Buddhism in the Subcontinent

Buddhism in the Subcontinent

The essence of Buddhism

The essence of Buddhism

The “middle way of The “middle way of wisdom and wisdom and compassion.”compassion.”

2,500 year old tradition.2,500 year old tradition.

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) Born in NE India Born in NE India

(Nepal).(Nepal). Raised in great luxuryRaised in great luxury

to be a king.to be a king. At 29 he rejectedAt 29 he rejected

his luxurious life tohis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentseek enlightenmentand the source ofand the source ofsuffering.suffering.

Lived a strict,Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs.ascetic life for 6 yrs.

Rejecting this extreme, sat in Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found meditation, and found nirvananirvana..

Became Became “The Enlightened One,”“The Enlightened One,” at 35.at 35.

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

Desire!Desire! Therefore, extinguish the Therefore, extinguish the

self, don’t obsess about self, don’t obsess about oneself.oneself.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths1.1. There is suffering in There is suffering in

the world. To live is to the world. To live is to suffer.suffer. ( (DukkhaDukkha) ) The Buddha found The Buddha found

this out when he was this out when he was young and young and experienced experienced suffering and death suffering and death in others.in others.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

2.2. The cause of The cause of suffering is self-suffering is self-centered desire centered desire and attachments.and attachments. ((TanhaTanha))

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

3.3. The solution is to The solution is to eliminate desire eliminate desire and attachments. and attachments. ((Nirvana = Nirvana = “extinction”“extinction”))

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths4.4. To reach To reach nirvananirvana, one , one

must follow the must follow the Eightfold Path. Eightfold Path.

Eightfold PathEightfold Path

NirvanaNirvana The union with the The union with the ultimate ultimate spiritual reality. spiritual reality.

Escape from the cycle of Escape from the cycle of

rebirth. rebirth.

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha’s

head :

2c Pakist

an

Buddha’s

head :

2c Pakist

an

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Buddhist AltarBuddhist Altar

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c

Bhutan

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c

Bhutan

boddhisatvaboddhisatva

The Dala

iLam

a

The Dala

iLam

a

Relieve Stress & Meditate:

Get a Mantra !

Relieve Stress & Meditate:

Get a Mantra !

Ohm...mani...padme...hung.Ohm...mani...padme...hung.....Hail to the jewel in the lotus!Hail to the jewel in the lotus!