Buddhism- The Search for Nirvana

Origins• Began in India in 400 BCE• Founded in the teachings of the

leader, Buddha or “the enlightened one”- was once a Prince• Prince Saddhatta lived a sheltered

life inside his palace walls• Emerged from palace to see four

things• An old man

• A sick man

• A funeral procession

• A holy man

• Decided to give up all his worldly possessions and his family to experience suffering

Origins- continued• The Prince left his palace to

seek the truth about human suffering and achieve the peace of mind like the holy man he had seen • He wanted to escape the cycle

of suffering, death and rebirth (reincarnation)• He tried many things such as

starving himself, cutting all his hair off (a sign of vanity in India), and slept outdoors – nothing worked• Finally he meditated under the

“Bodhi” tree at Bodh Gaya (NE India) and after 3 days and nights, he found ENLIGHTMENT• ENLIGHTMENT means free from

the fear of suffering and and the cycle of death and rebirth• He meditated alone for several

weeks and then left to teach others how to find enlightment

Buddha taught:Beliefs- The Four Noble Truths

•Suffering: all life is suffering•The cause of suffering: desire and craving•To end suffering: To stop craving and desires•The way to end suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path.

Beliefs- Noble Eightfold Path1. See the world as it really is

2. Have the right intentions

3. Speak kindly, warmly, respectfully

4. Do not kill, harm or steal

5. Avoid jobs that harm the environment and creatures

6. Control dangerous desires

7. Be aware of your thoughts and feelings

8. Achieve a state of inner calm through meditation

Beliefs- Bodhisattvas• Bodhisattvas- deities are

supernatural beings who provide rainfall, good crops, wealth, etc.• These BODHISATTVAS are

people who have achieved enlightment, but who have postponed nirvana to help others find enlightment• Some Buddhists think that by

praying to a deity their prayers will be answered

Beliefs- Karma• Buddhists believe that a

person’s actions give them good or bad karma• If a Buddhist does not reach

ENLIGHTMENT in their lifetime, they will be reborn into one of the six realms on the Wheel of Samsara• You can be reborn into

everything from a god to hell• The best is to be reborn into

a human so you have a chance to reach nirvana again

Scriptures• There are many but best

known is:• Pali Canon• Text is carved onto wooden

blocks and paper is rubbed over them

• Three parts:• Explains the rules, explanations

and stories for nuns and monks

• 10,000 sayings from Buddha and his followers

• Info on Philosophy, science and religious beliefs

TemplesLaughing Buddha in Richmond (there are lots of buddhas- those who have reached Nirvana are a Buddha Richmond

Prayer Wheels in Tibet Tibet Temple- watching you! Or meditation?