Buddhism

By Donald JohnsonBy Donald Johnson

FounderFounderSiddhartha Gautama

(566 - 480 BC)

Became known as Buddha, which means

“enlightened one”BirthplacBirthplacee

Nepal

Siddhartha Siddhartha GautamaGautama

The Ajanta Caves (India) and Buddha

BuddhismBuddhism explains a Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it purpose to life, it explains apparent explains apparent injustice and inequality injustice and inequality around the world, and around the world, and it provides a code of it provides a code of practice or way of life practice or way of life that may lead to true that may lead to true happiness (nirvana).happiness (nirvana).

Painting of Buddha Gautama going into Nirvana.

Buddhist Buddhist proselytism at the time of at the time of emperor emperor Aśoka the Great (260–218 BCE). (260–218 BCE).

TeachingTeachings/Beliefss/BeliefsThe four noble truths

The eightfold path

Karma

Dharma

Shangri-la

Shambala

(Cycle of rebirth)

(Nirvana)

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Life is suffering

Suffering is caused by desire

Desire can be overcome

There is a path that overcomes desire and ends suffering

The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold PathRight understanding

Right thought

Right speech

Right action

Right livelihood

Right effort

Right mindfulness

Right concentration

Four Themes of the Four Themes of the PathPath

• Right thought is the true desire to free oneself from attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness.

• Right speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or hurtful talk.

• Right effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be enacted and nurtured.

• Right mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on one's body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance. .

KarmaKarmaKarma - good or bad actions a person takes during their lifetime results in the same

The weight that actions carry is determined by five conditions: frequent, repetitive action; determined, intentional action; action performed without regret; action against extraordinary persons; and action toward those who have helped one in the past

What goes around comes around

Neutral Karma - derives from acts such as breathing, eating or sleeping. Neutral karma has no benefits or costs.

Shangri-laShangri-la

• A place of bliss and peace

ShambalaShambala

• A mythical, hidden “paradise in earth”

Gods of Buddhism: Do Gods of Buddhism: Do they believe in god(s) or they believe in god(s) or

not?not?

Also, Buddha taught that "Whatever a person experiences... is all caused by a supreme being's act of creation.”

In early Buddhism, the Buddha clearly

states that "reliance and belief" in creation by a

supreme being leads to lack of effort and

inaction.

That being said, they still believe that there are

several powerful beings known as

Brahma and Indra.

Where and when did religion begin?

3000B.C.Sumerian

Civilization

3000B.C.Egypt

Civilization

5000B.C.Yellow River

2000-1000B.C.Judaism

566B.C.Buddhism

Hinduism

SymbolsSymbolsBuddha, Bodhi Tree

NumbeNumber of r of

followefollowersrs

350 million

(6% of world’s population)

Place(s) of worship:Place(s) of worship: Temples, shrines, Temples, shrines, anywhere you can meditate anywhere you can meditate (This is the typical (This is the typical interior of a temple in Korea)interior of a temple in Korea)

Days of Days of worshipworship

There is no weekly day of observance like the Moslem Friday, Jewish Saturday or

Christian Sunday.

Meditation is a daily act of “worship”.

After-After-life life

IdeasIdeas

Buddhists maintain that rebirth takes place without an unchanging self or

soul passing from one form to another. The type of rebirth will be conditioned

by the moral tone of the person's actions (kharma).

The Cycle of BirthThe Cycle of BirthKarma plays out in the Buddhism cycle of rebirth. There are six separate planes into which any living being can be reborn -- three fortunate realms, and three unfortunate realms. Those with favorable, positive karma are reborn into one of the fortunate realms: the realm of demigods, the realm of gods, and the realm of men. While the demigods and gods enjoy gratification unknown to men, they also suffer unceasing jealousy and envy. The realm of man is considered the highest realm of rebirth. Humanity lacks some of the extravagances of the demigods and gods, but is also free from their relentless conflict. Similarly, while inhabitants of the three unfortunate realms -- of animals, ghosts and hell -- suffer untold suffering, the suffering of the realm of man is far less.

The realm of man also offers one other aspect lacking in the other five planes, an opportunity to achieve enlightenment, or Nirvana. Given the sheer number of living things, to be born human is to Buddhists a precious chance at spiritual bliss, a rarity that one should not forsake.

Holy bookHoly bookThe Tripitaka

The Tripitaka writings were originally memorized and recited orally by disciples.

They include a code of ethics and accounts of Buddha’s teachings.

Holy DayHoly DayEvery May, on the night

of the full moon, Buddhists all over the world celebrate Vesak

for the birth, enlightenment and

death of the Buddha such a long time ago.

They meditate, observe the eight-fold path,

partake in vegetarian food, give to charity and

“bathe” the Buddha.

Religious Religious LeadersLeadersThere is no central

leadership for Buddhism.

In Tibet, however, they believe that the monk, the Dalai Lama, is their spiritually reborn leader

on earth.

Buddhist monksBuddhist monks•True monks spend their lives meditating to True monks spend their lives meditating to achieve Nirvanaachieve Nirvana

•When grandparent/parent dies a child may When grandparent/parent dies a child may become monk for a month or more to help them become monk for a month or more to help them reach heavenreach heaven

Dalai LamaDalai LamaIn Tibetan Buddhism, the successive In Tibetan Buddhism, the successive Dalai Dalai LamasLamas form a lineage of allegedly reborn form a lineage of allegedly reborn (tulku) magistrates which traces back to 1391.(tulku) magistrates which traces back to 1391.

1st Dalai Lama, (left) Genden Drub 1391-1474

The 14th and current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935).

Young Young Tibetan Tibetan Buddhist monks Buddhist monks of Drepungof Drepung

LinksLinkshttp://www.losangdragpa.com/losangdragpa1buddhism.html

http://chinapage.com/map/map.html

http://idp.bl.uk/education/buddhism/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/buddhism/index.htm