comparative religions. siddhartha gautama who was born in nepal around 563 bc. his father was a...
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BUDDHISMComparative Religions
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Who is Buddha?
Siddhartha Gautama who was born in Nepal around 563 BC.
His father was a ruler so he grew up in luxury At 16 he married a princess and they had a son Siddhartha’s father had fortunetellers predict
Siddhartha’s life when he was born. Sid’s career was crossed:
If he succeeded his father as ruler, he would be a world conqueror who unified India
If he denied his succession, he would be a world redeemer
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In his 20’s, Sid chose the path away from ruling.
He left the palace and his family to learn religion from the Hindu priests.
After the Hindu priests, he joined the ascetics and learned from them.
Between the Hindus and the Ascetics he found the Middle Way – the area between the extremes of denial in Ascetcism and indulgence
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In the final phase of his quest, he decided to meditate until he reached his goal of enlightenment. Sat down under a Bodhi tree and refused to get up
until he was enlightened. While he sat under the tree he was tempted
three times by Mara – the evil one Sid rebuffed her temptations and she fled.
The next morning he “woke up” and was no longer Sid, but Buddha.
Mara tempted him one more time, but Buddha prevailed and she left him alone forever.
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Buddha’s Buddhism
Buddha Founded an order of Monks Challenged the Brahmins Accepted the skeptics attitudes
His routine Train monks and oversee the order Public preaching Private counseling Withdrawal for renewal
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He taught for nine months, withdrew for three in seclusion with his monks
Buddha also withdrew three times each day to meditate
Buddha died at 80 years old after eating poisonous mushrooms
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Buddha, a god?
Buddha was a compassionate rationalist. Buddha was human
He refused all efforts to turn him into a god He disciples called him Sakyamuni –
silent sage and Tathagata – the perfectly enlightened one
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Buddha’s Faith
Six features of all religions Authority Ritual Explanations Tradition Grace Mystery
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What Buddha preached in relation to these six features: Religion should be devoid of authority Religion should be devoid of ritual His religion skirted explanation Religion should be devoid of tradition Religion should exist on intense self-effort Religion should be devoid of all supernatural
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What Buddha did preach: Religion is empirical – you must know for yourself Religion is scientific – what’s here is here, what’s not
is not Religion is pragmatic – it is a tool to help you get to
where you are going spiritually Religion is therapeutic – it can make you feel better Religion is psychological – look to yourself and what
you need Religion is egalitarian – women can be enlightened
too Religion is for individuals – he urged working out
one’s own salvation with diligence
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Buddha’s first sermon
The Four Noble Truths Dukkha – suffering
How much of life is enjoyable? At what level of our being does enjoyment begin? We suffer because we are off-balance with ourselves. This is
obvious at four times in our lives: Birth trauma Illness Old age Death
What causes dukkha? Tanha – ego. The bigger it gets, the worse it is.
Overcoming Tanha. Release from our ego/self-interest releases our torment/suffering
The way out of torment is the Eightfold Path
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The Eightfold Path
How to remove the suffering caused by the ego. Right knowledge Right aspiration Right speech Right behavior Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right absorption
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Right knowledge Know the Four Noble Truths
Right aspiration Do we really want enlightenment?
Right speech What we say reveals our character
Right behavior Don’t kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, drink, or do drugs
Right livelihood Join a monastery or find an occupation that makes
you happy while working
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Right effort Keep working hard toward you goal so you can
get to where you want to be Right mindfulness
Ignorance is our biggest enemy; see everything as it really is
Right absorption Change so that you can experience the world
in a new way.
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Concepts of Buddhism
Nirvana is the goal of Buddhism – bliss through enlightenment
Three Marks of Existence: Dukkha – suffering Annatta – a lack of permanent identity Anicca – impermanence
Basically, these three things are loosely tied together to make humans who they are.
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Split in Buddhism
Three questions that divide his followers: Are people independent or interdependent? Is the universe friendly, indifferent, or hostile? What is the best part of the human self, its head or
its heart? Buddha’s followers divided over these
questions. Hinayanas are the smaller sect who believe the way
to enlightenment is only through becoming a monk and practicing Buddhism full time.
Mahayanas believed Buddhism was good for the common person and could be achieved by laypersons.
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Hinayanists
Call their form of Buddhism Theraveda – the Way of the Elders
The Pali Cannon – early Buddhist texts support their position
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Mahayanists
Believe Buddha did more through his life’s example than through instruction
Base their faith on the fact that he did not stay in a state of nirvana, he returned to work/serve the people.
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Contrasting Theravada Buddhism and Mahayanists
Theraveda – progress rests with the individual
Mahayanists – progress rests with the phenominal
Theraveda – people are on their own for salvation
Mahayanists – Buddha and bdhisattvas work for us on our salvation
Theraveda – wisdom is the most important Mahayanists – wisdom is important, but
compassion also needs to be cultivated.
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Theraveda – the sangha (monks) are the heart of this sect
Mahayanists – their priests can marry and have a life but are expected to be servants to their laity.
Theraveda – The ideal is arhat – to be the perfect disciple
Mahayanists – perfected wisdom through nirvana is renounced to return to the world and serve.
Theaveda – Buddha is a supreme sage Mahayanists – Buddha is a savior
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Divisions of the Mahayanists
Pure Land School – believes a compassionate Buddha will carry his followers to the Pure Land of the Western Paradise (heaven)
Confucian predilections for learning and social harmony
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Zen Buddhism
Comes from Buddha’s Flower Sermon He said nothing, just held up a golden lotus One dude, Mahakasyapa, smiled and nodded,
so Buddha decided he understood and made Mahakasyapa his successor.
Zen is a faith of deep questions often with no way to find the true answer. Two branches of Zen
Rinzai Soto (we won’t address this one)
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Rinzai Sect Four key terms:
Zazen – seated meditation Koan - problem Sanzen – private meeting with a master about his
meditation Satori – breakthrough in solving his koan
Once satori is reached, five things have been accomplished: Monk finds life distinctly good He has an objective look at his relation to others He returns to the world he now perceives differently His attitude is now one of general agreeableness He will never again feel that his death will bring an end to
his life
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Zen influence on Japan Sumie – black ink landscape painting Landscape gardening Flower arranging Tea Ceremony
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Tibetan Buddhism
Uses the Vajrayana (Indian god of Thunder) to help them realize Buddha’s wisdom and compassion
The essence of Vajrayana is Tantra – focusing on the interrelatedness of things
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Tibetans see success in practices which helps them reach nirvana in a single lifetime. They focus on speech, gestures, and vision
Mantras – Tibetans focus on making sounds into holy formulas
Mudras – Tibetans focus on choreographed hand gestures turning them into sacred dances
Mandalas – Icons whose holy beauty empowers – created by Tibetans
Dalai Lama – holy leader of Tibetan Buddhism His job is to incarnate on earth the celestial
principle of compassion or mercy
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Summary of Buddhism
Buddhism is a journey Buddhists must choose which path to
follow to reach their journey’s end Hinayana or Mahayana
Recognize Buddhism’s Three Vows: I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the dharma I take refuge in the sangha
Finally, realize that Buddha was a divine incarnation – an avatar.