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The Life and Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama: A Journey to Enlightenment

Siddhartha Gautama, born around 563 BCE, embarked on a profound quest for truth in the context of asceticism in India. His journey led him to confront the "Four Sights," which awakened him to the realities of suffering, leading to his enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. For 45 years, he shared the "middle way," emphasizing the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as means to end suffering. Buddhism, evolving into various traditions such as Theravada and Mahayana, focuses on the teachings of impermanence, compassion, and the ultimate goal of Nirvana.

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The Life and Teachings of Siddhartha Gautama: A Journey to Enlightenment

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  1. Buddhism

  2. Siddhartha Gautama • Born ca. 563 BCE • Context: asceticism in India and Nepal • Life story: Classic story of a quest • How is it unusual? • How does it typify universal human experience? • Four Sights: why are these shocking to Siddhartha? • Enlightenment • Teaching others (45 yrs) • Presents “middle way” • Ideal of enlightenment • Not a god

  3. Four Noble Truths • Life is suffering (dukkha) • Suffering is caused by desire • Ceasing desire will bring an end to suffering • Do this through the Eightfold Path

  4. Eightfold Path • Right views • Right intent • Right speech • Right conduct • Right livelihood • Right effort • Right mindfulness • Right concentration

  5. 5 Precepts of Right Action/Conduct • Do not kill • Do not steal • Do not lie • Do not practice sexual immorality • Do not take intoxicants

  6. Triple Gem • I take refuge in the Buddha • I take refuge in the Dharma • I take refuge in the Sangha

  7. Doctrines • Samsara: cycle of rebirth • Impermanence • Interdependence • No self • Nirvana

  8. Development of Buddhism • No clear successor after the Buddha’s death • Theravada: most traditional • Mahayana: most adapting • Zen: branch of Mahayana

  9. Theravadan Buddhism • More conservative, strict • Scriptures: Pali canon • SE Asia (Thailand) • Focus on individual effort • Best way: become a monk • Universe is not friendly (no gods to help) • Wisdom is highest virtue • Ideal: arhat heading for nirvana • Buddha is an exemplar, not a god

  10. Mahayanan Buddhism • More liberal (innovative) • Scripture: Pali canon PLUS Lotus Sutra • more open on inclusion of women • “Big raft”: Focus on laity, all people • Priests serve laity, can marry • More a sense of power in the universe • Offer reverence for gods • Focus on compassion • Ideal: Bodhisattva who helps others • Buddha a savior, god-like • offer prayer and worship

  11. Zen Buddhism • Most common form in West • focus on emptying, even of most sacred teachings • critical of verbal reliance, conceptions • remarkably self-critical • practices: • zazen (sacred meditation), • koan (problem/riddle) [reason is limited, have to use other forms of knowing], • leading to satori/kensho

  12. Zen Oxherding Pictures • http://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/zbohy/Poetry/hsuyun-ox-herding.html • Or: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/mzb/oxherd.htm

  13. Buddhist Mandalas • Focus on center • Aid to meditation • Also found in Hinduism, Jainism • Rich in symbolism

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