The Buddha
THEREVADA
• Historical role as first
enlightened being
finding dharma (truth).
• Through teaching
dharma brought about
sangha. Only founder,
teacher, example,
• Role model and guide.
• Cannot be contacted –
tathagata.
MAHAYANA
• Many Buddha’s have and
will exist – Siddhartha was
just one.
• Dharma has always existed
and can be expressed in
different ways.
• Trikaya – earthly, heavenly
and transcendent.
Siddhartha became earthly.
• Many enlightened beings
and Bodhisattvas can be
contacted.
Theravada & Mahayana...
In what different ways do
Buddhists think of the Buddha?
Think about it
• Why is the Buddha still relevant to Buddhists
today?
• How important is the Buddha in the lives of
Buddhists?
• What are the benefits and difficulties for
Buddhists in taking refuge in the Buddha?
• Is the Buddha the most important of the
Three Jewels?
26min
number off 1-3
a) Describe the key events in the life of the
Buddha. 6KU
b) [ You will need to mention Theravada and
Mahayana ]
1. Why might Buddhists believe that the
Buddha is still relevant today? 10AE
2. How important is the Buddha in the lives of
Buddhists? 10AE
3. What are the benefits and difficulties for
Buddhists in taking refuge in the Buddha?
10AE
Higher
RMPS
Buddhism
the ‘Dhamma’
Learning intentions:
• To understand what the Dhamma
represents
• To understand Therevada and
Mahayana views about the Dhamma
Success Criteria:
I can…
• Describe what Buddhists understand by
‘taking refuge’ and how they take refuge
in the Dhamma.
• Describe what the Dhamma is.
• Explain the significance
of the Dhamma to Buddhists.
• Explain Therevada and Mahayana
understandings of the Dhamma.
A-B-C
Which is not a definition of ‘Dhamma’?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Truth
Teachings
Path
Way
Buddhism
The Dhamma
The truth.
Not the source of
enlightenment but
indicating the way.
The Dhamma
Why is Dhamma refuge?
– Written record of Buddha’s teaching
(Buddha taught orally only)
– Collection of teachings – includes other
sources too from Arhats and Bodhisattvas.
– Way of life... Not just words, but actions,
beliefs, how you speak, how you think etc…
– Not a destination, but a way of reaching
enlightenment
The Dhamma
– Way of life... Not just words, but actions,
beliefs, how you speak, how you think etc..
– Every moral choice you make has good or
bad Karmic consequences (remember
‘Bija’?)
– The Dhamma can be thought
of as the ‘middle way’ (or path)
that leads to enlightenment
Work in pairs…
Describe the
Dhamma.
The Dhamma
Not a source of enlightenment in and of itself
– analogy with a path to a mountain, a raft
to cross a river, a bridge to cross a gorge.
All ways of helping to reach nirvana. The
Buddha’s finger pointing to the moon...
The Dhamma: Therevada
Dhamma is understood as only the
teachings of historical Buddha.
They stick very closely to the traditional
accounts and claim the teachings are
accurate as passed on by Buddha as the 3
baskets, or the Tripitaka:
1. Vinaya pitaka – ‘rules’
2. Sutta pitaka – explanations of teachings
3. AbhiDhamma pitaka - philosophy
The Dhamma: Mahayana
•
Also accept the tripitaka, but accept
teachings from other sources too. Think
back to one of the Buddhists first
teachings – what works for you...
•
Dhamma IS NOT SACRED SCRIPTURE.
It is not worshipped or treated as holy or
followed slavishly. It only indicates the
way.
RANK ‘em!
Rank the following in terms of
the best to worst actions for a
Buddhist to do:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Falsely claim to be enlightened
Smoke a cigarette
Kill a fly
Eat meat
Have sex
Tripitaka: Vinaya pitaka
•
Rules and guidelines for monastics. Remember
though no moral absolutes, rather kusala and
akusala.
•
Includes ‘punishments’ and is mainly concerned
with physical actions e.g. sex, drugs, negative
thoughts, vanity etc. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/index.html
•
Examples of actions which lead to expulsions or
‘defeat’: sexual intercourse, theft, taking of
life, false claims of enlightenment. Confession
is a significant element and expectation in
Buddhism.
Tripitaka: Sutta pitaka
•
Elaborations on teachings of the Buddha
(by the Buddha).
•
Use of analogies etc.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sutta.html
•
What is the following describing?
“Wise people, after they have listened
to the dhamma, become serene, like a
deep, smooth and still lake” (Dhammapada
82)
“How you should behave in life is
sometimes very difficult to work
out. Deciding what’s right and
what’s wrong can throw you into
turbulent confusion. Follow the
Dhamma and this confusion will
settle be still”
Tripitaka: AbhiDhamma pitaka
•
Theoretical rather than practical –
focus on philosophy of teachings.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/abhi/index.html
Symbol it!
Draw 3 symbols to
represent the Tripitaka.
As a class,
rank the
symbols…
The Dhamma
Fill the boxes with
THEREVADA
MAHAYANA
their views please…
• Dhamma comes
from historical
Buddha - lineage.
• Discovered through
his own efforts and
taught to first
sangha then passed
orally for 500 years.
• Many sources
accepted as
Dhamma - requires
no lineage as
Dhamma is truth.
• Dhamma has always
existed and taught
by enlightened
beings throughout
The Dhamma
THEREVADA
MAHAYANA
• Dhamma comes
from historical
Buddha - lineage.
• Discovered through
his own efforts and
taught to first
sangha then passed
orally for 500 years.
• Many sources
accepted as Dhamma
- requires no lineage
as Dhamma is truth.
• Dhamma has always
existed and taught by
enlightened beings
throughout history.
In your jotters…
1. Describe what Buddhists understand by
‘taking refuge’ and how they take refuge
in the Dhamma.
2. Describe what the Dhamma is.
3. Explain the significance
of the Dhamma to Buddhists.
4. Explain Therevada and Mahayana
understandings of the Dhamma.