1 / 36

Buddhism

Buddhism. Historical Background. Began in India Began with one man – Siddhartha Gautama Has now developed into a religious tradition that includes various interpretations of Gautama’s teachings

milt
Télécharger la présentation

Buddhism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Buddhism

  2. Historical Background • Began in India • Began with one man – Siddhartha Gautama • Has now developed into a religious tradition that includes various interpretations of Gautama’s teachings • Transcendence = A state of being that has overcome the normal limitations imposed by the human condition of physical existence

  3. Siddhartha Gautama • Full accounts of his life were not written until hundreds of years after his death • Born into a kshatriya (warrior) caste in India • Said to have had a miraculous birth out of his mother’s side • Said to be able to speak and walk at birth • When he was born, he declared he would reach enlightenment in this life and free humans of suffering

  4. Prophecy • A prophecy was made by a soothsayer that Gautama would become either a: • 1. great king/emperor • 2. sage/savior of humanity

  5. Results of the Prophecy • Guatama was not allowed to see: • 1. Old Age • 2. Illness • 3. Death • 4. Spiritual asceticism • Surrounded by luxury and “beautiful dancing girls” in his family’s 3 palaces • Shielded from the outside world • Married at 16 and had a son

  6. “The Four Passing Sights” • At the age of 29, Gautama saw suffering for the first time in the form of: • An old man • A diseased man • A corpse • A religious ascetic (someone who chooses to live a life of solitude and self-denial to attain religious/spiritual transcendence)

  7. Result of the Sights • Gautama gave up his life of wealth as a prince in order to become a spiritual ascetic • Wanted to put an end to old age, death, and suffering • Known as “The Great Going Forth” • Celebrated by Buddhists as the triumph of the spiritual over the worldly life

  8. Life of Asceticism • Joined a group of 5 ascetics who practiced this way of life to attain salvation • Fasted for the next few years on the brink of starvation • Meals = 1 piece of fruit, 1 sesame seed, 1 grain of rice • After 6 years, Gautama accepted a simple meal of rice and milk from a peasant girl…

  9. The Middle Way • Discovered the Buddhist doctrine of “The Middle Way” • Abandoned by his 5 ascetic companions • Healthy spiritual life = healthy physical life • Spiritual happiness = complete happiness • Body, mind, & spirit

  10. Journey to Enlightenment • Sat in lotus position underneath a fig tree for days in order to gain enlightenment • Tempted by the human shortcomings of fear and passionate desire • The god of death, Maru, sent his 3 daughters to tempt him, but Gautama was unmoved • Discontent, Delight, and Desire

  11. Meditative Trance • Ascended through levels of deepening awareness until he understood the true nature of the human condition • The tree is known as: the bodhi(wisdom) tree • Tempted to leave his body and enter nirvana = the state of eternal bliss that is ultimate salvation • Stayed in this world due to compassion for others; wanted to share his discoveries

  12. 1st Watch (evening): Perceived his own previous lifetimes • Saw that suffering was continuous • 2nd Watch (middle of the night): Acquired the “divine eye” – ability to see the deaths and rebirths of all living beings • Nowhere in this world is safe from death • 3rd Watch (late night): Discovered the Four Noble Truths • Perfect summation of the human condition and means for escaping it

  13. First Followers • First followers = the 5 ascetics who originally abandoned Gautama • Became arhats = saints • Buddhism as a religious tradition was born • Taught them his famous First Sermon • Shared the Middle Way and Four Noble Truths with them

  14. 4 Noble Truths • 1. To live is to suffer. • 2. The origin of suffering is caused by attachment. • 3. The cessation of suffering is attainable. • 4. The solution to suffering is the path to its cessation (Noble Eightfold Path) .

  15. Diagnosis of the Disease: Dukkha • Name of the 1st noble truth = dukkha • “suffering”, “frustration,” “dislocation,” “discomfort” • “Life is dukkha” = things are not quite as they should be, but somehow out of joint and in need of repair

  16. Problem of Dukkha • We experience dukkha when we have physical and emotional pain • We also experience it when we are happy because of impermanence (anicca) • Happiness will not continue • Our attachment to pleasant things sets us up to suffer when we are separated from them

  17. Dukkha = Unavoidable • All of life’s experiences = finite • Yet we are constantly bombarded by opportunities to become attached

  18. Determination of the Cause: Tanha • Name of the 2nd Noble Truth = tanha • “desire,” “thirst,” “craving” • Distinguishing characteristic = a selfish orientation • The desire for personal attachment or private fulfillment

  19. Tanha = Unavoidable • Also unavoidable because individuals are destined to be selfish • Tanha = an unavoidable aspect of being an individual

  20. Anatta = “No-self”

  21. Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 per cent Of everything you think, And of everything you do, Is for yourself – And there isn’t one • By Wei Wu Wei (Ask the Awakened, page 1)

  22. 3 Marks of Existence • Anicca (impermanence) • Dukkha (suffering) • Anatta (“no-self”) • All 3 are tied to tanha (personal attachment)

  23. Prescription for the Cure: The Noble Eightfold Path • Suffering is pervasive, so the path encompasses all aspects of life • Because of the Middle Way, the path sets forth a life of moderation • These are ongoing practices (not to be mastered and left behind)! • Not independent steps but are in relation with one another!

  24. The Noble Eightfold Path • 1. Right views • 2. Right intentions • 3. Right speech • 4. Right conduct • 5. Right livelihood • 6. Right effort • 7. Right mindfulness • 8. Right meditation

  25. Steps 1-2 = Wisdom • Steps 3, 4, 5 = Morality • Steps 6, 7, 8 = Concentration • All 3 focal points are essential, but the heart of Buddhist practice = concentration (meditation) • Primary Buddhist teachings are derived from the Buddha’s own meditative experience • Others must reach the same level of meditative insight to truly comprehend the teachings

  26. Nirvana • Following the steps in the Eightfold Path to its end = reaching nirvana • The “arhat” becomes enlightened and is therefore fully aware of the truth in the Buddha’s teachings • Impossible to describe precisely (even for the Buddha) • Close description = total cessation of suffering, and thus absolute peace – indescribably joyful • Buddha refused to say whether a person exists or not in nirvana

  27. “Crossing the River” • The quest for achieving nirvana = crossing a river • On this side is the realm of samsara = the ordinary world of suffering • On the far shore = nirvana • Religion’s task = the process of crossing the river • Religion = a “raft” • 3 great rafts, or “vehicles” = Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana

  28. Theravada • “The way of the elders” • Teachings of Buddhism and the figure of the Buddha = most important • Follows the earliest texts and original teachings of the Buddha • Emphasis on meditation and monastic life

  29. Mahayana • Largest division of Buddhism (over half of the world’s Buddhists) • Focuses on Buddha as a “divine savior” – nirvana is attainable due to his compassion • Revere bodhisattvas (“Buddhists in the making”) • Those who can enter nirvana but stay behind to help others out of compassion

  30. Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) • Small minority of Buddhists, but is of special interest • Believe that nirvana can be reached in this lifetime • Use sensual energies as a way of achieving nirvana, including sexual desire • Includes an institution of “lamas” – a hierarchy of clergy • Led by the Dalai Lama

  31. Video: How do they choose the next Dalai Lama? http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the arts/culture/religious-studies/how-do-they-choose-the-dalai-lama

  32. Video: Om Mani Padme Hum • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDUdT5z_CBU

  33. Video: China-Tibet Relations/Controversy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnBkD_1N1QE Video: Dalai Lama’s Response to Tibetans self-immolating as a form of protest against religious persecution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7MyCWJkohU

  34. 1. What do you think of Tibetans’ use of self-immolation as a tool of resistance to protest the religious, cultural, and political persecution they are experiencing at the hands of the Chinese government? • 2. What do you think of the Dalai Lama’s response to Tibetans’ practice of self immolating as a means of protest?

  35. Video: Tibetan monks make a sand mandala • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA3su0ECdPc

More Related