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TRANSCRIPT
BUDDHISM
All know the Way, but few
actually walk it.
Don’t believe anything
because a teacher said it,
you must experience it.
Some Facts About Buddhism 4th largest religion (488
million)
The Buddha is not chubby
Buddha is not a god
Buddhism enters Asia in 150
CE
Buddhism is not a major
religion in India today
Objectives– The Three Gems
The Buddha
Life story of the Buddha
The Dharma
The Law and Teachings of Buddha
4 Noble Truths
Samsara and Karma
The Sangha
Monastic tradition
Mahayana
Buddhism in Asia
The Dharma
The Second Gem:
Teachings of the Buddha:
Buddha’s First Sermon
All of the Dharma is based on Buddha's
discovery that suffering is unnecessary:
Like a disease, once we really face the
fact that suffering exists, we can look
more deeply and discover it's cause;
and when we discover that the cause
is dependent on certain conditions, we
can explore the possibility of removing
those conditions.
The First Sermon at Sarnarth
Emphasis is not metaphysical
Goal is liberation from rebirth
1st Sermon– Four Noble Truths and The Middle Way
Suffering Exists (Dukkha)
Suffering is caused by craving caused by ignorance
(Tanha)
Suffering will cease
The way to this state is the Noble Eightfold Path
Result is Nirvana
Three Marks of Existence
“All of life is marked by three experiences:
All things Suffer (Dukkha)
All things are impermanent (Anicca)
All things are interdependent
There is no Soul, there is only what is”
Noble Eightfold Path
Purify the mind and help us avoid
unwholesome activities
Divided into Three Qualities Wisdom
Ethics (Sila)
Meditation or a
Disciplined Mind
(Skillful Means)
The Five Precepts (for all
Buddhists)
Do not lie
Do not steal
No sexual misconduct
No intoxicants
No harm or injury to living creatures (vegetarianism, pacifism)
Additional rules for monks and nuns
Humans: Anatman or No Soul
Doctrine
Humans are psychological and physiological
As such, we have the characteristic of impermanence/emptiness
Humans are comprised of Aggregates (Skandhas) Form, Feeling, Perceptions, Volition, Consciousness
All these things are temporary and dependent upon conditions (interdependence) .
Thus Buddhism does deny the existence of a permanent self that transmigrates from one existence to the next, but not an identity
Samsara and Karma Reality of the universe, a
cycle of existence
No soul… what is reborn?
Karma; cause and effect
Seed Metaphor
Karma keeps us tethered to
the world through our
ignorance and cravings.
Attachment, Aversion and
delusion (Generosity,
compassion, insight)
Heavenly Realm: Realm of Bliss and Pride
Jealous gods: jealousy, struggle, combat or rationalization of the world.
Human Realm: Passion, Desire and Doubt
Animal Realm: Stupidity and prejudice
Hungry Ghost Realm: possessiveness and desire
Hell Realm: Hatred
6 Realms of Existence
On the way to Nirvana: 7 factors
Mindfulness
Investigation
Energy/effort
Happiness
Tranquility
Concentration
Equanimity
Free yourself from Egocentrism---Be Self-less
Avoid the 10 hindrances
Vocabulary
Dharma
Nirvana
Dukkha
Tanha
Anitya/Anicca
Anatman/Anatta
Dhammapada
Karma
Bodhisattva
Samsara
Arhant
Power of Buddha’s teaching
Message was clear/accessible; no arcane scriptures; given in the vernacular language
Favored introspection and self-mastery over externalized ritual
Rank/sex did not matter
Disciplined monastic organization (sangha) provided an alternative to militarism (peace army vs. war army)