WORLD RELIGION AND BELEIF SYSTEM
lLESSON 9
Buddhism is one of the most practical among the worlds great religions
because its beleif system intends to meet basic human needs and solve
humankind’s spiritual problem without depending on supernatural forces
(brown 1975). the two main divisions of the religion are Mahayana
Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. with around360 million followers,
Mahayana Buddhism, with 150 million adherents, is followed in Myanmar,
Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Buddhism is the religion of around 500 million
people or about 7% to 8% of the world’s population. Asian countries that
have the highest Buddhism marjority in terms of population include
Cambodia (97%), Thailand (93%), Myanmar (80%), Bhutan (75%), Sri lanka
(69%), and laos (66%) Buddhism has two main divisions and many sects.
A major branch of the religion, Theravada Buddhism (“school of elder
monks”) or “school of the ancients”) or the Southern School of
Buddhism”draws on the collected teaching of siddhartha with pristine
purity (clasper 1992). Theravada Buddhism has gained considered
following in the west in the modern times.
BUDDHIS
M
Sacred
Scriptures
Worship and
Observation
Beleif and
Doctrines
Subdivision
Buddhism has been in existence for over 2,500 years and has never experienced any
drastic or radical schisms in its evolution (Toula-Breysse 2001). As the disciples of
Saddharta Gautama spread his word and preached throughout various communities,
there came a need for them to adapt to local culture, politics, and economic context.
Emerging branches of Buddhism had become adjusted to the milieu of the place. They
may differ on the doctrines of Buddhism but their relationships with other subgroups
are generallyi good (toula-Breysse 2001). The basic tenets of both major schools of
throught orignate from Siddhartha Gautama whose life has become a constant source
of inspiration to others (Brown 1975).
The sage Siddhartha Gautama may have been born between 563
B.C.E to 480 B.C.E. into the Sakya tribe in lumbini (in present-day
Nepal) near the town of kapilavastu (the capital city of the sakya
state) in the foothills of the Nepalese himalayas (Kulananda 2001).
Born into the Kshatriya case, his father was Suddhodana, an
aristocratic Hindu cheiftain, and his mother was mahamaya, a
koliyan princess. The buddha’s family name was Gautama or
Gotama. According to tradition,at the time when Siddharta was
conceived, Queen Mahamaya dreamt of a brilliant white light
shining down on her from the sky. In the rays of the light was a
magnificent white elephant with six large tusks. The elephant moved
closer to the qeen and melted into her body. Ten months later,
Siddhartha was born. He emerged from the side of the queen, took
seven steps, and said “ i have been born to achieve awakening (bodhi)
for the good of the world: this is my last birth (coogan 2005).”
SACRED SCRIPTURES
The early schools of Buddgism developed their own unique body of scared texts. Of these,
however, only Pali Canon or the Tipitaka/Triptaka (“three baskets”) of Therevada
Buddahisim survives (Coogan 2005). Preserved inthe Pali language, this standard
collection of scriptures od Therevada Buddhisits is the first known, the most
conservative, and the most complete extant early canon od Buddhist writings.
immediately after siddhartha”s death or parinirvana, the “first Buddhist Council” was
called to order to recite the content of his teachings or dhamma/ dharma. These
teachings were initially passed down orally until they were recorded in palm trees after
five centuries during the “ Fourth Buddhist Council” held in 29 B.C.E The monks saw the
need to commit into writing the Pali Canon so that the monks die, important Buddhist
teachings would still remain. The council was convened in Tambapanni as a result of
poor harvest in Sri Lanka that starved many monks. With the support of the Sri Lakan
king, recited Vattagamani of Valagamba of Anuradharpura, the council lasted for three
years. Five hundred monks recited Siddhartha’s teachigs as tey recorded them in palm
tress.
In pali language’ the world pitaka translates as “ basket” referring to the
receptacles where the palm leaf manuscripts were stored by the monks.
Tipitika
Contents
Sutta Pitaka (Discourse)
Buddha’s doctrinal; short poems to long prose narratives about
Siddhartha’s previous lives
Vinaya Pitaka (Displicne)
Rules of disciplines; stories tat illustrate Buddhist moral principles
Abhidhamma Pitaka ( ultimate
Doctrine)
Systematic analysis of the categories od Buddhist though
The first basket, the sutta Pitaka, contains the conventional teaching delivered by
Siddharta on different occasions. Discourses of Siddhartha’s disciples, such as
sariputta, Moggallana, and Anada, are also part of the Sutta Pitaka. It is divided
into five five collections, namely, Digha Nikaya (Collection of Long Discourses),
Majjhima Nikaya (Collection of Kinded Sayings), Anguttara Nikaya (collection of
Discourses arranged in accordance with number), and Kuhuddaka Nikaya
(Smaller Collection).
The second basket, the Vinaya Pitaka contains the displinary code required of
Buddhist Monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkunis). Various rules and regulations
must be followed by the monastic community.It consists of five books, namely,
Parajika Pali( Major offences), Pacittiya Pali ( MInor Offences), Mahavagga Pali
(Greater Section), Cullavagga Pali (Smaller Section), and Parivara Pali (Epitome of
the Vinaya).
The third basket, the Abhidhamma Pitaka, is a work on moral psychology. The
reflective philosophies of Siddhartha’s teachings are contained in the
Abhidhamma Pitaka that is strictly a Thervada collection. It is composed of seven
works, namely, Dhamma-Sangani (Enumeration of Phenomena), Vibhanga (The
Book of the Treatises), Katha Vattu (Point of Controversy), Puggala Pannatti
(Description of Individuals), Dhatu Katha (Discussion with reference to
Elements), Yamaka ( the book of pairs), and Patthana (The Book of Relations).
Siddharta never intended to start a new religion especially, and so
his teachings are focused primarily on ethics and self-understanding
as people work fo their salvation on their own without needing the
assistance of any supreme being (Hopfe 1983).
Here lies the main difference of buddhism with other religions it has
no place for God or savior, as salvation entirely lies within anyone’s
control (Brown 1975), Siddhartha did not claim to be a savior but a
guide and techer as he pointed the way others fo follow and gain
spiritual bliss in doing so.
Another unique feature of Buddhism is the belief that soul
or the Hindu atman does not exist as people live in a state of
nonsoulness or anatman/anatta. Buddhism does not preach
that humans have an eneternal and indestructrible soul
(Brown 1975).
Human existence, or what we actually call soul, is a
composite of five mental of physical aggregates or
khandas. These aggregates include
1.Phycial form or corporeability
2. Feelings or sensations
3.understanding or perception
4. Will or mental formation
5. Consciousness
FOUR NOBLE TRUTH
1. The Truth of Suffering
2. The Truth of the cause of
Suffering
3. The Truth of the ned of suffering
4. the Truth of the path leading to
the end of Suffering
1. The First Noble Truth. This
identifies the origin of the problem
the dukkha. Suffering can be
experienced throughout the different
stages of a person’s life from birth,
sickness, old age, to ultimate death.
When one clings to one of the
previously stated aggregates, this
leads to suffering, when one unites
with the unpleasant, it causes
suffering. When one dissociates from
the pleasant, it also results in
suffering.
2. The Second Noble Truth. This explaines the cause of
suffering or samodaya in craving or desires (or tanha) in the
perpetual thirst of humans to costume things, experience or ideas
(Parrinder 1971). People are never satisfied as they always want
more or something else, want something
3.The Third Truth. This asserts that there is cessation or
nirodha to suffering and bondage by eliminating craving ang desire.
By dropping the bonds of craving one gets to be released from the
fundamental nature of reality.
4.The Fourth Noble Truth. This directs an individual to the
path or magga leading to the termation of craving and desires, and
to eventual cessation of pain. Likewise, one ,ust avoid selfendulgence and self-torture since both are pointless. This is the path
toward moderation or the “Middle Way’’ aimed at ending suffering.
Eighcfold Path
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concertration
What One Must Do
Understand thr Four Noble Truths
Free one’s self from ill-will, cruelty and
unfulness
Abstain from untruthfulness tale-bearing
harsh language and van talks
Earn a living a way not harmful to any
living thing
Avoid evil thoughts and overcome them,
arouse good thoughts and main them
Pay vigilant attention to every state of the
body, feeling and mind.
Concertrate on a single objects so as to
include certain special states of
consciousness in deep meditation
The law od dependent origination or Pitacca-samuppada is one of
the most insightful teachings of Siddharta. With everything built
upon a set of relations, it follows that every effects has a define
cause and every cause has a definite affect (Mizuno 1987), in short,
noting comes into being by more accident and actions do not
happen in a ramdom way. Both the “Four Noble Truths” and the
concept of karma can be explained by dependent originations.
‘’Four Noble Truths,’’ there is the arising, that arising and cessation
of the dukkha. Desire occurs because of combination od existing
conditions to support its arising. Craving ends when factors
supporting its presence change and end, and then no longer sustain
it.
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 ages, sickness, dying, decay,
and death. However, when one is released from samsara, a being
escapes all these phenomena. That being has then reached a state
called nirvana wherein desire has been extinguished from one’s self.
The pali word sangha literally means”sharer” that refer to monks
who share in the general fund of alms provided by a community.
Translated as ‘’ association’’ or ‘’assembly,’’ sangha pertains to the
Buddhist order and monastic community as founded by Siddhartha
during the same year that he attained his enlightenment.
Attainment of salvation for any Buddhist is by way of one’s own
action without the assistance of Siddhartha as lay people offer gifts
to Siddhartha and the sangha during days of worships and
observance.
In Buddhism, stupas are commemorative monuments that contain
sacred relics associated with Sidhartha himself, and the venerable
monks and nuns.