BUDDHISMBy: Sandra Davis

Mid-Continent UniversityIntroduction to Christian

Worldview09/09/09

Bro. Don Embry

BUDDHISM

Buddhism

Buddhism upholds the virtues of benevolence, perseverance, self-discipline, and charity. On a deeper level, Buddhism is a philosophy, a way of life, and the cultivation of one’s mind. In fact, Buddhists believe that harmony stems from the mind.

Overview

Buddhism is a major world religion, or in a better sense, philosophy.

It is the 4th largest religion of the world, and has about 300,000,000 followers.

It explains the purpose of life, injustices and inequality in the world.

● Developed in India 2500 yrs ago

Based on many of the core concepts of Hinduism

The essence of Buddhism is the attainment of enlightenment

Points to a way of life that avoids self-indulgence and self-denial.

There is no supreme god or deity in Buddhism

Buddhist Populations

The three truths of existence are dukkha, anicca, and anatta – suffering, impermanence, and the absence of an eternal self. According to Buddhist teachings, no phenomenon in this world is permanent or real. There is no permanent self or "soul", for human beings are constantly changing under the influence of our surroundings and actions. Our minds are deluded to the true nature of the world, however, and we still try to hold onto our thoughts, bodies, wealth, and other earthly possessions. Trapped in the samsara of lives and deaths, with our attachment to these fleeting things, we suffer. Thus, the cause of suffering is the unenlightened mind. 

The First Noble Truth is that life is sufferingYou can’t live without death, frustration, etc.

The Second Noble Truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion

Getting what you want doesn’t guarantee happiness, it deprives you of it

The Third Noble Truth is that suffering can be overcome, and true happiness can be attained

If we stop craving useless things, and live each day at a time (not living in the past or the future) we will be happy and free.

The Fourth Noble Truth is that the Noble Eight-Fold Path leads to the end of all suffering

Wisdom1) Right View – know the truth

2) Right Intention – resist self-centeredness

Ethical Conduct3) Right Speech – refrain from unkind,

negative speech

4) Right Action – respect all life

5) Right Livelihood – work for the good of others

Mental Discipline6) Right Effort – exert oneself in freeing the

mind of evil (egocentric thought)

7) Right Awareness – elevate one’s thoughts beyond the haze of emotion and mood

8) Right Meditation – practice the discipline of meditation

The Eight-Fold Path

3. ReincarnationA concept that one must go through many cycles of birth, living, and death After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain:

Nirvana  - a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.Nirvana can be achieved by meditating and following the guiding principles of Buddhism, such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path

All of one’s actions have consequences, determined by the person’s intentions. If we are motivated to hurt others by greed, for instance, our actions will produce negative results. In Buddhism, those outcomes may not occur immediately after the actions, or even in this lifetime. The consequences of our actions could affect us through subsequent lives, and the universal law that governs those actions and their consequences is Karma.

1. Live by this moral code:• Do not take the life of anything living• Do not take anything not freely given to you• Abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence• Refrain from untrue speech• Do not consume intoxicating

substancesDo not lose

mindfulness

2. Meditation: Training the mind to empty it of thoughts. When this happens what is important becomes clear.

Daily Practices

Wheel of Life: Represents the endless cycle of life through reincarnation. Each of its eight spokes represents one of the teachings of the Eightfold Path.

Lotus Flower:

A lotus is a water lily that grows in murky ponds and takes its roots in the black soil. Just as the beautiful lotus blossom grows from the mud, human beings can also detach themselves from suffering, to rise above the earthly and blossom as Buddhas

The lotus symbolizes purity and divine birth. The different color lotus flowers have specific meanings: for example, the red lotus signifies the qualities of the heart while the purple lotus is the mystic lotus.

SYMBOLS

Buddhist Spiritual Leaders

Monks

Dalai Lama

The mind is everything.What you think you become.

- Buddha

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.

- Buddha

References

Halverson, D, (1996).The Compact Guide To World Religions. Bloomington: Bethany House

http://www.buddhisttemple.ca/buddhism/philosophy.php accessed on 09/08/09