Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 6 Buddhism Chapter 6 Buddhism

Exploring the Religions Exploring the Religions of Our Worldof Our World

Exploring the Religions Exploring the Religions of Our Worldof Our World

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 BuddhismBuddhismChapter 6 Chapter 6 BuddhismBuddhism


The BasicsThe Basics• A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened

about that which is realabout that which is real• Founder: Siddhartha GautamaFounder: Siddhartha Gautama • The goal of Buddhism is attaining The goal of Buddhism is attaining NirvanaNirvana (the (the

extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, and all that keeps the life cycle going)and all that keeps the life cycle going)

• Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism

The BasicsThe Basics• A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened

about that which is realabout that which is real• Founder: Siddhartha GautamaFounder: Siddhartha Gautama • The goal of Buddhism is attaining The goal of Buddhism is attaining NirvanaNirvana (the (the

extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, and all that keeps the life cycle going)and all that keeps the life cycle going)

• Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism


Periods of Hindu HistoryPeriods of Hindu HistoryPeriods of Hindu HistoryPeriods of Hindu History

Page 234Page 234Page 234Page 234


HistoryHistory

Facts about Siddhartha Gautama:Facts about Siddhartha Gautama:• born about 560 BCE and died about 483born about 560 BCE and died about 483

• born into a Hindu warrior casteborn into a Hindu warrior caste

• was married at 16 years old and fathered one sonwas married at 16 years old and fathered one son

• at 19 he encountered four things his father had at 19 he encountered four things his father had tried to shield from himtried to shield from him

• reached enlightenment by taking up meditation reached enlightenment by taking up meditation on suffering and the cycle of rebirthon suffering and the cycle of rebirth

• converted many countrymen by preaching that converted many countrymen by preaching that mokshamoksha could be attained by the Middle Way could be attained by the Middle Way

HistoryHistory

Facts about Siddhartha Gautama:Facts about Siddhartha Gautama:• born about 560 BCE and died about 483born about 560 BCE and died about 483

• born into a Hindu warrior casteborn into a Hindu warrior caste

• was married at 16 years old and fathered one sonwas married at 16 years old and fathered one son

• at 19 he encountered four things his father had at 19 he encountered four things his father had tried to shield from himtried to shield from him

• reached enlightenment by taking up meditation reached enlightenment by taking up meditation on suffering and the cycle of rebirthon suffering and the cycle of rebirth

• converted many countrymen by preaching that converted many countrymen by preaching that mokshamoksha could be attained by the Middle Way could be attained by the Middle Way


HistoryHistory (continued) (continued)

The Four Sights The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him):from him):

• old age old age • illness illness • deathdeath• asceticism asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a (renouncing material comforts to live a

self-disciplined life)self-disciplined life)


The Four Sights The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him):from him):

• old age old age • illness illness • deathdeath• asceticism asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a (renouncing material comforts to live a

self-disciplined life)self-disciplined life)



Who is the Who is the Dalai LamaDalai Lama??• A A bodhisattvabodhisattva (someone who compassionately (someone who compassionately

refrains from entering nirvana in order to save refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism)Buddhism)

• The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader • The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese

communist government forced them out of communist government forced them out of Tibet in 1959Tibet in 1959


Who is the Who is the Dalai LamaDalai Lama??• A A bodhisattvabodhisattva (someone who compassionately (someone who compassionately

refrains from entering nirvana in order to save refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism)Buddhism)

• The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader • The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese

communist government forced them out of communist government forced them out of Tibet in 1959Tibet in 1959


Sacred Stories and Sacred ScripturesSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures

Scriptures of Scriptures of TheravadaTheravada Buddhism: Buddhism:

Sacred Stories and Sacred ScripturesSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures

Scriptures of Scriptures of TheravadaTheravada Buddhism: Buddhism:

TripitakaTripitaka““the three baskets”the three baskets”

(contains the words(contains the wordsof the Buddha)of the Buddha)

TripitakaTripitaka““the three baskets”the three baskets”

(contains the words(contains the wordsof the Buddha)of the Buddha)

Vinaya PitakaVinaya Pitaka – the code of – the code of monastic discipline for monastic discipline for monks and nunsmonks and nuns

Sutra PitakaSutra Pitaka – discourses – discourses attributed to Gautamaattributed to Gautama

Abidharma PitakaAbidharma Pitaka – examines – examines the Buddha’s the Buddha’s psychological and psychological and Buddhist doctrineBuddhist doctrine

Vinaya PitakaVinaya Pitaka – the code of – the code of monastic discipline for monastic discipline for monks and nunsmonks and nuns

Sutra PitakaSutra Pitaka – discourses – discourses attributed to Gautamaattributed to Gautama

Abidharma PitakaAbidharma Pitaka – examines – examines the Buddha’s the Buddha’s psychological and psychological and Buddhist doctrineBuddhist doctrine


Sacred Stories and Sacred ScripturesSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures (continued) (continued)

Scriptures of Scriptures of MahayanaMahayana Buddhism: Buddhism:

Sacred Stories and Sacred ScripturesSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures (continued) (continued)

Scriptures of Scriptures of MahayanaMahayana Buddhism: Buddhism:

TripitakaTripitaka(Mahayana(Mahayanaversion)version)

TripitakaTripitaka(Mahayana(Mahayanaversion)version)

Lotus SutraLotus Sutrathe final teachings of the Buddhathe final teachings of the Buddha

which makes Enlightenment which makes Enlightenment available to everyoneavailable to everyone

Lotus SutraLotus Sutrathe final teachings of the Buddhathe final teachings of the Buddha

which makes Enlightenment which makes Enlightenment available to everyoneavailable to everyone

Perfection of WisdomPerfection of Wisdoma treatise on how to achieve a treatise on how to achieve

the perfection of the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattvawisdom of a bodhisattva

Perfection of WisdomPerfection of Wisdoma treatise on how to achieve a treatise on how to achieve

the perfection of the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattvawisdom of a bodhisattva


Beliefs and PracticesBeliefs and Practices

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Beliefs and PracticesBeliefs and Practices

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble TruthsLife is filled with Life is filled with

suffering: both physical suffering: both physical and mentaland mental

Life is filled with Life is filled with suffering: both physical suffering: both physical

and mentaland mental

The cause of The cause of suffering is desiresuffering is desire

The cause of The cause of suffering is desiresuffering is desire

To cease suffering oneTo cease suffering onemust cease desiringmust cease desiring

To cease suffering oneTo cease suffering onemust cease desiringmust cease desiring

The path to the end The path to the end of suffering is the of suffering is the

Noble Eightfold PathNoble Eightfold Path

The path to the end The path to the end of suffering is the of suffering is the

Noble Eightfold PathNoble Eightfold Path


RightRightUnderstandingUnderstanding

RightRightThoughtThought

RightRightSpeechSpeech

RightRightConductConduct

RightRightLivelihoodLivelihood

RightRightEffortEffort

RightRightMindfulnessMindfulness

RightRightConcentrationConcentration

Beliefs and PracticesBeliefs and Practices (continued)(continued)

The Noble Eightfold PathThe Noble Eightfold Path

Beliefs and PracticesBeliefs and Practices (continued)(continued)

The Noble Eightfold PathThe Noble Eightfold Path


Sacred TimeSacred TimeSacred TimeSacred Time

Offerings toOfferings toBuddhaBuddha

Offerings toOfferings toBuddhaBuddha

MeditationMeditationMeditationMeditation

PujaPujaPujaPuja

VisakhaVisakha““Buddha Day”Buddha Day”

VisakhaVisakha““Buddha Day”Buddha Day”

Celebrating Celebrating sanghasangha

Celebrating Celebrating sanghasangha

CelebratingCelebratingthe Buddhistthe Buddhist

lifecyclelifecycle

CelebratingCelebratingthe Buddhistthe Buddhist

lifecyclelifecycle


Sacred Places and Sacred SpacesSacred Places and Sacred SpacesSacred Places and Sacred SpacesSacred Places and Sacred Spaces

TemplesTemplesused for religious used for religious

devotions and to enshrine devotions and to enshrine images of buddhasimages of buddhas

TemplesTemplesused for religious used for religious

devotions and to enshrine devotions and to enshrine images of buddhasimages of buddhas

StupasStupashold important relics of the Buddhahold important relics of the Buddha

or other important figuresor other important figures

StupasStupashold important relics of the Buddhahold important relics of the Buddha

or other important figuresor other important figures

PagodasPagodaslarge stupaslarge stupas

PagodasPagodaslarge stupaslarge stupas


Sacred Places and Sacred SpacesSacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued)(continued)

Places of Pilgrimage:Places of Pilgrimage:• Lumbini GardensLumbini Gardens – traditional site of the – traditional site of the

birth of Siddhartha Gautama near Nepalbirth of Siddhartha Gautama near Nepal• Bodh GayaBodh Gaya – the place Gautama became – the place Gautama became

enlightenedenlightened • SarnathSarnath – where Gautama preached his first – where Gautama preached his first

sermon about the Four Noble Truthssermon about the Four Noble Truths• KushinaraKushinara – traditional place of the death of – traditional place of the death of

GautamaGautama

Sacred Places and Sacred SpacesSacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued)(continued)

Places of Pilgrimage:Places of Pilgrimage:• Lumbini GardensLumbini Gardens – traditional site of the – traditional site of the

birth of Siddhartha Gautama near Nepalbirth of Siddhartha Gautama near Nepal• Bodh GayaBodh Gaya – the place Gautama became – the place Gautama became

enlightenedenlightened • SarnathSarnath – where Gautama preached his first – where Gautama preached his first

sermon about the Four Noble Truthssermon about the Four Noble Truths• KushinaraKushinara – traditional place of the death of – traditional place of the death of

GautamaGautama


Buddhism through a Catholic LensBuddhism through a Catholic Lens Buddhism through a Catholic LensBuddhism through a Catholic Lens

SimilaritiesSimilarities• Emphasis on peace and compassionEmphasis on peace and compassion• Long monastic traditionLong monastic tradition• The practice of meditationThe practice of meditation• Some parallels between the life of Jesus and Some parallels between the life of Jesus and

BuddhaBuddha

SimilaritiesSimilarities• Emphasis on peace and compassionEmphasis on peace and compassion• Long monastic traditionLong monastic tradition• The practice of meditationThe practice of meditation• Some parallels between the life of Jesus and Some parallels between the life of Jesus and

BuddhaBuddha


Buddhism through a Catholic LensBuddhism through a Catholic Lens Buddhism through a Catholic LensBuddhism through a Catholic Lens

DifferencesDifferences• Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did notJesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not• Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of

God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of sufferingsuffering

• The understanding of the meaning and The understanding of the meaning and purpose of sufferingpurpose of suffering

DifferencesDifferences• Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did notJesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not• Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of

God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of sufferingsuffering

• The understanding of the meaning and The understanding of the meaning and purpose of sufferingpurpose of suffering


NirvanaNirvana asceticascetic Middle WayMiddle Way sanghasangha relicsrelics DharmaDharma bodhisattvabodhisattva

NirvanaNirvana asceticascetic Middle WayMiddle Way sanghasangha relicsrelics DharmaDharma bodhisattvabodhisattva

lamaslamas TripitakaTripitaka The Lotus of the The Lotus of the

True LawTrue Law Perfection of Perfection of

WisdomWisdom tantrictantric mandalamandala mantramantra

lamaslamas TripitakaTripitaka The Lotus of the The Lotus of the

True LawTrue Law Perfection of Perfection of

WisdomWisdom tantrictantric mandalamandala mantramantra

anatmaanatma samsarasamsara arhatarhat pujapuja stupastupa pagodaspagodas

anatmaanatma samsarasamsara arhatarhat pujapuja stupastupa pagodaspagodas

VocabularyVocabularyVocabularyVocabulary

Documents

Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 6 Buddhism Chapter 6 Buddhism