Transcript buddhism

 Group
Activity (Buddhism Activity Sheet-Early
Life of Buddha/Buddhism Video Guide)
 Discussion of the History and Development of
Buddhism.
 We
are able to choose the path to selfperfection (supreme enlightenment-Nirvana)
 Value and sanctity of life
 Human life is a rare privilege with special
responsibilities
 Scale of choice-free to act-good or evil
 Human existence means we have a purpose
 Human dignity resides in each person
 Three periods to destiny-youth, middle age
and old age
 Liberation
through enlightenment-from
bondage of suffering and ignorance
 Liberation from-suffering of life-awakenedlife includes suffering-Eightfold path
 Dharma- law of karma and re-birthcycle/teachings
 Break the cycle of birth and rebirth-Nirvanafree from desire
 Free from samsara-suffering-cycle of
suffering until rebirth is attained
 Goal
of Buddhists
 Nirvana means “ not being or not existing
anymore”
 Overcome selfish desires and becomes part
of the universe and has no more individual
selfish desires
 Buddha described Nirvana as “ Bliss, yes,
bliss, my friend, is Nirvana”
 Escape from the cycle of re-birth
 Follow the eightfold path
 Buddhism
has no God’s or Goddesses to assist
you on the path to salvation. The path to
salvation is an individual path to
enlightenment or Nirvana/Nibbana/Nirbana
 How is the concept of
Nirvana/Nibbana/Nirbana similar to the
concept of heaven in Christianity and Islam?
 The
eight-spoked wheel symbolizes the
Buddha’s turning of the Wheel of Truth or
Law. There are eight spokes to reference the
Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, which is
the path Buddhists believe can end suffering
in their lives. This path involves becoming
more wise, righteous, and thoughtful in life.
 The
Bodhi Tree symbolizes the reaching of
enlightenment, because under this tree
Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment
for the first time. Reaching enlightenment is
one of the greatest single achievements a
Buddhist can reach.
 The
throne refers to Siddhartha Gautama’s
royal ancestry. The throne also presents the
idea that enlightenment is the pinnacle of
the spiritual world. The lion is a symbol for
power, integrity, and strength in the
Buddhism religion.
 Tipitaka/Tripitaka
(Three Baskets)-wrtitten
in Pali (dialect that was used at the time)
 Sutta Pitaka (Teaching Basket)-teachings of
Buddah and his followers/divided into five
sections
 “ Do not speak harshly to anybody; those
who are spoken to will answer thee in the
same way. Angry speech brings trouble.”
 The Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline Basket)
 Rules for monks and nuns/lists monks basic
possessions and what he can eat
 The
Abdhidamma Pitaka (Higher Teaching
Basket)
 Long explanations on the Buddha’s teachings
about philosophy and psychology-things are
defined in detail/tells the reader how to
train the mind
Milinda-Panha- (Questions of King Milinda)questions of a Greek King to a monk
King- “ Does the Buddha still exist?”
Monk- “ Yes, your majesty he does”
 Sutras
(Threads)-collection of Buddha’s
discourses-Northern Buddhist/The Mahayana
 The Lotus Sutra/Lotus of the Wonderful LawGospel of Half Asia
 Annica-impermanence-Life
in a state of
change
 Dukka-suffering-pain, disease, boredom,
discomfort-use wisdom to overcome suffering
 Anatta-Man has no soul. Man is made up of
five things-body, feelings, ideas, mental
actions and awareness
Right
Understanding
Right
Concentration
Right
Effort
Right
Thought
Right
Action
Right
Work
Right Understanding (Knowledge/view)-Man must
believe he can better himself by following
Buddha’s truths
 Right Motives (Attitudes/Thought/resolve) Man
must be determined to end his selfish ways and
be in harmony with the universe
 Right Speech-Man must listen to himself. How
often do we lie? How often do we speak badly of
others? When we listen, we may decide to start
speaking in a better manner
 Right Behaviour (Action) Man should not behave
selfishly or hurt others by his behaviour
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Right livelihood-Man cannot grow in a job that makes him
unhappy
Right Effort-Man must be determined to improve himself
Right-Mindfulness-Knowledge makes man happy, said
Buddha. He urged men to exercise their minds to find out
what they are and what life is about
Right Concentration(composure/enjoyment/meditation)Through learning to
concentrate man can forget his selfish thoughts. He can
begin to reach a higher level of
understanding/Nirvana/Nibbana/Nirbana
Group Activity: Eight fold path: Personal Response
(1) Dukkah (“unsatisfactoriness”/something
which is not perfect or permanent-disease but
he has a cure
 (2) Samudaya ( caused through ignorance)
 Ignorance
 Crave
 Hate
 (3) Nirodha-cure/prognosis
 Overcoming selfishness and releasing self from
cravings
 Things are transient and lacking substance and
imperfect

 (4)
Magga-middle way between hatred and
craving and to avoid extremes of sensual
pleasure and personal
mortification/Dhamma-chakra
wheel/Eightfold Path
 Goal is enlightenment
Buddhists worship and meditate in a temple
known as a Vihara. A Vihara is a huge square
temple with roofs that slope down and
outward from the building.
In the Shrine-remove their shoes, sit on mats facing
Buddha, place palms of hands together and stretch
before forehead, prostrate three times before
Buddha’s image
 Individual Worship-Temple or shrine at home-simplekneeling before Buddha’s image, offering flowers,
money, food etc
 Meditation: Buddhist meditate daily (LAST THREE
STAGES OF EIGHTFOLD PATH-right effort, right
mindfulness/right concentration/Way to reach
Nirvana/Nirbana/Nibbana
 Stupa-Solid dome structure under which relics of the
Buddha or one of his followers are believed to be
buried. Focus of veneration by Buddhists
 Birth-When
an infant is born, Thervada
Buddhist usually have a formal naming
ceremony at a nearby temple. Monks bless
and sprinkle holy water on the newborn.
Closing ceremony involves the melting of
candle wax into a bowl-union of four basic
elements-earth, air, fire and water
 Samenera- boy enters a monastery between
8 and 20 as renunciates/novices for a short
time. They help to run the monastery.
 Marriage/Wedding
is a secular event (Buddha
never brought marriage under religious
control
 Couple may visit to be blessed.
 Thervada Buddhists believe women have
worst Kamma than men and therefore cannot
get to NIBBANA/NIRVANA
 Divorce is rare among Buddhists
 Death/Funerals-Funerals vary from country
to country
 For example Sri Lanka-Modest Affair
 Japan-Body
is washed, eyes closed, hands
clasped and body dressed in white as a sign
of pilgrimage
 Rebirth-Buddha rejected transmigration of
souls/souls were not eternal/One could
break the effects of Kamma by giving up
cravings and cease the samsara reincarnation
cycle by seeking Nibbana
 Pureland-Alternative to Nibbana-Faith rather
than efforts of following the Eightfold Path
 Thervada
Buddhism-recall life of BuddhaMagha-puja-February
 Wesak (or Vesak) Celebrates Buddha’s birth,
enlightenment and entry into
Nibbana/Nirvana
 Mahayana-Events are celebrated on separate
days.
 Asalha (Asala)-puja
 Water Festival
 Esala Perahera
 Mahayana Buddhists-Hold similar festival to
Wesak
 Thervada
(Doctrine of the Elders/Lesser
Wheel) Buddhism-Kept to the original
teachings of the Buddha
 Regard Buddha as a human being and a great
man to follow
 Buddha or anyone can save mankind by
showing the way to live
 Salvation is not offered to all
 Mahayana Buddhism (Northern way or
Greater/Wheel)
 Buddha was more than human
 Some
worship Buddha as a kind of god
 Nirvana is a heavenly place that can be
entered through faith in the Buddha
 Belief in the Ideal Person/Bodhisavattvas
(Buddhas-to-be)holy people
 Zen Buddhism (Meditation)-Japan/China
 Aim is to achieve enlightenment
 Buddhism
is popular in several nations all
throughout southern Asia. Buddhism is most
commonly practised in India, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos,
North and South Korea, China, and Japan

Lumbini
 Where Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha) was born
 Located in present-day Nepal

Bodhgaya
 Where the Buddha achieved enlightenment
 Located in present-day Bihar, India

Sarnath
 Where the Buddha met his five disciples and delivered his first
sermon
 Located in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India

Kushinagar
 Where the Buddha died after 45 years of travels and sermons
 Located in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India