Buddhism Adherents as Percentage of Country Population

• Buddhism adherents clustered in East, SE Asia

• Estimated Buddhists between 350-500 million

• Difficult to get an accurate count because:…..Followers often mix Buddhist beliefs with other ethnic Asian Religions (E.G. Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism)….No congregational memberships to give accurate count…..Buddhism is often practiced in countries with communist rulers thatare oppositional to religion in general

Top 10 Countries – Number of Buddhists

Top 10 Countries – Number of Buddhists1 - People’s Republic of China…277.5 million (est.)

2 - Japan…91 million3 - Vietnam….74 million4 - Thailand…62 million5 - Burma…44 million6 - Republic of China (Taiwan)…18 million7 - Sri Lanka….16 million8 - North Korea…15 million9 - Cambodia…14 million10 – India – 13 million

14 – United States – 6 million

Buddhism…The “middle way of wisdom and compassion”

• A 2500 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout the Far East

• A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 300 million people

• Based on the teachings of the Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Born in NE India Born in NE India Raised in great luxuryRaised in great luxury

to be a king.to be a king. At 29 he rejectedAt 29 he rejected

his luxurious life tohis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentseek enlightenmentand the source ofand the source ofsuffering.suffering.

Lived a strict,Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs.ascetic life for 6 yrs.

Rejecting this extreme, sat in Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found meditation, and found nirvananirvana..

Became Became “The Enlightened One,”“The Enlightened One,” at 35.at 35.

What did the Buddha teach?The Four Noble Truths:• To live is to suffer• The cause of suffering is self-

centered desire & attachments• The solution is to eliminate desire

and attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (“extinction”)

• The way to Nirvana is through the “Eight-Fold Path”

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths1.1. There is suffering in There is suffering in

the world. To live is to the world. To live is to suffer.suffer. ( (DukkhaDukkha) ) The Buddha found The Buddha found

this out when he was this out when he was young and young and experienced experienced suffering and death suffering and death in others.in others.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

2.2. The cause of The cause of suffering is self-suffering is self-centered desire centered desire and attachments.and attachments. ((TanhaTanha))

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

Desire!Desire! Therefore, extinguish the Therefore, extinguish the

self, don’t obsess about self, don’t obsess about oneself.oneself.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

3.3. The solution is to The solution is to eliminate desire eliminate desire and attachments. and attachments. ((Nirvana = Nirvana = “extinction”“extinction”))

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths4.4. To reach To reach nirvananirvana, one , one

must follow the must follow the Eightfold Path. Eightfold Path.

What is the Eight-Fold Path?

Wisdom:•Right understanding

•Right motivation

Moral discipline:•Right speech

•Right action

•Right livelihood

Mental discipline:•Right effort

•Right mindfulness

•Right meditation

Eightfold PathEightfold Path

NirvanaNirvana The union with the The union with the ultimate ultimate spiritual reality. spiritual reality.

Escape from the cycle of Escape from the cycle of

rebirth. rebirth.

• What do Buddhists believe?• Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma)

• Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind

• Achieving Nirvana means escape from the cycle of rebirth

Once Gautama Buddha died, after 80 years of life in this world, having achieved Nirvana and teaching multitudes his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct being

• Buddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is not the Buddhist God – he is just a revered teacher

Types of BuddhismTypes of Buddhism

Therevada Therevada BuddhismBuddhism

Mahayana Mahayana BuddhismBuddhism

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism The oldest school of Buddhism.The oldest school of Buddhism.

The “Way of the Elders” or the The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”“Small Vehicle.”

Found in southern Asia.Found in southern Asia. The monastic life is the best The monastic life is the best

way way to achieve to achieve nirvananirvana..

Focus on wisdom and Focus on wisdom and meditation.meditation.

Goal is to become a Goal is to become a “Buddha“Buddha,” ,” or or “Enlightened One.”“Enlightened One.”

Over 100,000,000 followers Over 100,000,000 followers today.today.

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism The “Great Vehicle.”The “Great Vehicle.”

Founded in northern Asia Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).(China, Japan).

Buddhism “for the masses.”Buddhism “for the masses.” Seek guidance from Seek guidance from

BoddhisatvasBoddhisatvas, wise beings. , wise beings. GoalGoal: Not just individual : Not just individual

escape from the wheel, but escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.enlightened few.

zen Buddhismzen BuddhismThe “Meditation School.”The “Meditation School.”Seeks sudden enlightenment Seeks sudden enlightenment

[[satorisatori] through meditation, ] through meditation, arriving at emptiness arriving at emptiness [[sunyatasunyata].].

Use of meditation masters Use of meditation masters [[RoshiRoshi].].

Beauty, art, and aesthetics:Beauty, art, and aesthetics: Gardens.Gardens. Archery.Archery. Tea ceremony.Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.Calligraphy.

The Dala

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The Dala

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Buddhism in the Subcontinent (South Asia)

Buddhism in the Subcontinent (South Asia)

Where did Buddhism begin?

Describe the Distribution ofBuddhism in SouthAsia.

Diffusion of BuddhismDiffusion of Buddhism

Diffusion of BuddhismDiffusion of Buddhism

Indian Emperor Ashoka became a Buddhist after initially being a Brutal, violent ruler

Sent missionaries, including his own children to spread the Buddha’sTeachings. Missionaries travelled to… - Sri Lanka - Thailand - Burma - Bhutan - Vietnam

Today, Buddhism is growing in western cultures because ofprinciples

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Pagodas – Traditional Architecture of BuddhistSacred spaces

Buddhist Temple in Thailand

Buddhist

Home Shrines

Buddhist

Home Shrines

Sacred Places –

Bodh Gaya, India

Sacred Places –

Bodh Gaya, India

Perhaps the holiest site of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautamaachieved enlightenment under this Bodhi tree.

Lumbini, Nepal…Birthplace of the Buddha

Relieve Stress & Meditate:

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Relieve Stress & Meditate:

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Ohm...mani...padme...hung.Ohm...mani...padme...hung.....Hail to the jewel in the lotus!Hail to the jewel in the lotus!