Buddhism

1. Buddhism Overview: • I. Introduction • II. Buddhist Precepts • III. Zen Buddhism • IV. Buddhism Beyond India • V. Suggestions for Evangelism 

2. Introduction • The Founder of Buddhism • Siddhartha • Means (means “wish fulfilling”) Gautama (563-483 B.C.) found Buddhism during the 6th century B.C.; coincides with the time when the people of Judah were exiled in Babylon

3. 3 Periods of Guatama’s Life • Period of Enjoyment - (563-534 B.C.) – He was born into the warrior caste of the Shakya tribe in the town of Kapilavastus, which was at the time of northeastern India but is not part of Nepal. At age of 29 he experienced “four passing sights” of suffering: (a) an old man, (b) a sick man, (c) a dead man, and (d) a monk (poverty). This experience had a profound effect on him. It caused him to become disillusioned with his wealth, and he became deeply concerned about the issue of suffering. • Period of Enquiry - (534-528 B.C.) – He committed himself to discovering the source of suffering and how to eliminate it. After 49 days of meditation he discovered the source of human misery, and he became Buddha (means Awakened One or Enlightened One) at the age of 35. • Period of Enlightenment - (528-483 B.C.) – He went into a deep state of meditation at Bodh Gaya, which is now the site of the holiest shrine in the Buddhist world. He began to teach his discovery for 45 years until his death at the age of 80.

4. Buddhist Traditions: The Fourth Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path • The Four Noble Truths - (a) All existence is misery, (b) Ignorant craving, (c) Misery may be abolished by abolishing ignorant craving, and (d) Done by the Noble Eightfold Path, which is to the road to Nirvana (means “to extinguish” human desires as in blowing out a flame; the goal of enlightenment) • Eightfold Path to Nirvana – (1) Right Understanding, (2) Right Thought for Wisdom; (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Action, (5) Right Livelihood for Ethical Conduct; and (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Awareness, and (8) Right Meditation for Mental Discipline.

5. Buddhist Timeline • Life of Buddha (563-483 B.C.) • Beginning of Caste System in India (6th century B.C.) • Arrival in China of Buddhist missionaries (1st century A.D.) • Peak of Chinese Buddhism in Tang Period (589-845 A.D.) • Introducing of Buddhism in Japan (6th century A.D.) • Great persecution of Buddhism in China (845 A.D.) • Decline of Buddhism in India (13th-15th century A.D.) • Control of Buddhism by Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan (1603-1867 A.D.) • Buddhism enters West (1900 A.D.) • Soviet communist attack on Buddhism in Mongolia (1920s A.D.) • Beginning of Chinese communist attack on Buddhism (1950 A.D.) • Formation of World Fellowship of Buddhists (1952 A.D.)

6. Buddhist Precepts • Five precepts taught by Buddhism that all Buddhists should follow: • Kill no living thing (including insects). • Do not steal. • Do not commit adultery. • Tell no lies. • Do not drink intoxicants or take drugs. • Five precepts for monks and nuns: • Eat moderately and only at the appointed time. • Avoid that which excites the senses. • Do not wear adornments (including perfume). • Do not sleep in luxurious beds. • Accept no silver or gold.

7. Zen Buddhism • Zen is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism known in the West • The exact origin of Zen is unknown. • A wandering Buddhist master by Bodhidharma living in India 600 years before Christ according to a legend. • Zen has no sacred literature; its teachings were directly transmitted from mind to mind and do not need to be explained in words. • Zen contains Buddha’s emphasis on meditation, which led to his enlightenment. • Self-effort is the foundation of Zen practice for enlightenment by meditation. • Central to Zen practice is zazen, which is the method of sitting in Zen meditation. It is done daily at specific times with occasional periods of intense meditation lasting one week. The goal is final enlightenment. • One is not required to be responsible in evaluating anything in the world or even in his own thoughts. One loses his capacity to think logically and critically. • In 1911 A.D. the first Zen sect was founded in Japan by Yeisai.

8. Buddhism Beyond India • China - A more important event for Buddhism was the introduction of Mahayana in about 65 A.D. into China. It spread beyond China to Annam (3rd century), and to Mongolia, Korea, and Miyanma (4th century). • Japan - The first known introduction of Buddhism into Japan took place in the mid-sixth century, when Buddhist images and scriptures were brought by a diplomatic mission from Korea. The new religion quickly gained support, and within a few decades the prince regent, Shotoku Taishi (574-622), became a Buddhist and chose to model his ideal centralized government after the pattern of China’s Buddhist-oriented Sui and Tang dynasties. Japanese monks made pilgrimages to China and, on their return, established Japanese lineages. Two of the most famous of these pilgrims were Saicho (762-822) and Kukai (774-835).

9. Buddhism Beyond India (cont.) • Korea - Chinese monk, Shun-dao in 372 A.D. introduced Buddhism to Korea. On the basis of Chinese forms, Koreans developed five native lineages, of which the most important was the Dharma Essence (Popsong), founded by Wonhyo (617-686). This was the first attempt to unify all teachings into one lineage, a characteristic feature of Korean Buddhism. • Vietnam - Vietnam received Theravada, apparently via the sea route, about the first century A.D., and various forms of Mahayana by land from China between the sixth and seventeenth centuries. All lineages were combined into the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam in 1963 to resist the U.S. during Vietnam.

10. Suggestions for Evangelism • Acknowledge and affirm your common ground • Pick up on the issue of desire • Be open about your faith in a personal God • Point to God’s permanence • Be clear about the matter of sin and the opportunity for forgiveness • Use bridges to the Good News • Enslavement – Sin enslaves man • Motivated by love • Salvation is free