Buddhism

Religions of the World

Part one of a series

The Historical Buddha• Originated in the 6th century BCE with

Siddhartha Gautama (also referred to as Skyamuni, the Sage of the Sakya People)

• After experiencing the Four Sights (old age, sickness, death, and a begging monk), Gautama left his family and became a wandering monk

• While meditating under a Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, he grasped the Four Noble Truths and became Buddha (Enlightened One)

Three Subdivisions of Buddhism:• Theravada (Way of the Elders): Focus is

the monastic community and the need for self-discipline in order to attain nirvana

• Mahayana (Greater Vehicle): Focuses on compassion in the bodhisattva form (holy person who postpones nirvana in order to help people). This subdivision has the most followers, since it is geared towards the layman.

• Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle): Dominant form of Buddhism in Tibet. It is known for its mystical rituals, which include, tantras, mantras, and mandalas

The lotus represents a pattern of growth that signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of

experience, and then into the sunshine of enlightenment.

Beliefs(Buddha is a title. When referring to “the Buddha”, it is assumed to mean Buddha Gautama)

• Buddhists believe in reincarnation but as a reconfiguration of basic energies, not as self

• The Pancasila or Five Precepts, are fundamental ethical principles that all Buddhists should follow. They are: abstaining from harming any living being, taking anything when not given, sensual misconduct, false speech, and losing control thru intoxication.

• Liberation is attained by embracing the Four Noble Truths

Meditating under a sacred Bodhi Tree

The Four Noble Truths:

• Suffering is universal• Craving for things that will not

last is the root of suffering• Nirvana is the end of suffering

and reincarnation• In order to reach Nirvana, one

must follow the Noble Eightfold Path

A Dharma Wheel: Represents the Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path (interdependent practical principles seen in relationship with each other):• Right View

• Right Intention• Right Speech• Right Action• Right Livelihood• Right Effort• Right Mindfulness• Right Concentration

Cover from the Tibetan Book of the Dead

Sacred Texts• Dhammapada (Pali canon):

Recorded conversations of the Buddha in the Pali Indian dialect.

• The Tipitaka (Three Baskets): A collection of Buddha’s sayings, the monastic rule, and a philosophical system (most important text in Theravada Buddhism.

• Bardo Thödol or Tibetan Book of the Dead: Describes the consciousness experience of the interval between death and rebirth.

Buddhist

Temple

Worship• A Buddhist devotion to the religion is a

natural part of their life that can include their diet, job, trade, or profession.

• They conduct daily meditations, give offerings at shrines, temples, or monasteries.

• Many Buddhists have shrine rooms in their homes.

• As part of their devotions, Buddhists recite the three refuges or the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma; truth or teachings, and Sangha; monastic community), some Buddhists also chant.

• Practicing meditation frees the mind from everyday emotions.

SymbolismBuddhapada: Buddha’s footprints are early

representatives of the Buddha. They are highly revered in all Buddhist countries. They symbolize many things. The most popular meaning is the grounding of the transcendent.

The Color Yellow: During Gautama’s lifetime, saffron was found to be the cheapest and easiest way to dye cloth. Criminals were designated to wear this color to signify their state. Gautama Bhudda chose to wear this color as a sign of humility and separation from materialistic society. It has the highest symbolic value in Buddhism.

Current Events

• Russian President vows to support Russian Buddhists

• Prison inmates go Zen to deal with life behind bars

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Siddhartha Gautama

Holly Library maintains many resources relating to Buddhism, including:

• Buddhism: a Short History (Edward Conze)• A History of Buddhist Philosophy (David J.

Kalupahana)• Women in Buddhism (Diana Y. Paul)• The Awakening of the West (Stephen

Batchelor)• The Art of Happiness, (the Dalai Lama)• Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture

(Loden Sherap Dagyab Rinpoche, translated)

• Discovering Buddhism, DVD• The Long Search, DVD (BBC series)

Bibliography• Couliano, I; Eliade, C.; Wiesner, H. (1991).

The Harpercollins Concise Guide to World Religion. Harpercollins Publications

• Klostermaier, Klaus K. (1999). Buddhism: A Short Introduction. Oneworld Publications

• Conze, M.; Conze, E. (2000). Buddhism: A Short History.

Oneworld Publications• Pollock, Robert (2002). The Everything World’s

Religions Book: Discover the Beliefs, Traditions, and Cultures of Ancient and Modern Religions. F + W Publications, Inc.

• Religionfacts website (www.religionfacts.com)

Image Sources• Slide 1:

http://sribuddha.magnify.net/media/site/VSKXT5FFR9H62Z8S/uploads/C_Documents_and_Settings_Balan_My_Documents_My_Pictures_buddha_4.jpg

• Slide 3: http://www.utilitarianism.com/gautama-buddha.jpg• Slide 5:

http://www.types-of-flowers.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lotus_2.jpg

• Slide 7: http://joebikeindia.info/Assets/Images/India%20Images/BodhGaya_BodhiTree.jpg

• Slide 9: http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/1878/13759/f/58670-Dharma-Wheel-3.jpg

• Slide 11: http://rickpdx.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/tibetanbookdead.jpg• Slide 13:

http://www.molon.de/galleries/Thailand/ChiangMai/images01/05%20Buddhist%20temple.jpg

• Slide 15: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/200521125-001/The-Image-Bank

• Slide 17: http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/buddhist%20monks%20school.jpg

• Slide 19: Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddha_4.html

Photo: http://www.poetseers.org/the_poetseers/lord_buddha/borobudur

Coming soon in the World

Religions series: Christianity