THE LIFE OF BUDDHA

• Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature • Gautama born 500s BC • Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal – Led sheltered life – Unaware of hardship – Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died

BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT

• Gautama resolved to find way to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suffering • Gave up possessions, left palace • Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years • Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment  Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way  Stories say he meditated all night  Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations  At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One  Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

 There is suffering in the world  The cause of self suffering is self centered desire  The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments  To reach nirvana you must follow the Eightfold Path

BELIEFS OF BUDDHISM

A major change in Gautama’s thinking was when he decided to stop looking outwardly to understand the cause of suffering . Instead, he decided to look within his own mind.

Instead of worshipping gods or a god, Buddha taught his followers that the answer to human suffering was in right thinking and self-denial .

A big difference between Buddhism and other major religions is that in Buddhism you do not worship many gods or even one god .

GIVING UP DESIRES

 According to Buddha, human suffering happens because of our selfish desires for things like power, wealth, and pleasure. The way to be happy was to give up those selfish desires.

 He called this path to happiness the Middle Way = MODERATION  In Buddhism, people are to act unselfishly , treat people fairly , tell the truth all the time, avoid violence and the killing of any living thing  When people learned to follow this Buddhist Middle Path, they would find lasting peace, called reincarnation nirvana . Once a person reached this point, that person would no longer need to go through

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH

SPREAD OF BUDDHISM

Theravada Buddhism

      

The oldest school of Buddhism.

The “ Way of the Elders Vehicle.

” ” or the “ Small Found in southern Asia.

The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana.

Focus on wisdom and meditation.

Goal is to become a “ Buddha, ” “ Enlightened One.

” or Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

    

The “ Great Vehicle.

” Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).

Buddhism “ for the masses.

” Seek guidance from

Boddhisatvas

, wise beings. Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Tibetan Buddhism

    

The “ Diamond Vehicle.

” [

Vajrayana

] Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.

A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.

Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like the

Dalai Lama

.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead [Bardo Thodol].

Zen Buddhism

   

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.