Mr. Bye
World Religions
Religions of South Asia
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
The essence of Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion.”
 2,500 year old tradition.
 The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
 Buddha, the teacher.
 Dharma, the teachings.
 Sangha, the community.
What is the fundamental
cause of all suffering?
Desire!
 Therefore, extinguish the self,
don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble Truths
1. 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.
Four Noble Truths
2. The cause of
suffering is selfcentered desire and
attachments. (Tanha)
Four Noble Truths
3. The solution is to
eliminate desire and
attachments.
(Nirvana = “extinction”)
Four Noble Truths
4. To reach nirvana, one
must follow the Eightfold
Path.
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.
 Escape from the cycle of
rebirth.
Types of Buddhism
 Therevada Buddhism
 Mahayana Buddhism
 Tibetan Buddhism
 Zen Buddhism
Two Vehicles (yana)
• Two ‘vehicles’ or methods of achieving
enlightenment
1. Greater Vehicle (bodhisattva-yana,
mahayana)
2. Lesser Vehicle (hinayana)
Mahāyāna Buddhism
•
•
At about the time of Christ, Buddhism became divided
– Theravada (Hinayana) – small raft (vehicle)
– Mahāyāna– large raft (vehicle)
One striking feature of the Mahāyāna is its literature
• Written in Sanskrit
– Proliferated about 100 BC – 400 AD
Mahāyāna Buddhism
•
Theravada Buddhism: the 3 marks of all existence
– Anatta (no self); Dukkha (painfulness); Anicca
(impermanence)
•
Mahāyāna Buddhism added “emptiness,” as the fourth
mark of all existence
– Happiness is intrinsic to a healthy mind
– Don’t grasp; just “be”
– Reality is not an illusion; but its real nature (its reality) is
transparent to analysis
– The objective world exists, but its independent existence,
separate from its subjective perception, cannot be found
– A “non-verbal” experience of reality is what is needed
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 selfsacrifice of those enlightened few.
Mahayana Buddhism

Comparison between the two schools (chart)
Theravada (Hinayana)
• Teaching of the elders
• Small vehicle
• Man as an individual
• Man on his own in the universe
real)
• Key virtue: wisdom (bodhi)
• Religion is primarily for monks
• Ideal: the Arhat (lonely saint)
• Nirvana
• Buddha is a saint or sage
• Avoids metaphysics (speculation)
• Avoids ritual
• Conservative
• Pali texts
• Old wisdom school
• Escape Samsara, and reach Nirvana
• Ceylon, Burma, etc. (Southern Bism)
Mahāyāna
Spirit of the elders
Large (great) vehicle
Man involved with others
Man is not alone (grace i
Key virtue: compassion (karuna)
Religion is for laypersons as well
Ideal: the Bodhisattva
Nirvana + heavens, hells
Buddha is a savior
Elaborates metaphysics
Includes ritual
Liberal
Many later texts (Sanskrit)
New wisdom school
Samsara is Nirvana (identity)
China, Korea, Japan (N Bism)
Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 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.
Theravada Buddhism
• Most Mahayanists hold that Buddha privately taught that man does
not have to save himself; there is help available. The number of
Buddhas proliferated. The authors of salvation are of three kinds:
– Manushi Buddhas (started from a human base – Gotama
Buddha)
• They came on earth, attained enlightenment, and are now
gone. They are teachers
• Gotama before his enlightenment
– Bodhisattvas
• Beings who vowed to become Buddhas and have enormou
merit; they postponed their entrance to Nirvana to help us
• Maitreya, Avalokitesvara, Kwan Yin, Amitabha
– Dhyani Buddhas (meditation Buddhas, never in human form)
• They achieved Buddha-hood, but not in human manifestatio
• Vairocana, Amitabha are the most appealing of the D.
Buddhas
The Bodhisattva became popular
• A being whose essence is enlightenment
• The bodhisattva vow (to save all sentient beings) [Vision p 41]
• Daily schedule of the schools of Buddhism (Theravada, Zen, Tib
– Rise at 4 am
– Lunch is the main meal
– To bed by 10 pm
– A lot of time given to study/work
Women’s Liberation in Buddhism
“Throughout the history of Buddhism in Asia, the Dharma has been transmit
via cultures that considered women inferior to men. Undoubtedly, many of th
outstanding Dharma teachers were male chauvinists. Yet the message of th
teachings broke through their cultural prejudices against women. This mess
inspired female seekers to find true spiritual liberation in spite of their
oppressed positions in society.”
-Rev. Patti Nakai
Women in Buddhism
“If anyone wanted to present Buddhism as a viciously sexist religion, they
could easily do so by quoting out of context passages from numerous sutras
or from more recent texts such as Shinran's wasan (poems) or the by-laws
of the Shinshu Otani-ha (Higashi Honganji's denomination) which denies
female clergy the same status as male priests. But I believe the essential
spirit of Buddhism absolutely includes all beings, male and female, in its
vision of enlightenment. If I did not believe in that then I would not want to b
a part of this religious tradition. In this intermittent series, I hope to make it
clear that women have always been involved in Buddhist history and that
their role has been very crucial even if often overlooked.”
-Rev. Patti Nakai
Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the
7c CE.
 A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.
 Boddhisatvas include
Lamas, like the
Dalai Lama.
 The Tibetan Book
of the Dead
[Bardo Thodol].
The
Dalai
Lama
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.
Buddhism in America (1999)
Distribution of Buddhism
Centers in the US, 2001