Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley Hs Chappaqua,

NY

Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley Hs Chappaqua,

NY

Religions of South Asia

Religions of South Asia

Buddhism in the Subcontinent

Buddhism in the Subcontinent

Basic Facts of Buddhism

Basic Facts of Buddhism

The “middle way of The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”wisdom and compassion.”

2,500 year old tradition.2,500 year old tradition. The 3 jewels of Buddhism:The 3 jewels of Buddhism:

BuddhaBuddha, the teacher., the teacher. DharmaDharma, the teachings., the teachings. SanghaSangha, the community, the community..

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Born in NE India Born in NE India (Nepal).(Nepal).

Raised in great luxuryRaised in great luxuryto be a king.to be a king.

At 29 he rejectedAt 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life tohis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentseek enlightenmentand the source ofand the source ofsuffering.suffering.

Lived a strict life for 6 yrs.Lived a strict life for 6 yrs. He sat in meditation, and found He sat in meditation, and found

nirvananirvana.. Became Became “The Enlightened One,”“The Enlightened One,”

at 35.at 35.

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

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

don’t obsess about oneself.don’t obsess about oneself.

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.

(The Buddha found (The Buddha found this out when he was this out when he was young and young and experienced suffering experienced suffering and death in others.)and death 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.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

3.3. The solution is to The solution is to eliminate desire eliminate desire and attachments – and attachments – to reachto reachNirvanaNirvana

Four Noble Truths

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

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

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.

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddhist AltarBuddhist Altar

The DalaiLama

The DalaiLama

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

through meditation, arriving through meditation, arriving at emptiness.at emptiness.

Use of meditation mastersUse of meditation mastersBeauty, art, and aesthetics:Beauty, art, and aesthetics:

Gardens.Gardens. Archery.Archery. Tea ceremony.Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.Calligraphy.

Buddhism in America (1999)

Buddhism in America (1999)

Distribution of Buddhism Centers

in the US, 2001

Distribution of Buddhism Centers

in the US, 2001