Unit IV Buddhism
A. Introduction
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Began in Northern
India (Nepal) around 530 BCE
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A reaction to Hinduism
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Polytheism
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Corruption of the caste system
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Buddhism stems from "Buddha", meaning he who is awake, who "woke up“, “the Awakened
One”
B. Siddhartha, the prince
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Born in Nepal (566-486 BCE)
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Born to King Suddhodhana and Queen Mahamaya
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Tradition says that Siddhartha’s father was given the prophecy that his son would either
be a mighty ruler OR an ascetic who would become enlightened and lead others to enlightenment
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Siddhartha’s mother died only seven days after his birth
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King Suddhodhana was driven to make sure his son would become his successor
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He refused to expose Siddhartha to life’s miseries by spoiling him
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Siddhartha eventually married and had a son
1. The Four Passing Sights
• While on a pleasure excursion, Siddhartha notices an old man
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He questions his servant, Channa, who eventually exposes Siddhartha to the truths and realities
of life that had been denied him
• Sid. later sees a diseased man and witnesses a burial
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He is reduced to tears and suffering
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For the first time, Siddhartha feels the pains of life and moves into compassion
for all humans
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He notices a wandering ascetic and contemplates if this is the direction he
should follow
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Should he abandon…
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Luxury?
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Power?
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Family?
2. The Great Going Forth
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At 29, Siddhartha decides to leave everything behind and enter the forests of Northern
India
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He joined five other ascetics
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He slept on the ground, begged for food (a grain of rice, a sesame seed, a nectarine, and water),
and rarely bathed
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For six years, he took this path and almost died
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Siddhartha continued, not once being distracted by Mara
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He saw the beginnings of the universe and felt eternal bliss
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Tradition says that Sid. could have slipped into Nirvana (“to blow out” the flames
of desire), but remained b/c of his compassion for all beings
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He remained a teacher for the next fifty years
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C. The Dharma (doctrines)
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Four Noble Truths
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Eightfold Path
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Five Precepts
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Three Marks of Existence
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Nirvana
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1. The Four Noble Truths
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Dukkha (suffering or dis-ease of life)
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To live is to suffer
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Trauma of birth, sickness, aging process, fear of death, losses, etc.
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Tanha (desire or attachments)
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The root cause of this suffering is desire
• Nirodha (the cessation of suffering is possible
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Magga (the cure)
2. The Eightfold Path
- Right Intentions
- Right Speech
- Right Views
- Right Conduct
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Meditation
3. The Five Precepts
All lay Buddhists (Sangha)
are to
refrain from…
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Sensual misconduct
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Dishonesty
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Destroying life
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Stealing
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Using intoxicants
The Three Marks of Existence
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Dukkha (suffering)
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Life has become disordered
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Anicca (impermanence)
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The realization of change
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Anatta (no-self)
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Since all things change, including the Self, there cannot be a permanent Self
5. Nirvana
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Nirvana means “to blow out”…the flames of desire
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It is possible to achieve nirvana in this lifetime
• Selfishness brings about bad karma, which keeps the individual in samsara
• A bodhisattva (Buddha in the making) who achieves nirvana before physical death reaches parinirvana
D. The “Rafts”
- Mahayana
- Vajrayana / Tibetan
- Ch’an / Zen
- Hinayana / Theravada
- Hinayana “small raft”…Theravada “Way of the Elders”
- Claims to hold onto the original doctrines of the Buddha
- Salvation is purely up to the individual
- The ultimate virtue is wisdom (bodhi)
- The ideal person: Arhat (saint) who attains parinirvana
- Practice centers on monasticism and meditation
Mahayana “Great Raft”
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Largest group…began in 200 BCE
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Claims to follow the example of the Buddha
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Salvation is granted through grace
• Ultimate virtue is compassion
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Ideal person is bodhisattva “one whose essence is perfect wisdom”
b/c they have attained nirvana and guide others
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Practice centers on ritual & meditation
2a. Tibetan / Vajrayana
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Vehicle of the Diamond”
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Dates back to 200 CE in Tibet
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Has an official hierarchy: lamas “teachers”
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Dalai Lama “ocean of wisdom”
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Goal is to fight desires by focusing on good desires
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Mantras: monotonous, hypnotic, repeated phrases
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Mudras: choreographed hand movements
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Mandalas and thangkas: artistic symbols used to excite the senses
2b. Zen / Ch’an Buddhism
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“Quietude”
• Began in China in 520 BCE with the monk, Bodhidharma
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Preaches acceptance of the world as it is, w/ no preconceived notions
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Focuses on meditation
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Scriptures contain almost illogical sayings: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
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Understand the mind w/o using the body
