Buddhism Basics

• Originated in India as an offshoot of Hinduism

• Believes that the human condition is sick and needs a cure

• Gautama Buddha “the enlightened one”

• Stories of Buddha’s life were recorded centuries after his death

  • Born around 560 BCE, died around 480 BCE

  • Warrior Class; Feudal Lord (very privileged)

  • Parents made sure he never encountered any suffering

The Four Passing Sights

• Left home to see the world in his early 20’s

  • Parents got rid of slums etc. to ensure that Buddha didn’t see anything that would distress him; didn’t work

1. Elderly

2. Disease

3. Death

4. Ascetic

   1. Someone who draws away from worldly/physical pleasures to develop spiritually

• At age 29, Buddha left the castle and everything he knew

  • “The [Great] Going Forth”

  • left to solve old age/disease/death

• Attempts to solve old age and death

  • Solitude

  • Extreme fasting

  • Yoga

  • Comes up with the Middle Way

The Middle Way

• Rejection both extremes of life (sensual indulgence and asceticism)

  • Don’t live excessively or completely ignore your own needs

• Spiritual health and physical health are united

Enlightenment

• Sat in Lotus position under Bodhi Tree (Wisdom Tree)

• Battled Gods, Death, Discontent, Delight, Desire

  • Each of these tempts him off the path of Enlightenment, so he has to overcome them

Stages of Enlightenment

• 1: Can see past lives through meditation

• 2: See death/rebirth of all things

• 3: The Four Noble Truths are revealed

Temptation

• Buddha was tempted to pass into Nirvana but resists

  • Nirvana: The extinction/letting go of any desires and individual self-worth

  • Buddha was compassionate and teaching

  • Described self as “awake”

Buddhism in Practice

Buddha’s Followers

• 5 people followed him and became saints (arhats)

• Founded Sanga

3 Jewels of Buddhism

1. Buddha: Founded Buddhism

2. Dharma: Teachings of Buddha, how he lived his life

   1. The universe is eternally created and destroyed (Hinduism)

      1. Were many Buddhas before and many will follow

      2. Samsara: The continuous cycle of birth and death

   2. Rejects sacrificial system to the gods/goddesses

   3. Rejects caste system and segmentation of society; allows women to have status

   4. Rejects education (barrier to entry for religion; not accessible for everyone)

      1. Wrote in Pali: the ancient language of common Indians

   5. Center of Dharma wheel = spiritual balance achieved through teachings

3. Sangha: The community and life of person themself

Destiny

• Discover inner realm of self to achieve Nirvana

  • Everything within and outside of self is changing

• Accept that not everything about self is real

• Three Marks of Existence

  • Anatta: There is no self

    • Opposite of the Hinduism

    • There is no Atman, Brahman, self, essence, ultimate reality

    • We don’t have souls, there is only the now

  • Anicca: Impermanence

    • Existence is constantly changing

    • Eg. nature of the river is flowing → you will never step in the same river twice

  • Dukka: Suffering

    • Result of other two marks

    • Suffering exists because people can’t let go/go with the flow → creates suffering for self

    • Must detach, see everything as loose and changing, don’t try to grasp

• Karma

  • Same in Buddhism and Hinduism

  • Basic Karma rules of Buddhism:

    • What is wrong is the intention (why) of a moral act, not the outcome

Four Noble Truths

• To live life is to experience dukka

  • Discomfort, things are not as they should be

  • The more attachment you have, the more you will suffer

  • Circumstances in live (chance), stages of growth and development, sickness, old age, all will die, unfulfilled wishes

• Suffering is caused by tanha

  • Tanha: our personal thirsts and desires

  • Self desire, personal fulfillment — increases dukka and tanha

  • We are naturally selfish

• Suffering can stop

• Solution to suffering: the Eightfold Path

  • The Eightfold Path: The basic practices of Buddhism that can lead you to Nirvana

Enlightenment and Nirvana

• Final Nirvana happens at bodily death

• Arhat: one who is enlightened/awakened

  • If you attain it, you see that there is no self, and you are free from tanha and dukka

• Buddhas do not need followers or models to attain Nirvana

• Nirvana is impossible to describe

Three Ways of Buddhism

• Theravada: The Way of the Elders

  • There are no gods or goddesses to help you

  • Buddha is the first to experience enlightenment

  • The teachings of Buddha are the most important thing

  • Nirvana is attainable by your own effort

• Mahayana: The Great Vehicle

  • Largest sect of Buddhism

  • See Buddha as a divine savior

  • Primary teaching: foster compassion

  • Didn’t enter Nirvana immediately

  • Goal: become a bodhisatva

    • Bodhisatva: a Buddha in the making

    • Can enter Nirvana but stop short to help others

    • Extend beyond the earthly realm

    • Wait to enter Nirvana until the last blade of grass becomes enlightened

• Vajrayana

  • Diamond sector teaching of Buddhism - harness

  • Teachings are full of energy, strength, clarity

  • Mandala: a pattern of icons/images that visually excite to enhance meditation

  • Mudras: choreographed hand movements used in ritual

  • Mantra: a sacred utterance (syllable, word, or verse) that is considered to possess mystical or spiritual efficacy

  • Rituals are important

    • Talk with gods/goddesses to achieve union with them and nirvana

  • Dalai Lama

    • Spiritual leader of Vajrayana Buddhism

    • 14th reincarnation of bodhisattva