlightened, they put other beings first and delay their own enlightenment to help others become enlightened
By doing this they gain great kamma, and realise the ‘buddha-nature’ inside themselves and all other beings, and so actually become enlightened quicker. (Actually, they have been enlightened all along!)

84. Bodhisattvas were originally seen as people who became enlightened and acted out of great wisdom
However, unlike the earthly / human ideal (role model) of the Arahat in Theravada Buddhism, the Bodhisattva has become a more supernatural figure
There are a few key bodhisattvas that can be found all-throughout different Mahayana and Vajrayana schools
These bodhisattva-figures are often seen as embodiments of the Buddha

85. Bodhisattva Example: Avalokitesvara
Avalokitesvara (ava-lock-e-tesh-vara) is the Bodhisattva of compassion
Also known in Tibetan Buddhism as Chenresig (the Dalai Lama is seen to be an incarnation of Chenresig), and in female from, Tara
Bodhisattvas are a source of inspiration and guidance
They play an important role in worship and meditation (for example, worshipping or meditating upon the image of Avalokitesvara helps Buddhists become more compassionate)

86. Implications for Lay People
Lay (ordinary) people in Mahayana Buddhism are faced with a less ‘pessimistic’ situation than those in Theravada
Although it is true that Mahayana monks have more chance of becoming enlightened, lay people have bodhisattvas to call upon for help and inspiration
Aiming to become a bodhisattva should also help lay Buddhists be more compassionate (an important value in Buddhism) and thus gain more positive kamma and a better rebirth
Although Mahayana lay people also aim for a better rebirth, Nibbana does not seem such a distant and ‘unattainable’ goal.
They are ‘not alone’ as they have help along the way – it is a more motivational viewpoint.