What is Buddhism?

Believe in help:

"believe that people need help to achieve enlightenment" Theravada(: personal enlightenment through your own efforts, oldest form of Buddhism, most commonly spread) Mahayana(: search for salvation through faith alone, suffering caused by desire, enlighten through right conduct)

Buddha's 4 sights

- An old man - Sick man - Deceased man(/funeral process) - A monk

Mahayana practiced

- China -Japan -Korea -Tibet

Theraveda practiced

-Cambodia -Laos -Sri Lanka -Thailand

Monk

-Shaving their head -Meditation and studying -Vow not to harm or steal

4 Noble Truth

-Suffering is a part of life -There is an end to suffering -Suffering comes from selfish desire -The Noble Eight-fold path can help end suffering

Tibetan

-The "Diamond Vehicle." ^[Vajrayana (Buddha's diamond staff)- harnessing sensual energy to attain nirvana.]^ -Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE. -A mix of Theravada and Mahayana. -Bodhisattva include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama.

Zen

-The "Meditation School." -Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata]. -Use of meditation masters [Roshi]. Beauty, art, and aesthetics: -Gardens. -Archery. -Tea ceremony. -Calligraphy.

Dalai Lama

-__Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism__- -Teacher whose wisdom is as great as the ocean -A reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama

Tripitaka

3 "baskets" of teachings or Buddhist scriptures Each set consists of 32 books, in three parts or baskets of teachings: (1) the basket of expected discipline from monks (Vinaya Piṭaka), (2) basket of discourse (Sūtra Piṭaka, Nikayas), and (3) basket of special doctrine (Abhidharma Piṭaka).

# worshipers

360 million

Buddhists live

China, Japan, Southeast Asia

significant items

Dharma Wheel - each revolution releases the special blessings of the text within Prayer Flags Home shrine Temple Statues of the Buddha Bodhi tree Lotus Flower = enlightenment Relics (goods or remains of the Buddha or significant people) Stupas (buildings that house relics) Pagodas- tiered tower with multiple eaves

Middle Way

Halfway between self denial and self indulgence Siddhartha realized a life of indulgence and pleasure wasn't right and life of extreme austerity (strictness) was not right. Supported following the "middle path" between two extremes.

Sangha

Monks, Nuns, and Laypeople. (Sangha: community practicing the dharma together)

Siddhartha Gautama from

Northern India, near Nepal

holidays

O-bon- Japanese Buddhist parade to honor the spirits of one's ancestors Vesak- festival honors the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha in Theravada Buddhism

Buddha reach enlightenment

Rejecting extreme ways of living, choosing the "middle path"

Nirvana

State of enlightenment for Buddhists, able to ascend to heaven, end of rebirth.

Mahayana

The "Great Vehicle." -Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan). -Buddhism "for the masses." -Seek guidance from Bodhisattvas, wise beings. Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

"Essence"

The "middle way of wisdom and compassion." -2,500 year old tradition. The 3 jewels of Buddhism: -Buddha, the teacher. -Dharma, the teachings. -Sangha, the community.

Dharma

The Buddha's many teachings, the doctrine or law

Karma

The effects that good or bad actions have on a person's soul

Theravada

The oldest school of Buddhism. -"Way of the Elders" or the "Small Vehicle." -Found in southern Asia. -Monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana. -Focus on wisdom and meditation. -Goal is to become a "Buddha," or "Enlightened One." -Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a soul in a new form

Eightfoldpath > Nirvana

The union with the ultimate spiritual reality. -Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

Types of Buddhism

Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, Zen

Chandragupta Mauyra

Unified northern India. Defeated the Macedonian (Persia) General Seleucus. Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. He had secret police too! He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] which = food tasters, sleeping in different rooms, etc. 301 BCE → gave up his throne & became a Jain.

Desire

What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?

Mudras

symbolic hand gesture used in Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies and statuary, and in Indian dance

"The Buddha"

who is the Enlightened One?