Buddhism Basics

Attempts to give answers to lifes essential questions

Emphasis on things to do rather than things to believe
Direct religious experience VS blind faith
Tolerant of any religion that allows a person to find truth
of himself / herself
Different from Hinduism in that it was founded

ULTIMATE GOAL of a Buddhist

End suffering and attain absolute peace and joy
Enlightenment
- Freedom from ignorance
- State of permanent tranquility and peace

Buddhism Hindu
Roots

Buddhism grew out of Hinduism

Siddhartha Gautama born to Kshatriya caste
Believed to be incarnation of Vishnu

Retained concepts:
reincarnation, samsara, karma, dharma, moksha
(nirvana)

Rejected concepts:
caste system (Brahmin caste power) - inequality
Could reach Nirvana (Moksha) only if Brahmin
language of Sanskrit was for educated (elite) only
Used common language Pali to teach
Hindu rituals and offerings to gods
Insignificant religious activities that took away
from quest for enlightenment

Buddhism founded approximately 2500 years ago in India

SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA

Siddhartha Gautama
born 563 BCE
Kshatriya caste in present day Nepal

Came from royalty

Kingdom of Gautama
Father/Mother King and Queen
Destined to be a king also

FOUR SIGHTS OF
SIDDHARTHA

Conception - descended from Heaven

and entered mothers (Queen Maya)
womb in form of baby white elephant
(purity)

Queen Maya carried him for 10

months and could see him in the
womb

Gave birth from her side with

assistance from tree branches

Water poured from the sky

At birth he took 7 steps and said this

is my last birth

Sages noted that he was a perfect

human form

FOUR SIGHTS OF
SIDDHARTHA

King wanted to shelter

him from
unpleasantness of life

At 29, visited the city 4

times and saw 4 sights:
Old man
Sick man
Dead man
Ascetic monk

1)
2)
3)
4)

Gave him a means to ending

his despair

FOUR SIGHTS OF
SIDDHARTHA

Great Going Forth

Inspired to leave life of luxury and

find a spiritual solution to human
problems

Sought spiritual knowledge through

meditation, breathing, reducing
food intake
Realized self denial too extreme
and unproductive

Determined best course was the

MIDDLE WAY
(path between both extremes; a
lifestyle of moderation)

ENLIGHTENMENT OF SIDDHARTHA

Meditated under a Bodhi tree

Remembered all of his previous lives
Removed craving and ignorance for himself
Achieved NIRVANA and was released from samsara
Stayed in this state for 7 days
Died in 486 BCE and achieved paranirvana (complete nirvana)

Buddh
a Budh = to awaken

Buddha = Awakened or enlightened one

awakened to nature of human condition and means of transcending
it

Not necessarily divine nor a prophet

Considered a model teacher
showed and taught his followers how to live their lives

Nirvana
blown out
Extinguish all worldly desires
state of supreme realization and enlightenment
understand truth of life and freedom from ignorance
state of total liberation, truth, tranquility, peace

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Spring Temple
Buddha Lushan,
Henan, China
128 m

Key Beliefs

3 Characteristics of Existence

Buddhas thoughts on the nature of existence

All things outside of Nirvana have three fundamental
characteristics

DUKKHA

ANNICA

ANATTA

Key Beliefs
1. Dukkha = Dissatisfaction
suffering
all humans and animals experience suffering
Physical, mental & emotional pain
Disease, pain, grief, loneliness

Key Beliefs
2. Anatta = Selflessness
no-self
(An atman)

no ultimate reality within

No permanent, independent
self
We are only a collection of
changing parts

Key Beliefs
3. Annica = Impermanence
world in constant state of flux
Everything changes
Environment, bodies, thoughts, perceptions, fears,
hopes
Buddha would say
The flowing is the river

Where were you 10 years

ago?

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

Evolved out of Buddhas
search for the cause and
treatment of unhappiness
in life.

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1. To live is to suffer
All life consists of suffering
- birth, death, sorrow, loneliness
2. Origin of suffering
The root is negative desire, craving & greed for the
wrong pleasures
Search for more than our basic needs
3. Extinction of suffering
The goal is to end suffering by removing negative
desire, craving & greed to achieve nirvana
4. Path leading to the extinction of suffering
Adopting Middle Way and follow the Noble 8 Fold
Path

1
2

6
4
5

The Noble Eightfold Path

-

Buddhist way of Life

Means to an end of suffering
Series of steps towards Nirvana

Wisdom:
1. Right View (Understanding)
know the 4 Noble Truths
2. Right Intention (Thought)
Free mind from desire and craving and cruel thought
- Nurture good thoughts

The Noble Eightfold Path

Moral conduct, Virtue
3. Right speech
- no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip,
harsh language
4. Right conduct (Action)
- by following the Five Precepts
5. Right livelihood
- avoid harmful occupations and promote
peace

The Noble Eightfold Path

Contemplation:
6. Right Effort:
- Awareness of state of mind and body
- promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7. Right Mindfulness:
- become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8. Right Concentration:
- Attainment of higher state of consciousness or
tranquility through meditation

FIVE PRECEPTS

Rules to live by and follow to control improper

behaviour that may cause suffering
Similar second half of the Ten Commandments in
Judaism and Christianity
describes behaviors to avoid

FIVE PRECEPTS
1.

Abstain from killing or harming living beings

- translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence

2.

Abstain from stealing

- avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation.

3.

Abstain from improper sexual conduct

- For monks and nuns, this means complete celibacy
- For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual
harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage.

4.

Abstain from false speech

- name calling, gossip, etc.

5.

Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs

- The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind

More Numbers
Triple Jewel or Three Refuges
Created by Buddha
Purpose:
- make it easier to follow his teachings
- protect oneself from a difficult existence
- put one on correct path of spiritual journey
Buddha (guide)
Dharma (path)
Sangha (teachers, monks & nuns)
First steps toward Enlightenment

More Numbers

3
4
4
5
8

More Numbers
Six Perfections
Giving
Morality
Patience
Vigour
Meditation
Wisdom
Practiced by Bodhisattvas
Bodhisattva
one who has attained nirvana, chooses to be reborn
within samsara in order to help others on path of
enlightenment

Zen Buddhism
Cannot be taught, needs to be experienced

A form of Mahayana Buddhism

comes from the Japanese word for meditation
Focuses on the experience of enlightenment
The tradition extends all the way back to Buddha
India China Japan

Zen Buddhism

THREE POUNDS
A monk asked Tozen when he was weighing some flax, "What is Buddha
Tozen said, "This flax weighs three pounds.

WASH YOUR BOWL

A monk told Joshu, "I have just entered the monastery. Please teach me
Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your rice porridge?
The monk replied, "I have eaten."
Joshu said, "Then you had better wash your bowl."
At that moment the monk was enlightened.

Zen Teachings
The direct experience of truth (our true nature)
Zen is beyond:
the reach of thoughts & feelings
words used to express thoughts & feelings
logical thinking

Zen is:
hidden behind our thoughts, feelings, fears,
personality & ego
this clutters the mind preventing pure insight into the truth

emphasizes experience over speculation

offers a path to freedom from this bondage

Two schools of Zen

1 - Rinzai Sect Sudden awakening to
Satori Enlightenment how do Zen

Buddhists propose we reach enlightenment?

Through:

Koans tools in Zen training

Puzzles designed to short circuit the workings

of the logical, rational mind
Help lead to direct insight into the true nature
of the world and ultimate reality
Helps one attain a healthy vigorous mind

Two schools of Zen

2 - Soto Sect Gradual awakening
- Through:
Zazen seated meditation - monks sit
for hours in the lotus position
clear the mind and gain insight

Sanzen - Regularly meet to discuss

teachings, training and meditate
Roshi - Zen master who has control over the
disciple

Zen life
Monastic

lifestyle meditation,
menial work, structured life, devotion
to teacher
Zen can be practiced outside of the
monastery -not necessary to become
a monk or nun

Schools of Buddhism

Theravada (Sri
Lanka,
Thailand,
Cambodia)

Mahayana
(China,
Vietnam,
Korea)

Vajrayana
(Tibet, Bhutan,
Nepal)

Zen Buddhism

Kundun
Martin

Scorcese

The Departed, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas,

Raging Bull, Taxi Driver
dark side of urban life
Catholicism
Kundun

Early life of the Dalai Lama

Symbolism, teachings and life
Spiritual development and political
development
Tibetan actors

Symbols - Mandala

Symbols - Mandala

khiyl-khor -centre of the universe in which a fully

awakened being abides
- Tibetan meaning

Sanskrit word meaning circle

Exercise in meditation and prayer

Helps to focus attention

Spiritual Geography
Establishes a sacred space for spiritual teaching and
training
Represents the spiritual home of deities and
enlightened beings

All Tibetan Buddhist monks learn to construct

them

Symbols - Mandala

Symbols - Mandala
Basic

structure

Square in the centre with 4 gates enclosed

by circles
Symbolizes the limits of physical space

Sand
Comes from Himalayas
Ground to five different degrees of fineness
Coarser grains - background
Finer grains - details

Dyed naturally

Symbolism

Mandala

When completed;
chants and prayers are recited before it is swept away
Placed in a stream or body of water
Impermanence of the world

Sacred Writings
Tripitaka (Three Baskets) ~ considered to be the
most accurate of Buddhas teachings which
consist of:
Vinaya-Pitaka: Basket of Discipline (monks)
Sutta-Pitaka: Basket of Discourse

Abidhamma-Pitiaka: Basket of Further Teachings

Practices

Meditation- lotus posture

Bowing (three times)
Offerings & Chanting Mantras: Om Mani
Padme Hum which means Hail, the jewel
in the lotus
Karma
Dana (donations)
Mudras
Monks

The 14th Dalai Lama Quotes

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

We must recognize that the suffering of one person

or one nation is the suffering of humanity. The
happiness of one person or nation is the happiness of
humanity.

Through violence, you may solve one problem, but

you sow the seeds for another.

The 14th Dalai Lama

Born 1935 - Lhamo Thondup

Taktser in northeastern Tibet

Renamed - Tenzin Gyatso

AKA - Teshe Norbu (Kundun) The

Presence
Dalai Lama - Ocean of Wisdom

Discovered at age 2

Manifestation of the Bodhisattva

of Compassion

Assumed political power at age

15

The 14th Dalai Lama

Resides in Northern India

Once lead Tibetan Government in

Exile but no longer - prime minister
Lobsang Sangay

Still the spiritual leader

Established educational, cultural

and religious institutions to preserve
Tibetan identity and heritage

Reputation as a scholar and man of

peace

Received Nobel Peace Prize in 1989

The 14th Dalai Lama

Has been denounced by the Chinese

government as a supporter of Tibetan
independence

Has developed a public position stating that he is

not in favour of Tibetan independence and would
not object to a status in which Tibet has internal
autonomy

the PRC manages some aspects of Tibet's defense

and foreign affairs.

'Middle Way Approach'

the Chinese government can take care of foreign
affairs and defense, and that Tibet should be
managed by an elected body

Tibet today
Part

of China

Nearly

60 ethnic Tibetans, many

monks and nuns, have set themselves
on fire in China since February 2009
protest against Beijing's rule in Tibet
most recent incidents occurring near
Labrang monastery.

Film Assignment & Journal

Entry

Film Assignment
Write a brief essay taking a position on the following
question.
In your opinion, did the Dalai Lama make the right
decision by leaving Tibet? What other options did
he have?

Journal
The concept of Nirvana is difficult to understand and is
often debated by Buddhists themselves as to who, what
or where it is. Provide your own explanation of what
Nirvana is to you and give two or three ideas that
support your explanation.

http://www.cucirca.com/2010/01/11/the-simpsons-season-13-episode-6-she-of-littl
e-faith/

Spread of Buddhism
Is Buddha God?
Is Nirvana God? / Place / Being
No, a state of being
The total cessation of suffering