Buddhism

Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.

 What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a religion to about 300
million people around the world. The
word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'.
It has its origins about 2,500 years
ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known
as the Buddha, was himself
awakened (enlightened) at the age of
35.
Buddhism explains a purpose
to life, it explains apparent
injustice and inequality around
the world, and it provides a
code of practice or way of life
that leads to true happiness.
• Buddhism originated in India around 500
BCE.

• About 6% of the world’s population

today is Buddhist.
• Buddhism is the fourth largest religion
in the world, though its largest
numbers of followers are found in
Southern and Eastern Asia.
 Founder

• Siddhartha Gautama credited for

founding Buddhism
• Born in 563 B.C.
 Siddhartha Gautama
 Born in NE India (563-483 BCE)
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of
suffering.
 Lived a strict,
ascetic life for 6 yrs.
 Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and
found nirvana.
 Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.
 Was the Buddha a God?

He was not, nor did he claim to

be. He was a man who taught a
path to enlightenment from his
own experience.
 One Day…
• At the age 25 he
left the walls of
the palace
• He saw 4 men
–Old man
–Sick man
–Dead man
–Poor man
 What Did It Mean?
• This made him understand
that every living thing
experiences old age,
sickness and death
• BUT! ONLY religious life can
save someone from suffering
One of the earliest
statues of Buddha
– circa 1st-2nd
century CE.
Sarnath – where Buddha gave his first sermon.
What Did He Do?
• For the next 6
years he wandered
the forests of India
looking for
ENLIGHTENMENT
• Enlightenment
means wisdom.
• He becomes
Buddha.
Mahabodhi temple
in India - Where
Buddha attained
nirvana under the
Bodhi tree.
• Buddha taught that there were Four Noble Truths in life
(basic instructions that teach suffering exists in the
world and humans much reach enlightenment to rise
above it).
• Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhists.
• It is a state of enlightenment where one can have
happiness and peace.
• In order to achieve Nirvana, a person must follow
The Middle Way (Eightfold Path – 8 rules for
conduct).
• Buddhists also believe in reincarnation, a cycle of birth
and rebirth, where one’s behavior in this life
determines what one becomes in the next life.
1. Try to recognize the truth
2. Try to avoid evil actions and bad people
3. Do not say things that hurt others
4. Respect other people and their belongings
5. Choose a job that does no harm to others
6. Do not think evil thoughts
7. Avoid excitement or anger
8. Work at meditation, thinking carefully about what
matters in life
• Buddha did not recognize gods because he felt man
alone could change evil into good if he followed the
Eightfold Path of the Middle Way.
• The Buddhists’ holy book is called the
Tripitaka.
• It contains all of Buddha’s teachings.

• Buddhists do not worship a god but

rather Buddha by thanking him for his
teachings and reading the Tripitaka to
become more enlightened.
Painting of
Buddha
Surrounded
By Monks
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - Singapore
Buddha Memorial Center - Taiwan
 What is the
fundamental cause
of all suffering?

Desire!
 Therefore, extinguish the self,
don’t obsess about oneself.
 Four Noble Truths
First Noble Truth:
Everything in life is suffering
or has Sorrow. To live is to
suffer. (Dukkha)
The Buddha found this out
when he was young and
experienced suffering and
death in others.
 Second Noble Truth

• What causes
suffering is
people’s
desire for
material
things(Tanha)
 Third Noble Truth

The only way

(Nirvana =
to end suffering
“extinction”)
is to give
up all desires
 Eight Fold Path
* Steps you must take in order to reach
NIRVANA
• Nirvana – Release from all selfishness and
pain
• Eightfold Path:
– Right view - Right action
– Right intention - Right effort
– Right speech - Right mindfulness
– Right livelihood - Right concentration
• Eight Fold Path
 Reincarnation
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation
• Different from Hindu belief:
– Buddhists may be reincarnated as many
times as it takes until Enlightenment and
Nirvana are reached.
– Hindus believe in reincarnation as a
means of rising up the caste to reach
moksha. There is the risk of being
reincarnated in a lower caste.
Eightfold Path

Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.

 Escape from the cycle of

rebirth.
Nirvan
 Types of
 Buddhism
Therevada Buddhism

 Mahayana Buddhism

 Tibetan Buddhism

 Zen Buddhism
 Theravada
Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 followed the Buddha’s teachings exactly.
 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,” or “Enlightened
One.”
 Over 100,000,000 followers today.
Theravada
Buddhism
 Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”
 believed that individual interpretation was
important.
 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.
Theravada
Buddhism
 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].
The
Dala
i
Lam
a
 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.
The Three Jewels
 The Buddha
He is a refuge because he provides an example of how to live,
be free of suffering and achieve enlightenment.

There are different views about the Buddha after he died.

Theravada: Buddha Mahayana: Buddha wouldn’t leave
passed in to final Nibbana them and would remain in contact
in some way.
There are of course other reason why the Buddha is important;
1.Role model/Set Example
2.Show that enlightenment is possible
3.Started the Sangha
4.Founder of the religion
 Dhamma
Theravada – They believe
that they adhere most Mahayana’s believe in
closely to the teaching of the Tripitaka too, but
the Buddha. They stress they also accept
the importance of the teaching’s which
Tripitaka, the three didn’t come straight
baskets which contain from the Buddha.
important parts of the
Dhamma.
1.Life today is full of desire so need to know how to let go
2.Suffering still a problem – so gives path to Nibbana
3. Dhamma is universal and can be discovered by anyone
4.Without Dhamma – no point in Buddha or Sangha
 The Sangha

The community of Buddhists

Two main groups – Lay Buddhists and monks
AryaSangha – Those who have achieved
enlightenment (Arhats or Bodhisattvas).
Relieve Stress &
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Ohm...mani...padme...hung...
Hail to the jewel in the lotus!
 Pictures Cited
• Slide 1 – www.religionfacts.com
• Slide 2 – http://jyotisha.00it.com/Buddha2.jpg
• Slide 3 – http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/38/300px-Buddhafilm2.jpg
• Slide 4 – http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39214000/jpg/_39214365_old_ind_bbc2.jpg
• Slide 6 – http://p.webshots.com/ProThumbs/56/59556_wallpaper280.jpg
• Slide 7 – http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/buddhist%20monk%20on%
• Slide 8 – http://www.sacredsites.com/shop/images/asia/sri-lanka/buddhist-monk-venerating-
750.jpg
• Slide 9 - http://ttsworld.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/buddha.jpg
• Slide 10 –
• Slide 11 – Personal file picture
• Slide 12 – Personal file picture
• Slide 16 – http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/146043327_43147bbdf3.jpg