The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Bornc 563 BCE or
The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Bornc. 563 BCE (or 490 BCE) in Lumbini, today in Nepal Diedc. 483 BCE (or 410 BCE) (aged 80) in Kushinagar, today in India
Birth
Sheltered life
The Four Passing Sights
Leaving Home
The Quest 1) Raja Yoga 2) Asceticism
There is a Middle Way
The Temptation
First Sermon
The Four Noble Truths 1) Life is suffering (dukkha) 2) The cause of suffering is desire (tanha) 3) The cure for suffering is in overcoming desire 4) The way to overcoming suffering is the eightfold path
The eight-fold path Meditation
The Five Precepts
The Three Vices Greed Hatred Delusion
Basic Buddhist Concepts THE THREE MARKS OF EXISTENCE Dukka - Suffering Anicca - The doctrine of impermanence. Anatta (anatman) - The doctrine that there is in humans no permanent, underlying substance that can be called the soul or self (Jiva) THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BUDDHISM Nirvana- The extinction of greed, hatred, and delusion/ignorance and, ultimately, of suffering and rebirth. Literally, it means “blowing out” or “becoming extinguished, ” as when a flame is blown out or a fire burns out.
Substance – a “thing” which exists independently from other things (e. g. a horse, a cat, a human). It has properties, but is not a property of another thing Property – a quality that a substance has (e. g. red, round, cold) Substance: Socrates Balding head Grey Hair
Common View Buddhist View What does “No-Self” mean? Subject/Perceiver Perceptions -- Thoughts -- Feelings Subject/self/ perceiver • Common view Perceptions --- thoughts ---- feelings • Buddhist View Perceptions --- thoughts --- feelings
Theravada (Hinayana) vs. Mahayana Theravada Mahayana Human beings are emancipated by selfeffort, without supernatural aid. Human aspirations are supported by divine powers and the grace they bestow Key virtue: Wisdom Key virtue: Compassion Attainment requires constant commitment, and is primarily for monks and nuns Religious practice is relevant to life in the world, and therefore to laypeople. Ideal: The Arhat who remains in nirvana after death Ideal: the boddhisattva * Buddha a saint, supreme teacher, and inspirer Buddha is a savior Elaborates metaphysics Minimizes ritual Emphasizes ritual Practice centers on meditation. Includes petitionary prayer
The Three Bodies of the Buddha
Emptiness Nagarjuna
Types of Mahayana Buddhism Pure Land Zen
Zen Buddhism Two Schools: Soto & Rinzai The Goal: Satori – the enlightenment experience Rinzai Technique: Koan; for example, “what is the sound of one hand clapping”?
Hotei (Laughing) Buddha
Vajarayana: Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism in Tibet Arrives from India about 800 CE Lots of gods & a God-like Buddha Worship of some Hindu gods; e. g. , Ganesha, Indra. Incorporates the pre-Buddhist Tibetan religion of Bon – Shamans, Soothsayers, Necromancy, focus on death rituals, astrology, magic. Is a form of “tantric” Buddhism (Tantra): Lot’s of dancing, painting, chanting, pilgrimage, trances. Relies on the authority of the Lamas (gurus) The tradition leader of Tibet both politically and spiritually is The Dalai Lama All 14 Dalai Lama’s (Tenzin Gyatso) are thought to be the reincarnated 1 st Dalai Lama, who is, in fact, the human form of the Bodhisattva of compassion
Engaged Buddhism Criticism of Buddhism There is no emphasis on social reform and social justice. Buddhism is just a selfhelp project. You drop out of society and go “find yourself. ” Thich Nhat Hahn B 1926 in Vietnam Engaged Buddhism Living Buddha; Living Christ Bodhisattva: Compassion A true Buddhist will want to end all the suffering in the world
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