Buddhism:
The Call to Awaken
Homework:
• (due ., /) 1-2 pg. reflection on article
“Meditation: Why Bother?”
• (due , Tues. 3/8) Read 69-72; do 72B
• (due Weds., 3/9) Rd pp. 72-75; do 72C
• (due Mon., 3/14) Read 75-77
(>”Dukkha”)/ Bring 3 photos of yourself
(1-baby; 1-child; 1-now)/ Do 76H or I
Homework
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(due Thurs., 3/17) Read 77-78; do 77 J
(due Fri., 3/18) Read 78-81; do 81 N
(due Mon., 3/21) Read 81-85; do 83 O
(Weds., 10/23) TEST on Buddhism
(due ., /) Project Proposal
Why be interested in Buddhism?
• Increasing popularity: one of fastest
growing religions in U.S.
• Very open, human, practical way
• Simple yet profound insight into our pain,
dissatisfaction, suffering and unhappiness
What do you know about
Buddhism?
What do you think is the main
struggle, dilemma, or problem
of life?
Meditation… Why Bother?
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Samatha: “tranquility meditation
Vipassana: “insight meditation”
Sati: “mindfulness”
Metta: “Lovingkindness”
Buddhism:
The Call to Awaken
Four “Passing Sights”
– Elderly man
– Diseased man
– Corpse
– Hindu ascetic or
mendicant
(sannyasin)
> old age
> sickness
> death
} DESPAIR
>
} HOPE
The Middle Way
• Rejection of extremes of
– Self-indulgence
– Self-denial
• Balanced happiness in
– Body
– Mind
– Spirit
Siddhartha’s Enlightenment
• During 3 watches of the night, Siddhartha
perceives the truth of reality…
• Four Noble Truths
• Becomes the “Buddha” (“Awakened One”)
Buddhism:
The Call to Awaken
The Dharma
Buddhist Teachings
“Taking Refuge”
in the Three Jewels
• The Buddha (his example)
• The Dharma (his teaching)
• The Sangha (his community)
Three Marks of Existence
• Anatta:
“no-self”
• Anicca:
“impermanence”
• Dukkha:
“suffering”
3 Marks of Existence: Anatta
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Anatta: the “no-self”
No ultimate reality within
No essence underlying existence
No eternal substratum that is truly real
The essence of Buddhism… there is NO
essence.
3 Marks of Existence: Anicca
• Anicca: “impermanence”
• Very closely related to anatta
• Reality is not static, but dynamic
• Reality/Life does not change, but IS
change, flux, flow
• Image of river (“You cannot step into the
same river twice” –Heraclitus)
3 Marks of Existence: Dukkha
• Dukkha: “suffering”, dissatisfaction,
frustration, dislocation, longing,
wanting…
• Natural result/ logical consequence of
clinging to the impermanent as if it were
permanent…
The Dharma
Buddhist Teachings
Samsara
• Literally, the “cycle of rebirth”, or
reincarnation
• Originally a Hindu doctrine
– Soul or “self” (atman) reborn
– This liberation called moksha
• Problem in Buddhist teaching?
• “No-self” (anatta, an-atman)!
• Who/what is reincarnated?
Karma
• Moral law of cause and effect
• Karma is energy caused by
action which produces an effect
• Analogies: flame, pebble in
pond
• Possible problems with
teaching?
• How we influence karma:
morality…
The Sila (Precepts)
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Karma is action
Positive moral action means good karma
5 Precepts for all; 10 for monks/nuns
All retreatants “take the sila” or promise
to abide by the 5 Precepts
The Ten Precepts
1. Do not take life.
The Ten Precepts
1. Do not take life.
2. Do not take what is not given.
The Ten Precepts
1. Do not take life.
2. Do not take what is not given.
3. Do not engage in sensuous misconduct.
The Ten Precepts
1. Do not take life.
2. Do not take what is not
given.
3. Do not engage in
sensuous misconduct.
4. Do not use false speech.
The Ten Precepts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Do not take life.
Do not take what is not given.
Do not engage in sensuous misconduct.
Do not use false speech.
Do not drink/take intoxicants.
The Ten Precepts
6. Do not eat after noon.
The Ten Precepts
6. Do not eat after noon.
7. Do not watch dancing or shows.
The Ten Precepts
6. Do not eat after noon.
7. Do not watch dancing or shows.
8. Do not use garlands, perfumes or
ornaments.
The Ten Precepts
6. Do not eat after noon.
7. Do not watch dancing or shows.
8. Do not use garlands, perfumes or
ornaments.
9. Do not use a high or soft bed.
The Ten Precepts
6. Do not eat after noon.
7. Do not watch dancing or shows.
8. Do not use garlands, perfumes or
ornaments.
9. Do not use a high or soft bed.
10. Do not accept gold or silver.
The Dharma
Buddhist Teachings
The Four Noble Truths
1. To live is to suffer
– Life in this world (samsara) is full
throughout with dissatisfaction, etc.
(dukkha)
– Experience of things not being quite right,
“out of joint”, in need of repair
– ALL living is dukkha, whether pleasant or
unpleasant… Why?
– Dukkha, therefore, is unavoidable
The Four Noble Truths
1. To live is to suffer(dukkha).
2. Suffering is caused by desire(tanha).
– Karma/cause and effect logic
– Tanha= craving, greed, lust, hunger, thirst,
selfishness
– Like dukkha, tanha is unavoidable… the
“self” simply will crave for itself
The Four Noble Truths
1. To live is to suffer(dukkha).
2. Suffering is caused by desire(tanha).
3. Suffering can be brought to cessation.
– Suffering ends when desire ends.
– Desire ends with the end of the one who
desires… the self
– I AM
I WANT
I SUFFER
The Four Noble Truths
1.
2.
3.
4.
To live is to suffer(dukkha).
Suffering is caused by desire(tanha).
Suffering can be brought to cessation.
The solution to suffering is the noble
Eightfold Path.
– A “rehab” program of moderation
– Encompasses all areas of life
The Noble Eightfold Path
1. Right Views
2. Right intentions
3. Right speech
4. Right conduct
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right meditation
Essay
• Using at least 3 major Buddhist
concepts/teachings, explain why a
person could never be happy being a
porn star.
Bonus
• Name this man