Religion-Buddhism

The Diamond Sutra

*A form of dialogue between Sakyamuni Buddha and the disciple Subhuti *Focuses on idea that self and the world around us is ultimately illusory *World we live in is no more than a dream

The Heart Sutra

*A page in length *Explains concepts of emptiness (sunyata) *Whole world is perceived as a complex of ever changing fluctuating elements *Since everything changes one should not attach themselves

The Pali Canon:The Tipitaka

*Buddhist scripture containing three divisions *The Tipitaka in sanskrit means three baskets *The Vinaya Pitaka (Book of the disciples, Sutta Pitaka (book of discourse), Abhidharma Pitaka (Higher teaching)

Pureland Buddhism

*Emerged in China in 500 C.E. then spread to Japan *Aspiration is to attain rebirth in Pureland (western paradise) which is presided over by Amitaba Buddha *Faith in Amitaba is demonstrated by reciting the mantra "Nama Amida Butsu" *Reciting mantra several times a day will gaurantee entrance into Pureland

Chi'an/Zen Buddhism

*Founded in China and Japan *Focuses on meditation to attain enlightenment *Founded by Bodhidharma (indian monk) who traveled to China in 600 C.E. *Rejects attainment to the scriptures but rather empasizes meditation to gain insight *Zen masters use riddles (Koans) to train their disciples to distrust logic *Objective of riddles is to let the pure mind reveal itself *Emphasizes sitting meditation

The Lotus Sutra

*Lotus of the Dharma *Most influential as Mahayana scripture *Written between 100 BCE- 200 CE *In it Buddha spoke to his disciples

Buddhist Festivals

*New Year *Buddha's Birthday *The Festivals of Souls (Ullambana) *The Robe Offering (when person becomes a monk)

The Nature of Buddhist Tradition

*Religion devoid of authority (no deity) *Devoid of specefic rites *Devoid of speculation and metaphysics (no concern with the next world) *Empirical religion- relies on experience of individual *Welcomes everyone

Mahayana Buddhism

*The greater vehicle *Northern school *in China, Korea, Japan, and India *Meditation is not only to reach Nirvana but also to assist others in doing so (collective liberation) *Compassion is an emphasized virtue *there is a secret knowledge disclosed to the elite which only they can interpret *Buddha is God *Recognition of existance of many Buddhas *See other gods as incarnations of Buddha *Many sects sprang from this *Liberal

Precepts of moral conduct

*avoid destroying life, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants

The Four Noble Truths-Details

*unite the different schools of Buddhism *goal of them is to attain Nirvana

Three Marks of Buddhism

1. Impermanence: everything is in a continuous state of change 2. Suffering: the root of life 3. Not-Self: we are made of 5 factors that are prone to change

The Four Noble Truths

1. Life is Suffering (Symptom): man is mentally and emotionally ill, all life is sorrow. 2. The Cause of Suffering is Desire (Diagnosis) 3. Eliminate the desire (Prognosis): become totally attached from our likes and dislikes. 4. Apply 8-fold Path (Prescription)

Rituals

1. Recitation of Buddha's teachings 2. Veneration of Buddha's remains 3. Offering of food, clothes or services to monks 4. Practice of meditation in many forms 5. Confession of faults 6. Twice and month fast

The 8-Fold Path

1. Right Understanding: to understand the 4 Noble truths and that wealth doesn't bring happiness 2. Right Thought/Motives:free our thoughts from limitation of self-centeredness, not hiding emotions, remaining open-minded 3. Right Speech: Use our communication in service of truth and harmony 4. Right Action/Behavior: base our actions on clear understanding, observe the 5 basic precepts of moral conduct 5.Right Livelihood: to be sure that one's way of making a living doesn't violate the 5 precepts 6. Right Effort: to strive continously to cut off unwholesome states 7. Right Meditation:to be aware of the nature of what you are doing at every moment 8. Right Mindfulness:To apply mental disciplining to the quieting of the mind. Skillful means are needed to see and transcend its restless nature

3 Sections of 8-Fold Path

1. Right understanding and thought deal with attitude and understanding human minds, higher wisdom 2. Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood constitute the ethical disciplines and deal with moral qualities of the Buddhist's life. 3. Right Effort, Mindfulness, and Meditation are called mental-discipline.

5 Factors that are prone to change (3 Marks)

1. physical body 2. feeling 3. perception 4. mental formation 5. consciousness

Ethics of Buddhism

1.No destroying life 2.No lying 3.No stealing 4.Abstinence from impurity 5.No intoxicant of any type ***6. No eating after noon 7. Abstinence from dancing, music, and stage plays 8. No use of tall or wide beds 9. No use of scents, ornaments, or perfume 10. Bikkhus should not receive gold or silver, there needs are supplied by their disciples

Buddha died in...?

483 BC

What is Buddhism?

An atheistic religion, Buddha wasn't a God and didn't believe in god, nowadays people see Buddha as a God though, the philosophy of self-effort to become an enlightened one

Samatha

Calm meditation used by Theravadists

Theravada/Nihayana Buddhism

Conservative ways, oldest school, southern school, Pali Canon is scripture, calm meditation (samatha) and insight meditation (vipasana) are used to attain Nirvana, people attain enlightenment through self effort, meditation is emphasized at all times, Buddha is not a god

Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita)

Early text expressing Mahayana ideas

Vipasana

Insight meditation practiced by Theravadists

Sunyata

Key term in Mahayana buddhism, refers to absence of self

Emperor Asoka (263-232 BC)

Made Buddhism the religion of the state, built temples and appointed religious leaders, made Buddhism a universal religion, gave new meaning to Nirvana (going to heaven/paradise), asked Buddhist scholars to compile a text (Tipitaka, the Pali Canon, Sutra-wisdom sayings), compilations became Buddhist scriptures later on, introduced concept of deities (Buddha was a god)

Bikkhus

Monks

Where did Buddhism originate?

Nepal, India (Buddhism is state religion, rest of India is Hindu)

Nirvana

One who wakes up to the truth, liberation, enlightenment, to attain ultimate bliss after death

The Sutta Pitaka

Part of Pali Canon, Book of Discourse, contains essential teachings of Buddha, his accounts of enlightenment, and instruction on morality and meditation.

Abhidharma Pitaka

Part of Pali Canon, offers intricate analysis of the nature of mental and physical existence

The Vinaya Pitaka

Part of the Pali Canon, Book of disciples, includes rules of monastic discipline given by Buddha

Gautama Buddha's Journey

Saw a sick man, an old man, a dead man, and a shramana ("the four passing sights"), left palace for good after this (age 29). Given home and clothes by Hindu priest, meditated here for 7 years, eating very little. Sat beneath Bodhi tree one day and became enlightened (found nirvana). Came to people and began teaching.

Buddhist Rite of Passage

Shaving of young boy's head, before entering monastic life

Founder of Buddhism

Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha)- Born in Gautama in 563 BC, son of warrior-caste parents, wise man predicted he would either be a great monarch or a great ascetic, grew up in palace and trained to be a monarch, life changed when he decided to leave the palace and go see the world

Bodhi Tree

Site where Guatama Buddha found nirvana, now encompassed by giant stone box

The Three Gems

The concept of no-soul (anatman)- means there is nothing which is permanent. Take refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha

Pali

language of earliest Buddhist scripture

Sangha

religious community