Buddhism- path of enlightenment and truth

Buddism life of buddha noble truth

1. Buddhism

2. Religions of South Asia

3. Buddhism in the Subcontinent

4. the early spread of Buddhism

5. Life of Buddha

6. Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) 563 BC- Birth: Lumbini (Nepal border) Shuddhodana and Mayadevi Sakya tribe Seers predict – Universal Monarch or a Buddha Mother dies after 7 days after birth Siddhartha = one who obtains success and prosperity Gautama = a person who dispels darkness by his brilliance

7. 563-547 BC: Childhood in Kapilavastu , Southern Nepal Learns the skills of warrior, Achery , Atheltic fight Gets trained in Spiritual Disciplines First unprecedented spiritual experience – Jhana (Meditative absorption)

8. 547 BC : Marriage At 16 Princess Yashodhara 547 – 533 BC : Luxurious 13 years with his wife in 3 palaces - one for each season Son – Rahula – in his late 20s

9. 533 BC : The four sights – Old Man, Diseased person, Corpse, Sadhu Renunciation – on 29 th birthday - River Anoma – Garments with Channa 533- 528 BC: Bodhisattva –Becomes deciple of several gurus, attracts his own and becomes disillusioned with religious doctrine of his time, as a result looses his disciples !

10. April/May 528 BC : Enlightenment – under Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya-South of Gaya in Bihar Spends 7 weeks in meditation – finds the way of salvation from suffering Fully realized Buddha at the age of 35

11. June/July 528 BC : Former 5 disciples in Benaras (sangha-Buddhist order) – First Sermon – Gist of Buddhism 528 – 527 BC: Converts thousands of people in to Dhamma (Buddhist teachings) March 527 BC : Return to the Palace

12. 523 BC: Father’s Death First woman ordain – Mahaprajapathi (his aunt) 523 – 483 BC : Spread of Buddhism 483 BC : Death and Parinirvana At the age of 80 as a result of food poisoning in Kusinagara -Nepal Last words: “All compounded things are transient; work diligently on your salvation”

13. Teachings of Buddha

14. What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire! Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

15. Four Noble Truths Dukha Satya Tanha Satya Nirodha Satya Marga Satya

16. Dukha Satya (nature of dukkha ) There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer . ( Dukkha ) The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

17. Dukkha = "suffering", "anxiety", " unsatisfactoriness ", "unease", etc., three aspects: The obvious suffering of physical and mental illness, growing old, and dying. The anxiety or stress of trying to hold onto things that are constantly changing. A subtle dissatisfaction pervading all forms of life due to the fact that all forms of life are changing, impermanent and without any inner core or substance.

18. The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. ( Tanha ) The origin of dukkha is commonly explained as craving ( Pali : tanha ) Conditioned by ignorance ( Pali : avijja ) tanha Satya ( the origin of dukkha )

19. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. ( Nirvana = “extinction” or Blowing out ) Nirodha Satya ( cessation of dukkha )

20. To reach nirvana , one must follow the Eightfold Path – Madhya Marga – Middle path. Marga Satya ( path to this cessation)

21. Division Eightfold factor Sanskrit, Pali Description Wisdom (Sanskrit: prajñā , Pāli : paññā ) 1. Right view samyag dṛṣṭi, sammā ditthi Viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be 2. Right intention samyag saṃkalpa, sammā sankappa Intention of renunciation, freedom and harmlessness Ethical conduct (Sanskrit: śīla , Pāli : sīla ) 3. Right speech samyag vāc, sammā vāca Speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way 4. Right action samyag karman, sammā kammanta Acting in a non-harmful way 5. Right livelihood samyag ājīvana, sammā ājīva A non-harmful livelihood Concentration (Sanskrit and Pāli : samādhi ) 6. Right effort samyag vyāyāma , sammā vāyāma Making an effort to improve 7. Right mindfulness samyag smṛti , sammā sati Awareness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness; being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion 8. Right concentration samyag samādhi, sammā samādhi Correct meditation or concentration, explained as the first four jhānas

22. Life and World Samsara: The continual repetitive cycle of birth and death Arises out of avidya Characterized by dukkha (suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction) Liberation from samsara is possible by following the Buddhist path (Middle path)

23. Karma : "action, work” The force that drives saṃsāra Karma is an impersonal law, works by itself without needing any agent or soul Good, skillful deeds ( Pali : " kusala ") and bad, unskillful ( Pāli : " akusala ") actions produce "seeds" in the mind that come to fruition either in this life or in a subsequent rebirth The avoidance of unwholesome actions and the cultivation of positive actions is called sīla

24. FIVE PRECEPTS Abstain from killing or harming living beings Abstain from stealing Abstain from improper sexual conduct Abstain from false speech Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs

25. Rebirth: A process whereby beings go through a succession of lifetimes as one of many possible forms of sentient life, each running from conception to death The doctrine of anattā (Sanskrit anātman ) rejects the concepts of a permanent self or an unchanging, eternal soul Rebirth in subsequent existences must be understood as the continuation of a dynamic, ever-changing process of pratītyasamutpāda ("dependent arising") determined by the laws of cause and effect ( karma ) rather than that of one being, reincarnating from one existence to the next

26. Each rebirth takes place within one of five realms according to Theravadins , or six according to other schools: Naraka beings : live in one of many Hells Preta : sharing some space with humans - invisible - hungry ghost Animals : sharing space with humans, but considered another type of life Human beings : one of the realms of rebirth in which attaining Nirvana is possible Asuras : lowly deities, demons, titans, or anti-gods; (not recognized by Theravada tradition) Devas including Brahmās : gods, deities, spirits, angels, or left untranslated

27. Mind is nothing but a complex compound of fleeting mental states. One unit of consciousness consists of three phases – arising or genesis ( uppada ) static or development ( thiti ) cessation or dissolution ( bhanga ) Mind

28. Soul ( Anatta = selfelesness ≠ no self ) Buddhism denies the existence of an unchanging or eternal soul created by a God or emanating from a Divine Essence ( Paramatma ) If the immortal soul, which is supposed to be the essence of man, is eternal, there cannot be either a rise or a fall As the process of one life-span is possible without a permanent entity passing from one thought-moment to another, so a series of life-processes is possible without an immortal soul to transmigrate from one existence to another

29. Four Schools of Buddhism

30. The Schools of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism Vajrayana Buddhism Zen Buddhism

31. Theravada Buddhism The oldest school of Buddhism. Also known as “ Hinayana ” The “ Way of the Elders ” or the “Small Vehicle.” Found in southern Asia. The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana . Focus on wisdom and meditation. Goal is to become a “ Buddha ,” or “Enlightened One.” Over 100,000,000 followers today.

32. Mahayana Buddhism The “Great Vehicle.” Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan). Buddhism “ for the masses .” Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas , wise beings. Goal : Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few .

33. Mahayana Schools of Buddhism Vaibhashika Sautantrika Madhyamika Yogachara

34. Believes in direct realism ( presentationists ) External objects are directly known in perception ( Bhāva-Pratyaksha-Vāda ) Accepts 75 Dharmas (ultimate momentary elements of existance ) Vaibhashika

35. Sautrantika Believes in the ‘copy theory of ideas’ ( re- presentationists ) External objects are not known directly but only indirectly inferred ( Bāhyānumeya-Vāda ) Accepts 43 Dharmas

36. Madhyamika Founded in 2 nd century by Nagarjuna Believes in Shunya Vāda Elements constituting perceived objects are just mental phenomena and have no true existence

37. Yogachara Founded in 3 rd century by Maitreyanatha Source of all ideas is the Vijnana (consciousness),which is the fundamental basis of all existence Ultimate reality is therefore only perceived but has no real existence

38. Vajrayana Buddhism The “Diamond Vehicle.” [ Vajrayana ] It is known as Vajrayana because of the ritual use of the vajra , a symbol of imperishable diamond, of thunder and lightning Developed in Tibet in the 7c BC.( predominant in the Himalayan nations of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and also Mongolia) A mix of Theravada and Mahayana. Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama .

39. zen Buddhism The “Meditation School.” Seeks sudden enlightenment [ satori ] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [ sunyata ]. Use of meditation masters [ Roshi ]. Beauty, art, and aesthetics: Gardens. Archery. Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.

40. BUDDHAM SARAM GACCHAMI… SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI…