Origins of Buddhism

The story of Sidhartha and the birth of Buddhism

• According to the Sutra (the main Buddhist scripture that most Buddhists follow), the Buddha existed in a heavenly realm and had lived many lives in both animal and human forms

• Then, the Buddha decided that it would live one more life

• The Buddha went to a queen named Mayaderi and gave her a dream of white elephants with heads the color of rubies

• The queen and her king went to a group of holy men who said that this was a sign that the queen would bear the baby of the Buddha and would either be a great king or a great holy man

• The queen would later give birth to the baby and named him Sidhartha meaning "perfect fullfillment"

• Sadly, the mother had passed away shortly after and king kept Sidhartha in the palace to protect him for the horrors of suffering

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The story of Sidhartha and the birth of Buddhism (cont.)

• As Sidhartha grew older, he fell in love with a princess named Yeshodhara and later had a

son named Rahula

• After years and years of being trapped behind palace walls, Sidhartha went outside and saw

the truth of the world

• Outside, he saw death and sickness and was very confused after what he had witnessed

• Because of this, he left the palace and joined a group of holy men who practiced asceticism

• Asceticism is the belief that denying your body things , you can overcome desires and free yourself from suffering

• Sidhartha spent some time with the holy men, but left thinking that he couldn't find truth by

denying his body things with the holy men and have riches and pleasure as a prince and created the Middle way

• The Middle way is now the foundation of Buddhism and what most Buddhists believe in

• The Middle way is a balanced approach to life

• Sidhartha then meditated under a tree in a place called Bodh Gaya and created the 4 noble

truths and the eight-fold path

• This meant Sidhartha now became the Buddha meaning enlightened or awakened one and

awoke to what life was really about

• The Buddha died at 82 years old and taught his followers for 45 years and started the

religion known as Buddhism

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The 4 Noble Truths

• The Sutra includes the 4 noble truths are the basis of Buddhism and are the one of the beliefs that most Buddhists follow

• The first noble truth is that oldness, sickness, and death will happen and we will all suffer so accept it

• The second noble truth is that suffering comes from grasping attachment

• The third noble truth is that if we give up attachment, suffering will be obsolete

• The fourth and final truth is that people should use their skills and mindset to follow the eightfold path

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Key events that changed the way the way Buddhism was practiced.

The Three Major Turning Points of Buddhism.

The First Turning Point.

▪ The first turning point correlates directly with Gautama Buddha (the founder of the Buddhist Religion,) through the creation of the Four Noble Truths.

▪ 1.) Life as we know it is suffering.

▪ 2.) The cause of suffering is grasping.

▪ 3.) To end grasping is to end suffering

▪ 4.) There is a way to end grasping, namely, the Eight-Fold Way (right view, right intention, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentrative awareness)

▪ The Four Noble Truths are the core and structure of the Buddhist Religion, without them the Buddhist Religion would be entirely different today.

▪ https://youtu.be/EbZXT-eDoS8

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The Second Turning Point.

▪ The teaching of the Buddhist Religion were relatively the same for some 700 years until the writings of Nagarjuna were set forth on The Shunyata Doctrines. Nagarjuna was increasingly more skeptic about the contrast between Samsara and Nirvana. (Form and emptiness.)

▪ Nagarjuna challenged the philosophy that everything is black and white. Up until this point a concept could only be logical in terms of its opposite, (up, down , left, right, etc.)

▪ This amendment challenges every quality, characteristic, or notion of the Buddhist Religion you can think of. But Nagarjuna believed this most importantly applied to the mind and the physical body. His notion changed Buddhists perspectives about awareness and proved that your path correlates directly with self-awareness.

The Third Turning Point.

▪ Consequently to The Second Turning Point of the Buddhist Religion, The Third Turning Point to the Buddhist Religion, is the Influence of Nagarjuna's Writings in Buddhist Schools.

▪ It was at this time, when Nagarjuna's concepts were incorporated into the Buddhist teachings.

▪ Finally, when the Buddhist teachings were modernized the Buddhists education became influenced by all three turning points, without these key events Buddhism would look a lot different today.

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Consequences of Key Changes

The Schism...• A split between two schools of

Buddhism caused two beliefs of Buddhism, Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle, the term was used by their Buddhist opposites. Also called Theravada) and Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) groups.

• The reason for the split was because two schools of Buddhism had different opinions of Buddha, founded out when the Second Buddhist Council was held. The Buddhist school Mahasanghika was accused of preaching of Buddha having godlike abilities and was expelled.

• These groups spread to other countries and caused the formation of different types of Buddhism that is in relation to one of two original Buddhist groups.

Then the Spread...

• As a result of these different groups spreading, Buddhism went through changes of thought as it spread to other countries.

• An example of these changes is that the modification of the strict law of karma (Actions in the past lead to pleasure or pain in the future.) in some Mahayana communities.

• These different beliefs and changes caused different teachings of Buddhism.

• If you were taking part in a Mahayana Buddhist group and compare their teachings to a different Buddhist group, you'd find that these teachings are somewhat like each other, or completely different.

The Pāli Canon (Tipitaka)

• The Pali Canon is a complete canon ( A generalization which things related to this generalization are judged by.) of the Theravada branch of Buddhism.

• The canon is used to teach the words of the Buddha.

An excerpt of the Tikitaka: Sutta Pitaka: The Maijhima Nikaya (The Middle-Length Discources): Cula-

Sihanada Sutta –The Shorter Discourse of

the Lion's Roar

This map shows the spread of the different groups of Buddhism in Asia. The map also shows the origin, the direction of the spread of these groups, and how countries passed on ( you can consider it as these countries "infecting" each other.) to other countries, and so on.

Then What?

• With these changes occurring, one group was created from them, called the Vajrayana.

• This group's main goal was to obtain spiritual liberation and purity quick and efficiently.

• This group became another major group that spread around Asia and creating more groups that was based on this group.

• The definition of Buddhism has changed greatly because of these groups. However, the key concepts of Buddhism still stands today, albeit slightly adjusted because of the all group's diversity of one another.

The Different Sects and Groups of Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism: ''The School of Elders''

• Practices from the earlier Buddhist teachings.

• Theravada follows the Pali Canon- the oldest recorded teachings of the Buddha. The teachings are written in the ancient Indian Language, Pali.

• This sect is the most conservative sect. Several strict rules govern the Theravada meditation practice. New teachings and techniques are often rejected from the practice.

• The aim of this practice is to become an Arhat- a fully awakened being. Can be achieved through meditation. The Arhat follows ''Buddha's Noble Eight Fold Path'' which means the right vision, right path, right emotion..etc

• Most popular in Sri Lanka, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Mahayana Buddhism: ''The Great Vehicle''

➢ This is the most popular branch in Buddhism today; well known in Nepal, Japan, China, Tibet, and Korea.

➢ The difference between Mahayana and the other branches of Buddhism is Bodhisattva.

➢ Bodhisattva: a state of mind that a person that has become awakened. Bodhisattva's have the ability to access nirvana, which is the state beyond suffering. Many often choose to delay their nirvana to guide and teach others. Anyone can become a Bodhisattva.

➢ Allows for new teachings outside of Pali Canon.

Vajrayana Buddhism: ''The Way of the Diamond''

➢ Often referred to as most unique.

➢ The Vajrayana branch is sometimes also called the Tantric or Esoteric Buddhism.

➢ The reason the Vajrayana Buddhism is its approach to rapid enlightenment through the use of tantras. The tentras are mystical texts that date back to the 6th century C.E.

➢ Because of the intense application and practices needed, most Vajrayana schools only accept advanced teachers and students.

How does Buddhism stand now?

Meditation

❑Meditation is a huge part of Buddhism/being a Buddhist

❑"When meditating, Buddhists look within themselves to try and understand the buddha's teachings"

❑Buddhism is centered around peacefulness that is why meditation is essential

❑When you meditate it expands your spiritual experience

Forms Of Meditation:

❑ Sitting quietly beside a beautiful arrangement of rocks, contemplating beauty

❑ Practicing a martial art such as karate since it requires mental and physical control and strong concentration

❑ Focusing on a riddle such as, "what is the sound of one hand clapping."

❑ Meditation can include chanting

How Buddhism stands today

• In Buddhism you are your own master

• Buddhism isn't simply a religion, it's a way to live your life

• Buddha made five general precepts to follow: do not kill, do not steal, do not engage in sexual pleasures through wrong means, do not lie, and do not take antioxidants (a substance that can damage cells or organisms).

• Precepts are not commandments, they're a promise to yourself of your own free will

• Buddha was mindful of the fact that one could not make a set of rules and regulations for everyone in the same demeanor, so those who wanted to commit to Buddhism have some rules and the monks have even more rules for them to follow a stern passage of discipline and purification

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How Buddhism stands today❑ There is four aspects of loving kindness: Karuna, Mudita, Upekkha, and Maitri

❑ In order to set yourself in the right path you must engage in Dana, Sila, and Bhavana

Meanings of the four aspects of loving kindness:

❑ Karuna means to have compassion. For example, if you so someone struggling you should be compassionate towards them and try your best to help.

❑ Mudita means to be happy for others when they are happy rather than being jealous or envying them

❑ Upekkha means you don't consider anyone your friend, enemy, no one is higher, no one is lower than you in status.

Meanings of Dana, Sila, and Bhavana:

❑ Dana means to be able to give and be generous. Dana counteracts Lobha which means desire and greed.

❑ Sila means to be able to adhere to the precepts (meaning to be able to stick to and follow them). Sila counteracts Dosa which means animosity or hatred.

❑ Bhavana means the training of the mind and to be able to meditate so your mind can develop

Would Buddha recognize?

If Buddha were to evaluate how the religion is practiced today would he recognize it?

Yes, I feel like Buddha would recognize it because...

• Today, Buddhists still follow the four noble truths

• Buddhists still follow the four aspects of loving kindness

• Buddhists still follow Dana, Sila, and Bhavana

• Buddhists still don't have the concept of God/having a God

• Buddhists still don't believe that there is sin, only that there is ignorance

• Buddhists still follow "The middle way" (The way to end suffering and live a balanced life)

Bibliography❑ Cites used for "How does Buddhism stand now":

❑ 1st slide: (n.d.). About Buddhism. Retrieved from http://www.aboutbuddhism.org/buddhism-today.php/ and (n.d.). Buddhism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs

❑ 2nd and 3rd slide: (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/modern.html

❑ 4th slide: Violatti, C. (2019, August 31). Buddhism. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/buddhism/ and (n.d.). Buddhism: Basic Beliefs. Retrieved from https://uri.org/kids/world-religions/buddhist-beliefs

❑ All images are from www.bing.

❑ Cites used for "Key beliefs of Buddhism and how Buddhism was originally practiced":

❑ Rahula, W. S. (n.d.). The Noble Eightfold Path: Meaning and Practice. Retrieved from https://tricycle.org/magazine/noble-eightfold-path/

❑ Wood, C. (2003). Buddhism. Chicago, IL: Raintree.

❑ Pictures from bing.com

❑ Cites used for "Consequences and Key Changes of Buddhism":

❑ https://www.ancient.eu/buddhism/

❑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism

❑ https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/ancient-medieval/early-indian-empires/a/buddhism-in-indian-culture

❑ https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/

Bibliography (cont.)

• Turning Points : Anon, (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/kenwilberwakeupgrowup/2014/02/the-three-evolutionary-turnings-of-buddhism-ken-wilber/

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Video 1: https://youtu.be/EbZXT-eDoS8

AssessmentTrue or False

1.) Buddhism is based off of hate.

2.) Buddha is the founder of Buddhism.

3.) The 4 Noble Truths are not the basis of Buddhism.

4.) There are 4 Noble Truths.

5.) Buddha had many lives.

6.) You are not your own master in Buddhism.

7.) Meditation is essential.

8.) The first turning point correlates to Gautama Buddha.

9.) Mahayana Buddhism is the least popular in Nepal, Japan, China, and Tibet.

10.) The canon is used to teach the words of the Buddha.