Transcript BUDDHISM: The Middle Path

BUDDHISM:
The Middle Path
Historical Buddha
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(560-480 BC) A rich Hindu prince lived in North
India/Nepal
Siddhartha Gautama lived in luxury and his family hid
all suffering from him
When he finally sees illness, old age and death, he
leaves home to become an ascetic.
Historical Buddha
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He practiced yoga and fasting
and lived a very austere life
But this extreme did not help
him reach Enlightenment,
either.
One day he meditated under a
bodhi tree.
Until he became the “Buddha” or the
Awakened One
What were his teachings?
The Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by
desire
3. Suffering can be ended
4. End of suffering, or
Nirvana, can be reached
by following the
Eightfold Path . . .
Eightfold Path and precepts
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Right Understanding
Right Aim
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Rig ht Concentration
Five Precepts:
1. No killing
2. No stealing
3. No sexual misconduct
4. No lying
5. No stimulants or
substance abuse.
Core Beliefs- Similar to Hinduism
 Karma
 Dharma
 Reincarnation
Sacred Text
 The
Sacred text of Buddhism is the 3 Baskets
otherwise known as the Trip taka
Nirvana
 Goal
of all Buddhists is not reach Moksha but to
reach Enlightenment
Hinduism and Buddhism
Reincarnation
Karma
Dharma - caste duties
Non-violence (ahimsa)
Goal: Moksha
Follows caste system
Polytheistic
Reincarnation
Karma
Dharma - universal laws and
Buddha’s teachings
Non-violence
Goal: Nirvana
Rejects caste: believe all can be
enlightened
Buddha said nothing about gods
Emperor Asoka spreads Buddhism
Tibetan Plateau
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Tibet is a high plateau
north of the Himalayas
in SW China.
The head of the Tibetan
Buddhists is the Dalai
Lama
He escaped when the
Communist invaded.
Zen Buddhism in Japan
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Many Japanese practiced
Shinto and Buddhism
Zen Buddhism is a mix
of Buddhism and Daoist
love of nature
It is very disciplined and
was popular with the
samurai class.