Ch. 4 BuddhismCh. 4 Buddhism

OriginsOrigins

PlacePlace India- originatedIndia- originated Spread throughout AsiaSpread throughout Asia

TimeTime 55thth Century BCE (when the Century BCE (when the

Upanishads were Upanishads were composed)composed)

Founder Founder Siddhartha GuatamaSiddhartha Guatama

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Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama was born c. 563 BCE in Siddhartha Gautama was born c. 563 BCE in

Northern IndiaNorthern India He was born in Nepal – in the lower Himalaya He was born in Nepal – in the lower Himalaya

Mountains. Mountains. Siddhartha was born the son of a prince Siddhartha was born the son of a prince

warrior (kshatriya) castewarrior (kshatriya) caste Father a regional ruler, making Gautama a Father a regional ruler, making Gautama a

princeprince Legend says that his mother, Maya, dreamt Legend says that his mother, Maya, dreamt

that a white elephant entered her side- this that a white elephant entered her side- this was the moment of conception of the future was the moment of conception of the future BuddhaBuddha

He was born miraculously from his mother He was born miraculously from his mother side.side.

His mother died a week after childbirthHis mother died a week after childbirth Siddhartha was raised by his aunt. Siddhartha was raised by his aunt.

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A sage inspected the child and saw special A sage inspected the child and saw special marks on Siddhartha’s body and foretold that marks on Siddhartha’s body and foretold that his life could go in one of two directions:his life could go in one of two directions:

1.1. Becoming a king, “a world ruler,” following his Becoming a king, “a world ruler,” following his father’s footsteps and inheriting his positions father’s footsteps and inheriting his positions

2.2. He would become a great spiritual leader, “a He would become a great spiritual leader, “a world teacher” if he were exposed to the sight world teacher” if he were exposed to the sight of suffering. of suffering.

Siddhartha’s father took measure to keep him Siddhartha’s father took measure to keep him from exposure to suffering because he wanted from exposure to suffering because he wanted him to take his place in the future.him to take his place in the future.

Siddhartha grew up in a luxurious large walled Siddhartha grew up in a luxurious large walled palace palace

He married at a young age to a woman his He married at a young age to a woman his father chose and had a son with herfather chose and had a son with her

Siddhartha was educated and trained as a Siddhartha was educated and trained as a warrior warrior

The Four Passing Sights One day Siddhartha disobeyed his father’s command not to leave the

royal grounds. He encountered suffering in an episode known as the Four Passing

Sights1. He came across an old man, crooked and toothless2. A sick man, wasted by disease3. A corpse being taken for cremation4. A sannyasin who had no possessions but seemed to be at peace

Siddhartha’s reality

Having seen the reality of suffering, Gautama knew that he would never again find contentment in the luxuries of the palace.

He did not feel safe anymore now that he knew the truths of old age, disease, and death.

Siddhartha decided to overcome his despair

The Great Going Forth

At age 29, Siddhartha decided to renounce his life as a prince, left his family secretly in the dark of night.

Gave his horse to his servant, cut his long black hair and put on simple clothes, this event is called the great going forth.

He joined a group of five mendicants who practiced asceticism to win salvation.

Gautama excelled in the practice of fasting, spending the next 7 years on the brink of starvation

The Middle Way Starvation did not lead to salvation Gautama accepted a simple meal of

rice and milk and quickly regained enough strength to proceed on his quest.

His five companions left him, disgusted that he had abandoned asceticism.

Gautama thus discovered the important Buddhist doctrine of the Middle Way:

Neither starvation nor Neither starvation nor overindulgenceoverindulgence

• A healthy spiritual life depends A healthy spiritual life depends on healthy physical lifeon healthy physical life

Being content in life is goodBeing content in life is good• Spiritual happiness = Spiritual happiness =

happiness in body, mind, spirithappiness in body, mind, spirit

After accepting the middle way, Siddhartha sat in the lotus position beneath a fig tree (now called the Bodhi Tree) and decided not to leave the place until he had the understanding he needed.

Various traditions give different details: one says he sat for a week, another says he remained there for forty-nine days

Every version talks of his struggle with hunger, thirst, doubt, and weakness

The story of Mara is a popular story

Struggle under the Bodhi Tree

Mara

Mara, the god of death sent his 3 daughters to tempt Mara, the god of death sent his 3 daughters to tempt Siddhartha Siddhartha

• Discontent, Delight, DesireDiscontent, Delight, Desire

But Gautama never gave up and never gave inBut Gautama never gave up and never gave in

Sitting under the bodhi tree, Siddhartha Sitting under the bodhi tree, Siddhartha reached a state of profound understanding reached a state of profound understanding called his Awakening, or Enlightenment aka called his Awakening, or Enlightenment aka the three watches the three watches

First Watch (evening)First Watch (evening)• Saw his previous lifetimesSaw his previous lifetimes

A continuous journey of sufferingA continuous journey of suffering Second Watch (middle night)Second Watch (middle night)

• Acquired Divine (3Acquired Divine (3rd)rd) Eye Eye Saw deaths and rebirths of all Saw deaths and rebirths of all

living beingsliving beings Third Watch (late night)Third Watch (late night)

• Perceived Four Noble Truths: – a Perceived Four Noble Truths: – a perfect summation of human perfect summation of human existence…and the way to end existence…and the way to end suffering. Became Enlightenedsuffering. Became Enlightened

He received a new name: the BuddhaHe received a new name: the Buddha Buddha comes from a Sanskrit word meaning Buddha comes from a Sanskrit word meaning

to wake upto wake up The Buddha is the Awakened oneThe Buddha is the Awakened one 1111

After overcoming Mara and his daughters, Gautama reached Enlightenment by first entering 3 stages of awareness:

Sangha After the enlightenment, the

Buddha searched his five former companions and they reconciled with him and became his first followers

The Buddha attracted many people

The Buddha thus formed an order of monks and nuns called sangha

The sangha was the first Buddhist monastic community

The sangha was divided into monks, nuns, and laypeople

His son became Buddhist

Nirvana

At the age of 80, the Buddha became extremely ill after eating a spoiled food offered by a well meaning blacksmith named Chunda

The Buddha sensed that he was going to die and called his disciples. Told them that everything must die including him.

He then offered a final advise: “You must be your own lamps, be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves.”

The Buddha then turned on his right side and died passing forever into Nirvana

The Buddha The Buddha todaytoday

Not god but humanNot god but human Avatar of VishnuAvatar of Vishnu Many Buddhists do Many Buddhists do

not pray to himnot pray to him Buddhists follow Buddhists follow

his examplehis example

Buddhist teachings Buddhist teachings The Buddha’s teachings play a The Buddha’s teachings play a key role in defining the religious key role in defining the religious life of Buddhism rather than the life of Buddhism rather than the Buddha himself. Buddha himself.

It is impossible to know exactly It is impossible to know exactly what the Buddha taught. what the Buddha taught.

He did not write down his He did not write down his teachings, nor did his early teachings, nor did his early disciples.disciples.

The only written versions were The only written versions were recorded several hundred years recorded several hundred years after his death.after his death.

The core of what is generally The core of what is generally regarded as basic Buddhism regarded as basic Buddhism are the Three Jewelsare the Three Jewels

1.1. The BuddhaThe Buddha

2.2. The DharmaThe Dharma

3.3. The SanghaThe Sangha

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• Practice meditation Practice meditation (experiential dimension)(experiential dimension)

• He is an ideal human He is an ideal human being whom other being whom other human beings should human beings should imitateimitate

• He is not usually He is not usually thought of as being thought of as being dead but as existing in a dead but as existing in a timeless dimension timeless dimension beyond the worldbeyond the world

THE BUDDHATHE BUDDHA

The DharmaThe Dharma

Buddha’s teachings- Buddha’s teachings- (doctrinal dimension)- (doctrinal dimension)- about how to view the about how to view the world and how to live world and how to live properly properly

The Buddhist dharma The Buddhist dharma is not the same as is not the same as the Hindus dharma- the Hindus dharma- ethical duty ethical duty

BuddhismBuddhism

World ReligionsWorld Religions

Chapter 4Chapter 4

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1.1. Inner wisdom, vs. faith in Inner wisdom, vs. faith in God:God:

a.a. Buddhist truths do not Buddhist truths do not come from Divine come from Divine revelation outside the revelation outside the person. person. (e.g. 10 (e.g. 10

commandments, commandments, burning bush, burning bush, Transfiguration)Transfiguration)

b.b. Buddhist truths Buddhist truths discovered by looking discovered by looking inside. inside.

3.3. Doctrine based on Doctrine based on observation of “what observation of “what is”.is”.

3.3. A psychologically-A psychologically-centered religioncentered religion

3 characteristics of3 characteristics ofBuddhist Dharma (teachings)Buddhist Dharma (teachings)

Buddha’s teachings Buddha’s teachings The teachings are practicalThe teachings are practical He refused to talk about god and He refused to talk about god and

faithfaith His refusal to talk about His refusal to talk about

something else besides how to something else besides how to end suffering is called his end suffering is called his noble silencenoble silence

He speculated about He speculated about unanswerable questions like a unanswerable questions like a man who had been wounded by man who had been wounded by an arrow but refused to pull it out an arrow but refused to pull it out until he knew everything about the until he knew everything about the arrow and the person who shot it. arrow and the person who shot it. The wounded man would die The wounded man would die before he could get all the before he could get all the information he wanted.information he wanted.

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The community of monks and nunsThe community of monks and nuns Monastic communityMonastic community Show commitment to being BuddhistShow commitment to being Buddhist

(social dimension)(social dimension)

The SanghaThe Sangha