BuddhismBy, Nick, Alon, Levi, and Osher

Practical and RitualComprised of very detailed and intimate

prayers.

Used to get in touch with ones personal healing.

Mainly a way of expressing each other’s feelings

Show ones dedication and commitment to God.

Practical and RitualDuring prayer, five parts of the body must touch

the ground.

These five body parts include the palms of our hands, the knees, and the forehead symbolizing the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space.

Buddhism incorporates a variety of other rituals and practices that are all planned to help one in achieve enlightenment

Practical and RitualThe prayers are started with the evoking of

Sangha.

Sangha is a sense of a community with a common goal

Once Sangha has been evoked, Sadhaka or Dharma students perform three bowings, known as the three gates.

Those three gates consist of the body, tongue, and the mind.

Buddhism is the practice of meditation that is central to all forms of Buddhism.

Meditation is the central focus of Zen Buddhism and that it is the path to liberation

Buddhism is mainly a spiritual religion compared to others.belief strongly in the after life. (good behavior = reincarnated in a better species)

Practical and Ritual

NarrativesBuddhist narratives are about the life story of the

Buddha

have been passed down from the teacher the Buddha to his students

Buddha used these stories to illustrate the Dharma.

Most stories talk about the Buddha and how he is the teacher to all and is like the father to everyone in the entire world and that he is brought down to protect and rescue everyone in danger. (savior or messiah)

Daily prayer for Buddhists can vary wherever one is.

Monks still follow the strict rules of the vinaya, which was brought to the religion many centuries ago.

Vinaya is a sense of disciplinary rules that Buddhism came up with. Like some other religions these monks vow to not, lie, kill, have sexual relations, or use any sort of drugs. If one commits even one of these, it will then result with expulsion from the monastery.

Narratives

Each Sect that has been brought up through Buddhism has its own doctrines, gods and legends.

For example they all believe in the evil spirit Mara and that it tries to take over ones soul if they do not meditate but there are other traditions where things differ.

The Brahmanism a type of the Hindu religion first influenced Buddhism.

They both believed in the idea of reincarnation and the cycle of birth.

One of the most recognized sacred narratives in Buddhism is the life story of Gautama Siddhartha, who was then known for becoming the Buddha.

Narratives

Mythicnormal existence consists of a process of

continual birth, death, and rebirth, a cycle from which, the path of the Buddha is discovered.

One of the few religions that have a creation story.

Middle WayA middle way is the descriptive term that

Siddhartha Gautama used to describe the path that he found out which then led to liberation.

Buddha describes the middle way as a path of moderation between the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. (balance between sex and embarrassment basically.

Basically it’s a path of wisdom.

Buddhist Temples

TemplesThey are usually located facing eastward or

towards the sun

Located in places where there is quiet and peace so that one can find their inner peace

A buddhist temple is derived after the imperial palaces and bears that have very little resemblance to the temples in India or other Buddhist countries.

Usually there are three groups of buildings separated by courtyards. The monastery, like other Chinese structures, normally face south.

TemplesIn a Great Hall of the temple, the main altar is

found and on it and is the image of Sakyamuni Buddha and his two foremost disciples or followers, Mahakasyapa and Ananda, or other Buddhas of the past eras.

Temples are usually named and based after other legends and main Buddhas.

Altar

Very detailed art and architecture

Buddhist Women

-Women and men pretty much wear the Same type of clothing-They must have shaved heads, no hair is Permitted-They have to be covered from about theirShoulders to their toes

Buddhist Men

– the style for the men and womenAre very similar (length)-Color of clothing is different -Shaved heads, no hair permitted, Same as girls

Buddhist Children-Children are forced to wear the Same clothing as adults-In this culture, children do notGet any lenience regarding the clothingThey wear. -Shaved heads are rules for childrenas well as adults

Similarities between Buddhist Men and Women clothing

Buddhist women and men wear similar clothing

They both have the rules regarding shaved heads

Their colors are usually dark, yet in some cases they have bright colors– as shown in the photos.

Style of clothing is usually robes that cover their entire body

Differences between Buddhist Men and Women clothing

Men and women wear different colored clothing, at all times.

During ceremonies, the color would ordinarily be dark, but in uplifting occasions, they would wear bright colors

Differences between clothing for adults and children

For the most part, the clothing children and adults are similar, but the color has no affect on children

Even when adults wear dark colors, children are still permitted to wear bright ones

MeditationMeditation helps develop a more emotionally positive

attitude, clearing the mind, and easier to learn to be kinder to yourself and others around.

In addition, it gives you patience, and the ability to communicate to other easier.

Posture is important- Chest up, back straight and crossed legs and hands together facing up.

It’s key to be mindful of breathing, which helps calm the mind and listening to your breathe helps become less distracted and better able to pay attention.

Four Noble TruthsLife involves suffering

Suffering comes from ignorance

Being unattached ends suffering

The use of the Noble Eightfold Path can help end all suffering.

Noble Eightfold Path

Right ViewRight Intention Right SpeechRight Action

Noble Eightfold Path

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration

Buddhist Society They believed that people should live in a egalitarian society.

There are two religious social groups, the monks, who have committed their lives to pursuing religious goals and everyone else.

The monks are called sangha and the non-monks are referenced as lay people or laity. -The contrast between the two groups creates a karmic lubricant that keeps the society of Buddhism running.

The monks pray and beg for the food and give out good karma to other monks and people in their society, while the lay people freely exchange the food as a way to earn this good karma. In return to the lay people the monks help with religious guidance,

marriages, funerals and so on.

 As this religion spread, many kings and wealthy individuals helped with building monasteries

Buddhist BranchesThere are two distinct branches of Buddhism.

Buddhism consists of one side -Theravada which means, Traditions of the elders.The Theravada claims to only follow the teachings of

Buddha.The second branch of Buddhism is the Mahayana.

The Mahayana which means “The Great Vehicle”, in depth means to move towards a destination.

The Mahayana stationed in north with the Theravada remained in the south.

Central message of Buddhism

-Buddhism was created to designate a world that suffering does not exist.-To Buddha, release of suffering was much more important than creating a center of interest in ultimate salvation.-The focus was to engage in activities that would gain merit and would lead to a more desirable rebirth and true enlightenment.-The Buddhist religion teaches their followers to not be to self-involved and to help others reach enlightenment.

-Buddhism is a very calm, peaceful, and liberated religion.

Video of Buddhist Monk Levitating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tGcXqMU-d4