Chapter 5

1. Chapter 5 Buddhism

3. Buddhism Learning Objectives • Comprehend the concepts/ terms • Understand the main beliefs and teachings • Understand the practices • Know the title and name of the founder • Know the highlights of founder’s life that become core principles of the religion • Know, explain, and evaluate the main goal • Trace its historical development, identifying the causes of it spreading throughout Asia and beyond • Be able to compare and distinguish Jainism from Hinduism in belief, practices, and ultimate goal • Know the main sects and how the divisions arose • Name the main sacred Scriptures

4. Buddhism: Key Terms (1) • Buddha Bodhisattva • Anatman Arhat/Arhant Sangha • Tripitaka/Tipitaka Dhamma Tanha • Dukkha Cessation Nirvana • Enlightenment Satori kensho • Meditation Dhyana Zen • Hinayana Theravada Mahayana • Pali Canon Mahayana Sutras Lotus Sutra • Emperor AsokaRelic Pagoda Stupa

5. India around 600 B.C.E.

6. The Birth of Gautama Buddha • Buddha was born in the ruling city of Lumbini, in the Kapilavastu Palace in foothills to the Himalayas, now in Nepal

7. The Birth of Gautama Buddha • Siddartha Gautama was born by Queen Mayadevi and King Suddhodana between 563 and 480 B.C.E.*, based on the Sanskrit texts that his followers later compiled. *563-483 BCE, Fisher & Bailey, Anthology of Living Religions • And there are legends saying that his birth was surrounded by extraordinary events and portents. According to one soothsaying(next)

8. The Birth of Gautama Buddha • …he will grow up to either be a great king or a great Buddha. Similarly, it was predicted if he ever saw human misery, he would become a religious teacher.

9. Life of Prince Siddartha (1) • Siddartha his given name, Gautama his family name • Born son of a Kshatriya king (raji) in the ruling Shakya clan • Place: India • Time: 6th--5th cent. B.C.E.: 563-483 BCE, Fisher & Bailey, Anthology of Living Religions; Hopfe & Woodward textbook give both dates:480-405 B.C.E. in the timeline but in text: 560—480 BCE

10. Life of Gautama (2) • His father completely sheltered the young prince from ever seeing 4 things: a dead body, an aged person, a diseased person, and an ascetic monk • He married his cousin at the age of 19 and had one child, named Rahula, which means “fetter” • Around his 30th birthday, Siddartha finally sees the 4 Sights (the ugliness of the world, one by one: A wrinkled elderly man, then a man w/ a loathsome disease, then a rotting corpse, and finally, a peaceful monk who had renounced the world in search of a release from his suffering.

11. Life of Gautama (3) • Siddartha’s awareness that life always involves suffering and pain sent him on a quest for answers • Left his wife, child, and comforts of his palace to search for answers • His first sought answers from the various schools of philosophy-but he received no satisfaction • Second, he tried asceticism-w/ 5 other monks lived severe asceticism 6 years, but did not find the enlightenment he sought. • After being revived from falling into a river and eating a good meal, lastly he tried meditation-resolved not to stop meditating till he was enlightened with the answer that resolved suffering

12. Life of Gautama (4):Buddha’s Enlightenment • After so many days in meditation under the Bodhi tree, he became “enlightened,” and his satori (insight) was that people are bound to this cycle of karma/reincarnation because of tanha-desire, thirst, craving.

13. Prince Siddhartha now the “Buddha” begins to teach in Deer Park in Sarnath, and forms the first Sangha w/ his 5 monk friends

14. The Banyan Tree at Bodh Gaya Shrine where Buddha was Enlightened

15. Life of Gautama (5) • Buddha’s first sermon: taught the neither the extreme of indulgence nor the extreme of asceticism was acceptable as the way of life; one should avoid the extremes and seek to live the “Middle Way” • With is five friends, they formed the first Sangha (Buddhism monastic order); he was about age 35 • Buddha spent the remaining days of his life teaching his growing band of disciples

16. Buddha’s Teaching (1):The Creed • The creed of the first Buddhist monks: “I take refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the Dharma/Dhamma (law); and I take refuge in the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic order = community; compare with Hinduist ashram) • This creed reflects the Triple Gem: The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha

17. Buddha’s Teaching (2) • Unlike orthodox Hinduism, he taught that any person of any caste or sex could find the same enlightenment he knew-he gained a variety of followers • Unlike Hinduism & Jainism, early Buddhism taught that women could achieve enlightenment as well as men • As noted previously, Jainism & Theravada Buddhism share the same view of time and religion: truth discovered, fades & is lost, then rediscovered, and many Buddhas come

18. Buddha’s Teaching (3)Buddha’s Intent and Relationship with Hinduism • Hindu core beliefs in karma and reincarnation-a premise of Buddha’s beliefs • He opposed many existing forms of worship e.g. Brahmin system of animal sacrifice • He denied the relevance of the gods & the necessity of their worship or sacrifice • He rejected the authority of the Vedas • He accepted many Hindu teachings on the gods but considered them mortal beings subject to karma and rebirth

19. Buddha’s Teaching (4)Unique Teaching • Buddha was more concerned w/ people finding their own enlightenment than to appeal to the gods for help and support (non-theistic) • His main concern was how to answer and resolve the problem of suffering (Dukka) in the world • A unique Teaching of the Buddha: the soul does not exist: people live in a state of anatman (absence of enduring souls); soul is combo of five mental & physical: body, feelings, understanding, will, and consciousness = personality, which is bound up in the endless cycle of birth, death, rebirth • But Buddha, as Hindus, believed in karma and samsara, the karmic cycle; so how does the individual go into the next body after death if it has no soul? Unanswered question

20. Buddha’s Core Teaching (5)the Four Noble Truths & The Eight-fold Path: • The Buddha’s understanding of humankind’s plight presented in the classic Buddhist statement of the Four Noble Truths: • Noble truth of pain, Noble truth of the cause of pain: tanha: craving, pleasure & lust; Noble truth of the cessation of pain; Noble truth of the way that leads to the cessation of pain: the Eight-fold way: • The Eight-fold way: Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration

21. Buddha’s Teaching (6):The Goal of Nirvana • The person who follows the Eight-fold Path will break the bonds that tie one to life & will achieve release from this cycle: the release is described as Nirvana (“extinguish” or “blow out” like a candle) • The Buddhist goal is Nirvana, getting released from the karmic cycle by extinguishing of tanha (desire, thirst, craving), not a state of bliss in some heaven • “The Buddha said little about Nirvana… but described it as a state of mind • One who followed the Eight-fold path & achieved Nirvana is called arhat, or “saint”

22. Buddha’s Teaching (7)Buddha’s Moral Principles/ Dharma • Lay Buddhists expected to observe 5 Basic Rules of Moral Conduct: • Abstain from killing, stealing, lying, engaging in improper sexual conduct, and partaking of intoxicants • Pali Sermons adds: monks…abandons the killing of living things…abandoning frivolous speech, eats only one meal time…cheating in weighing, trickery, deception, fraud…robbery, pillage, and violence.

23. Summarizing Buddha’s Teaching (1) • The starting point and assumption:All people are naturally subject to karma and in the karmic cycle • Tanha (desire, craving, lust) is the cause of all beings in the karmic cycle and the cause of all suffering/pain • Therefore, tanha must be extinguished (Nirvana) • extinguished through the intentional focused meditative practices of the Eight-fold Path • The goal of Nirvana is a desired state of mind

24. Summarizing Buddha’s Teaching (2) • The teachings of the Buddha differed radically from those of the Indian religions of his day: He denied the relevance of the gods and the necessity of worship or sacrifice. • He shared the Indian/Hindu belief that the goal of life was release from existence, but he taught that it depends totally on the works of the individual.

25. Buddha Relics, Stupas, Pagodas • Buddha’s bone relics from his cremation were spread out by messengers • Dome-shaped reliquaries called “stupas” built to commemorate Buddha, his passing and final liberation (parinirvana) • The Buddha stupas and images became a focus of great devotion for Buddhists • One way/cause for the spread of Buddhism

27. Development of Buddhism (1) • After Buddha died, the followers debated the meaning of his teachings • 1st Council – 405 B.C.E., 1 yr. After his death to determine true meaning of his teachings – failed to bring unity; 4 factions arose shortly after • 2nd Council – 350 B.C.E. called, and a conservative minority declared the majority of Buddhists heretics • From that time forward, there have been these two major camps: the conservative Hinayana (the exclusive way) now continues in its only remaining school now called Theravada (tradition of the elders), and the other camp is the Mahayana (the expansive way)

28. Development of Buddhism (2) • Buddhism’s Greatest Impetus for growth and expansion in Asia: • Asoka, emperor of India (269-232 B.C.E.): • In 258, Asoka begins to spread Buddhism after his conversion • Asoka actively sent Buddhist missionary monks out to many parts of Asia

29. Missionary Impetus of Buddhism • Emperor Asoka sent out Buddhist monk missionaries throughout Asia: first east to China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia; they were sent out as active missionaries to convert non-Indians to Buddhism • Asoka’s decision to spread his religion proved to be the “salvation” of Buddhism (later it basically died out in India) • 3rd Council – called by Emperor Asoka, to determine the authoritative list of Buddhist scriptures

31. The Branches of Buddhism • All Buddhist schools follow the Triple Gem: The Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s teaching, and the Sanga (the community) • They differ on which scriptures are the main authority, and on strictness or openness to new ways • 2 Main branches: Theravada and Mahayana

32. Theravada Buddhism (1)The Path of Mindfulness • The more conservative of 2 Major divisions • Believes it is closer to the teachings of Buddha • Scriptures: The Pali Canon a.k.a. Tipitaka • View of Gautama Buddha: an historical figure who taught the Dharma as a guide to liberation from suffering, and died as any other human being • Mainly located in Sri Lanka & SE Asia • Key tenet: people must achieve enlightenment for themselves w/o reliance on the gods or any forces beyond themselves • Goals of religion: teaches as Gautama did: are reached through the efforts, meditation, & achievements of the individual; gods are inconsequential

33. Theravada Buddhism (2) • The monk is the ideal figure: yellow/orange (saffron) robe, beggar’s bowl, & seeks release thru meditation & self-denial; his home is the Sangha • Monks are free to leave the Sangha at any time • Tradition developed of paying homage to relics; veneration of relics believed to be as meritorious as revering a Buddha • Control and veneration of relics plays an important role in the legitimation of Theravada Buddhist politics • They believe that there are many Buddhas but only one at a time, some in past, and some in future.

34. Theravada Buddhism (3) • Jatakas – stories about the former lives of the Buddha Gautama • Stupas/Pagodas – graceful towers, may originally have been relic mounds, but today are worship or festival centers; some are believed to contain arahats (relics) and used as places of meditation for both monks and lay Buddhists • Lay people who visit, purpose not to worship the Buddha or the saints but to pay respects to the idea of Buddhahood and Nirvana and dedicate themselves to the quest of liberation

35. Images of Buddha(L to R)Sarnath Museum, Largest Buddha in China, Giant Buddha in Hong Kong, Tibetan Buddha in Appleton Museum, Ocala, FL

36. Sex in Buddhism: Not Suppose to be Sexist • Some monks and texts they edited apparently became sexist; women were a weakness for them(see textbook pp. 152-153)

37. Mahayana Buddhism (1):path of compassion and wisdom • Scriptures: Mahayana Sutras & Lotus Sutra • View of Gautama Buddha: came to be regarded as the embodiment of enlightened awareness; the Three Bodies of Buddha (1st two are metaphysical, and 3rd is emanation body in which the historical Buddha manifest) • Principles: 1. Openness to accepting fresh and expansive interpretations of basic Buddhist concepts; 2. Gautama was more than just a man-he was really a compassionate, eternal, and almost divine being (apotheosis) who came to earth in the form of man because he loved humankind and wished to be of assistance;

38. Mahayana Buddhism (2) • Principles, continued:3. Gautama was not the only Buddha to whom people could appeal; if Gautama was eternal who came to earth, then there must be many others; Buddhas are located in different parts of the cosmos capable of helping people on their path to enlightenment. This new idea significant in broadening the appeal of Buddhism • The Mahayanists developed the class of beings called Bodhisattvas (those on path to enlightenment/future Buddhas)

39. Mahayana Buddhism (3)in Developmental Period of Buddhism • 3rd cent. C.E., Buddhism (Mahayana version) becomes one of the 3 major Chinese religions, along side Confucianism & Taoism • During same time, Buddhism was dying out in India because Hinduism was able to absorb it (and Jainism) by saying that Gautama was an avatar of Vishnu

40. Mahayana Buddhism (4)Sects • Mahayana Sects: • Pure Land Sect – goal is land of paradise • The Intuitive Sects • Zen Buddhism – meditation Japanese style • The Rationalist Sect • Nichiren: the Socialpolitical Sect • Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana) – the “diamond vehicle,” accelerated path to enlightenment; emph. use of magical words or formulas to achieve goals

41. Buddhism Festivals and Holy Days • New Year • Buddha’s Birthday • The Festival of Souls (Ullambana) • The Robe Offering

42. Practices of Buddhism Summary • Meditation in reference to the Eight-fold Path (various traditions: e.g. Theravada style with chanting, Zen, etc.) • Vajrayana meditation on a deity (Tibet and central Asia) • Devotion at Buddha statues • Honoring Buddha/Buddhahood at Pagodas, Shrines, etc. • Visiting and giving offerings at Shrines in exchange for merit toward Buddhahood • Living according to the Dharma including moral principles • Living and serving as a Bodhisattva • Prayer Flags (Tibetan practice)

43. Buddhism Today • Strong throughout Asia • has spread to Europe, North and South Americans • Some Buddhists have come to see that their religion as being the religious option for the modern world • Ecumenical Buddhist Movement – Socially Engaged Buddhism • But a lot of examples of violence by Buddhists in Buddhist Asian countries

44. Triple Gem of Buddhism Review • The Buddha • The Dharma (the Buddha’s teaching) • The Sanga (the Buddhist monastic community)

45. Buddhism’s Scriptures Review • Theravada Buddhism: Pali Canon a.k.a. Tipitaka “Three Baskets” 1) Monastic Discipline, 2) Dharma Teachings, 3) Scholastic Treatises • Mahayana Buddhism: Mahayana Sutras Lotus Sutras (Nichiren Sect from Mahayana branch)

46. Buddhism: Key Terms (1) • Buddha – “enlightened one” • Bodhisattva – one on the path to enlightenment & dedicated to liberating others from suffering • Anatman – non soul; there is no eternal soul • Arhat/arhant – saint, a “worthy one” • Dhamma (Dharma) – the teachings & laws for conduct given by the Buddha • Nirvana – “extinguish” • Sangha – monastic order

47. Buddhism: Key Terms (2) • Hinayana – the exclusive way • Theravada – “tradition of the elders” • Mahayana – “expansive way” • Cessation – temporary or final ceasing • Dukkha – suffering, frustration, disharmony • Dhyana- Indian word for meditation • Zen – Japanese word for meditation • Satori – a flash of enlightenment • Kensho – a sudden experience of enlightened awareness • tanha-desire, thirst, craving

48. Review Questions • Recount Gautama’s search and becoming the enlightened Buddha. • Summarize the origin of Buddhism. • What did the Buddha hold in common with Hinduism? • What did the Buddha teach that was distinctly different from Hinduism? • What is the main factor for the spread of Buddhism throughout East Asia and what were the factors for the great decline of Buddhism in India? • How much time passed from the time of Buddha to the time the Buddha’s teaching were written down? Why did the Buddhist monks and authorities take __ number of centuries to write them down? • What does it mean when Buddhism says its Sangha is a community of “realized beings”? • What does “sentient beings” mean as used by Mahayana Buddhists?

49. Discussion Questions • How is Buddhism’s path(s) different than theistic paths? • The Buddha’s main issue he attempted to resolve was the problem of suffering in the world. How effective do you think the Buddha’s teaching and path was in answering and resolving it? • What contributions to morality, ethics, and social responsibility has Buddhism made to the world of humanity? • What factors may account for the growing popularity of Buddhism in Western societies?

50. The Buddha Statue from the Sarnath Museum