TO WHAT EXTENT CAN BUDDHISM BE CONSIDERED A WAY OF LIFE?
Directions: Read the following and then answer the questions that appear below;
Buddhism is very different from the religions of the Western world. As a result, it seems difficult for Westerners to understand.
Buddhism is not so much a religion, but a way of life, similar to Hinduism. Buddhism has no gods, or even a supreme being, and no
belief in a soul. The ideas of Buddhism come from about 500 BC. It was during this time that the Buddha was “born.”
“Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God; it is
based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity…” Albert Einstein
Pair and Share Questions:
1. According to Einstein, how does this religion differ from the others we have learned?
2. Describe Einstein’s account of a Buddhist relationship with God.
SALVATION
Buddha accepted the Hindu belief that the progress of the soul depends on the life that a person leads; good is rewarded and evil is
punished. This is called karma. However, since only good or bad deeds are important, he did not believe in the Hindu belief in
salvation coming from self-torture or the sacrifice of animals. According to Buddha, salvation comes from knowing the Four Noble
Truths: (1) Life is full of pain and suffering. (2) One’s desires cause this pain and suffering. (3) By putting an end to desire, people are
freed from suffering, and their souls achieve nirvana, or the perfect peace, in which they are freed from having to be born again. (4)
There is a way to end desire, by following the “Middle Way.”
DESIRE
Desire for things, not the lack of the possessions themselves, was the root of all unhappiness. The way to get rid of desire was through
the Eight-fold Path, eight guides to thought and conduct. These are: (1) right knowledge of the cause and ending of suffering; (2) high
and worthy intentions; (3) kind, frank and truthful speech; (4) right conduct or action; (5) right way of living that does not injure any
living thing; (6) right effort to fight against desires; (7) right mindfulness; (8) right meditation or right concentration.
CONDUCT
Buddha stressed ethics, a code of morals and conduct, rather than ceremonies. Unselfishness was the key to his ethics. A person was
not to kill, steal, lie, gossip, find fault with others, use profanity or curse, or be greedy. Anyone, regardless of class could achieve
nirvana. Everyone can escape the evils of this life by good deeds and pure thought and by giving up worldly desires. In Buddhism
there is no superior being who controls life; there are no prayers, for there is no God to whom to pray. People did not need the help of
Gods, or priests or temples. After his death his disciples put his philosophy or thoughts on the learning of life into books called
“Sutras.”
Questions for discussion;
1. Define the following terms: Nirvana, Profanity, Philosophy.
2. How does Buddhism plan to make the world a better place through each of the following beliefs and practices? a. Salvation, b.
Desire, c. Conduct.
3. Which of these would you consider the most important? Explain why.
4. How could Buddhism make a person better? Use specific examples from the reading.
Name: _____________________________________
Pair and Share Questions
Per: ____
Answer
Partner’s Answer
According to Einstein, how does
this religion differ from the
others we have learned?
Describe Einstein’s account
of a Buddhist relationship
with God.
Directions: Use the reading “To What Extent Can Buddhism Be Considered a Way of Life?”
to answer the questions below.
Definition
Answer
Karma
Nirvana
Profanity
Question
Answer
How does Buddhism plan to make the
world a better place through each of the
following beliefs and practices?
a. Salvation, b. Desire, c. Conduct
a.
b.
c.
What are the Four Noble Truths?
What is the Eightfold Path?
How could Buddhism make a person
better? Use specific examples from the
reading.
Reflection Question: Considering all of the religions we have went through in class, which religion did you find most
interesting and why?