BUDDHISM

BUDDHISM EXPLAINED
A “NONTHEISTIC” RELIGION
• Central figure in Buddhism is Siddharta Gautama,
known as the Buddha, meaning the “Enlightened
One” “the Awakened One” or the One Who Knows.”
• He is also called Buddha Sakyamani because he
hailed from the Shakyan people who resided in the
northern parts of India and Nepal.
• Buddhism is a religion that builds around Siddharta
Gautama’s experience of enlightenment around 2, 500
years ago or around 500 B.C.E..
• Buddhists looks to the Buddha’s teachings
in order to attain enlightenment but does
not worship him as a god.
• The Buddha himself made it clear that he is
not god and that the individual is solely
responsible for his/ her own enlightenment.
• Buddhism stands different from the majority
of world religions because of its status as a
“nontheistic religion”.
• according to Buddhist teaching, the human
condition has the combination of pain and
pleasure, which is the best training ground for
virtue and the achievement of liberation from
suffering.
• Buddhism may be counted as a religion
because of its ritual practices in honoring the
Buddha, the religious features of the monastic
Order and the importance of belief in the
Buddha’s teaching.
 SYMBOLISM:
1. Buddhapada:
 Buddha’s footprints are early representatives of the
Buddha.
 They are highly revered in all Buddhist countries.
 The most popular meaning is the
grounding of the transcendent.
2. The Color Yellow:
• During Gautama’s lifetime, saffron was found to be the
cheapest and easiest way to dye cloth.
• Criminals were designated to wear this color to signify
their state.
• Gautama Buddha chose to wear this color as a sign of
humility and separation from materialistic society.
• It has the highest symbolic value in Buddhism.
saffron
• an orange powder that is made from a
type of flower (called a crocus) and that
is used to color and flavor food.
 THE HISTORICAL BUDDHA:

• After experiencing the Four Sights (old age,

sickness, death, and a begging monk) Gautama
left his family and became a wandering monk.
• While meditating under a Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya,
he grasped the Four Noble Truths and became
Buddha (Enlightened One).
 THREE SUBDIVISIONS OF BUDDHISM:
• Theravada (Way of the Elders): Focus is the monastic
community and the need for self-discipline in order to attain
nirvana.
• Mahayana (Greater Vehicle): Focuses on compassion in the
bodhisattva form (holy person who postpones nirvana in order
to help people). This subdivision has the most followers, since
it is geared towards the layman.
• Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle): Dominant form of Buddhism in
Tibet.
• It is known for its mystical rituals, which include, tantras,
mantras, and mandalas.
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.)
Sacred texts: Tripitaka
Doctrines:
Four Noble Truths
 Eight-fold Path
 Law of Dependent Origination
The Impermanence of Things
God: non-theistic
Issue: Territory conflict in Mainland Southeast Asia
 SACRED SCRIPTURES:
CANON
 list of books the define matters of doctrine and
discipline.
 contain discourses between the Buddha and his
disciples called suttas (or sutras in Sanskrit).
 contains codes of monastic conduct,
commentaries and stories about the Buddha and
his disciples.
PALI CANON
was written in the language that is close to the actual one
used by the Buddha himself.
Also called the TIPITAKA (literally “Three baskets”)
 authoritative list of books adopted by the Theravada school.

TIPITAKA/TRIPITAKA contains :
1. Sutta –pitaka (sayings of the Buddha)
2. Vinaya- pitaka (monastic rules of conduct)
3. Abhidhamma-Pitaka (various philosophical writings).
BELIEF AND DOCTRINES:
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation but as a reconfiguration of basic
energies, not as self.
Pancasila or Five Precepts
- fundamental ethical principles that all Buddhists should follow.
The Five Precepts are as follows:
(1)I take the precept to abstain from destroying living beings (killing).
(2)I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given (stealing).
(3)I take the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.
(4)I take from false speech (lying).
(5)I take the precept to abstain from anything that causes intoxication or
headlessness ( getting drunk or using illegal drugs.)
• Liberation is attained by embracing the Four
Noble Truths
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
Summarizes Buddha’s teaching.
explain the answer to the questions that
perplexed the Buddha before achieved
enlightenment.
It was the subject of the Buddha’s first
discourse or sermon, which is recorded in
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ( the discourse
on the Wheel of Dhamma).
The Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering (dukkha).
2.There is suffering because there is desire.
3.In order to get rid of suffering, one has to get
rid of desire.
4.There is a path that leads from suffering
(the eightfold path).
Meditating under a sacred Bodhi Tree
THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
• Prescribes different areas of one’s life that need to be subjected to the
Dhamma.
• A detailed discussion of the Noble Eightfold Path is recorded in Parts 2
and 3 of the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta ( the discourse on the
Wheel of Dhamma).
• In part 2, the Buddha spoke at length about the need to avoid two
extreme self- mortification, on the other hand.
• In part 3, the Buddha discussed each of the eight paths that a person
must embrace in order to live correctly and gain insight.
 THE PATH PALI ORIGINAL MEANING
1. Right View Samma- dithi awareness of the law of karma and the Four
Noble Truths
2. Right Thought Samma – sankappa avoiding thoughts of anger, greed, and illicit
desire
3. Right Sppech Samma – vaca avoiding lies, unkind speech, and privorous
talk
4. Right Action Samma- kammanto avoiding evil acts, those against the Five
Precepts
5. Right Livelihood Samma- ajivo avoiding lifestyles and occupation that harm
oneself and other beings
6. Right Effort Samma – vayamo doing one’s best in doing good things at the
right time
7. Right Mindfulness Samma – sati learning to be attentive to the present
moment
8. Right Concentration Samma – Samadhi training the mind to be focused and calm
A Dharma Wheel- Represents the Noble Eightfold Path
LAW OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION OR
PATICCA-SAMUPPADA
 is one of the most insightful teachings of Siddhartha.
 With everything built upon a set of relations, it follows that
every effect has a definite cause and every cause has a
definite effect (Mizuno 1987).
 In short, nothing comes into being by mere accident and
actions do not happen in a random way.
 A short formula for this principle can be read in four lines as:
When this is, that is; This arising, that arises; When this is not,
that is not; This ceasing, that ceases.
IMPERMANENCE OF THINGS
• Nothing in this world is fixed and permanent and
everything is subject to change and alteration.
• Impermanence is an unavoidable fact of human
existence.
• Buddhism affirms five processes deemed
uncontrollable by any individual: old age,
sickness, dying, decay, and death.
• That being has then reached a state called nirvana
wherein desire has been extinguished from one’s
self.
• When one achieves nirvana, a person’s mind is at
perfect peace.
• Everyone is capable of attaining nirvava in this life
just as the saints of Buddhism did in their lives.
• Those who have achieved nirvana are called arhat
or one who is “worthy” of honor.
SANGHA

• The Pali word sangha literally means “sharer” that refer to

monks who share in the general fund of alms provided by a
community.
• Ordained Buddhist monks are called bhikkus while nuns are
called bhikkunis.
• During the time of Siddhartha, bhikkus were dressed in
rags, lived at the foot of the tree, and begged for alms.
 They likewise abstained from sexual
pleasures, stealing, and killing.
 They constantly meditate and study the
teachings of Siddhartha.
 In short, all bhikkus must live a life of
poverty and chastity and should strictly
follow the codified rules as contained in
the Vinaya Pitaka.
Buddhist Temple
 WORSHIP:
• A Buddhist devotion to the religion is a natural part of their life that
can include their diet, job, trade, or profession.
• They conduct daily meditations, give offerings at shrines, temples,
or monasteries.
• Many Buddhists have shrine rooms in their homes.
• As part of their devotions, Buddhists recite the three refuges or
the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma; truth or teachings, and
Sangha; monastic community), some Buddhists also chant.
• Practicing meditation frees the mind from everyday emotions.