2017

Buddhism
Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true
nature of reality. Buddhist practices like meditation are means of changing yourself in
order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience
developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an
incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path a path which ultimately
culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. An enlightened being sees the nature of
reality absolutely clearly, just as it is, and lives fully and naturally in accordance with that
vision. This is the goal of the Buddhist spiritual life, representing the end of suffering for
anyone who attains it.

Because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator god, some people
do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist
teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have
consequences; change is possible. So Buddhism addresses itself to all people irrespective
of race, nationality, caste, sexuality, or gender. It teaches practical methods which enable
people to realize and use its teachings in order to transform their experience, to be fully
responsible for their lives. There are around 350 million Buddhists and a growing number
of them are Westerners. They follow many different forms of Buddhism, but all traditions
are characterized by non-violence, lack of dogma, tolerance of differences, and, usually,
by the practice of meditation

The Eightfold Path

The eightfold path, although referred to as steps on a path, is not meant as a sequential learning
process, but as eight aspects of life, all of which are to be integrated in everyday life. Thus the
environment is created to move closer to the Buddhist path.

The eightfold path is at the heart of the middle way, which turns from extremes, and encourages
us to seek the simple approach.

The eightfold path is Right Understanding, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Action, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
No doubt all of you are aware of the moral codes in other religious groups such as Christianity,
the Jews, and Muslims. While there is a degree of correspondence across these groups, the
interpretation of the code in each philosophy is different. In the example of the Ten
Commandments, there is an authoritarian feeling of decree, of a direct order that these be fulfilled.

In Buddhism, the eightfold path is meant as a guideline, to be considered, to be contemplated, and

to be taken on when, and only when each step is fully accepted as part of the life you seek.
Buddhism never asks for blind faith, it seeks to promote learning and a process of self-discovery.

Hinduism
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also exists among
significant populations outside of the sub-continent and has over 900 million adherents
worldwide.
In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, or at least elements within
it stretch back many thousands of years. Yet Hinduism resists easy definition partly
because of the vast array of practices and beliefs found within it. It is also closely associated
conceptually and historically with the other Indian
religions Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.

Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no
commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many
key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these
reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather
than a single religion.
Brahma
Brahma is the first god in the Hindu triumvirate, or trimurti. The triumvirate consists of
three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The
other two gods are Vishnu and Shiva.
Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, while Shiva's role is to destroy it in order to re-
create.
Brahma's job was creation of the world and all creatures. His name should not be confused
with Brahman, who is the supreme God force present within all things.
Brahma is the least worshipped god in Hinduism today. There are only two temples in the
whole of India devoted to him, compared with the many thousands devoted to the other
two.
Brahma has four heads and it is believed that from these heads came the four Vedas (the
most ancient religious texts for Hindus). Some also believe that the caste system, or four
Varnas, came from different part of Brahma's body.
He has four arms and is usually depicted with a beard.
Brahma's consort is Saraswati, goddess of knowledge.

Vishnu
Vishnu is the second god in the Hindu triumvirate (orTrimurti). The triumvirate consists
of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world.
The other two gods are Brahma and Shiva.
Brahma is the creator of the universe and Shiva is the destroyer. Vishnu is the preserver
and protector of the universe.
His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of good and evil.
So far, he has been incarnated nine times, but Hindus believe that he will be reincarnated
one last time close to the end of this world.
Vishnu's worshippers, usually called Vaishnava, consider him the greatest god. They
regard the other gods as lesser or demi gods. Vaishnava worship only Vishnu. Vishnu
monotheism is called Vaishnavism.
Vishnu is represented with a human body, often with blue colored skin and with four arms.
His hands always carry four objects in them, representing the things he is responsible for.
 Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no
commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many
key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these
reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather
than a single religion.

The meaning of Right has several aspects, and includes an ethical, and a balanced, or
middle way. When things go "right", we often experience a special feeling inside which
confirms that this is the correct decision or action.

Christianity
Christianity is the most popular religion in the world with over 2 billion adherents. 42
million Britons see themselves as nominally Christian, and there are 6 million who are
actively practicing.

Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Christians believe that God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences
of its sins.
One of the most important concepts in Christianity is that of Jesus giving his life on the
Cross (the Crucifixion) and rising from the dead on the third day (the Resurrection).
Christians believe that there is only one God, but that there are three elements to this one
God:
God the Father
God the Son
The Holy Spirit
 Christians worship in churches.
Their spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers.
The Christian holy book is the Bible, and consists of the Old and New Testaments.
Christian holy days such as Easter and Christmas are important milestones in the
Western secular calendar

St. Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas (12251274) lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the
arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the
relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that had
obtained for centuries. This crisis flared up just as universities were being founded.
Thomas, after early studies at Montecassino, moved on to the University of Naples,
where he met members of the new Dominican Order. It was at Naples too that Thomas
had his first extended contact with the new learning. When he joined the Dominican
Order he went north to study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the
Aristotelian corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, which had
been formed out of the monastic schools on the Left Bank and the cathedral school at
Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master Thomas defended the mendicant orders
and, of greater historical importance, countered both the Averroistic interpretations of
Aristotle and the Franciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result was a
new modus vivendi between faith and philosophy which survived until the rise of the
new physics. The Catholic Church has over the centuries regularly and consistently
reaffirmed the central importance of Thomas's work, both theological and philosophical,
for understanding its teachings concerning the Christian revelation, and his close textual
commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural resource which is now receiving
increased recognition.