Intro to Buddhism
Origins
What is your world view? Most of us have a tendency to judge the actions of
historical individuals and people through the lens of our own contemporary
values. To attempt to understand the ideas, philosophies, and beliefs of
another culture, we need to grasp that culture’s world view. We need to be
able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.
To understand Buddhism and its origins, we need to learn about the outlook
of the ___________ and __________ Valley inhabitants and society in the
______and _____ Centuries B.C.E. Their knowledge and point-of-view inform
the environment in which Buddhism came into being. We need to know
something of the Buddha’s life and his early followers’ world views
Buddhism Beginnings
In early forms of Buddhism, Buddha is most definitely _______. As the religion
changes and adapts, the Buddha is___________, or made into a more god-like
figure.
Buddhism originated in what is today modern _________, where it grew into
an organized religion practiced by ________, _________, and
_________________. Its beliefs were written down forming a large
___________, or outline of religious beliefs. Buddhist images were also
devised to be worshiped in ____________________. From India, Buddhism
spread throughout Asia.
In order it appreciate the magnitude of the Buddha's achievement, we should
try to imagine what life was like in early India, particularly in towns and
villages of the Ganges Valley like in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in
what is now the country of Nepal. This is the area in which the Buddha
(_________________) was likely born, in about 560 B.C.E. Every year the river
flooded the valley destroying crops. Monsoons came every year too, creating
famine. There were also severe droughts and disease such as dysentery and
cholera.
The ____________ (the Hindu priests) chanted the Vedic hymns and offered
fire sacrifices to Brahma. However, they did not improve conditions for the
common man. From the earliest times, Hindu society was __________. Castes
were firmly established in the economy with the Brahmanas the creators and
____________ of a social order highly favorable to themselves.
The Middle Way
One of the Buddha's greatest spiritual accomplishments was the doctrine of
the ___________________. He discovered the doctrine of the Middle Way
only after he renounced the extreme practices of the forest dwellers. The
Buddha lived among the forest dwellers as an __________ for some time. This
experience convinced him that one should _________________. One should
avoid the pursuit of worldly desires on the one hand and severe, ascetic
discipline on the other. Despite his doubts about existing religious practices,
and his strong sense of mission, he did not think of himself as the creator of a
new religion. Rather, he felt the need to purify the religion of his day.
Samsara and Time
Samsara (a Sanskrit word) literally means a "round" or a "cycle." In the ancient
Indian worldview this means the endless cycle of rebirth and death—there is
no beginning and no end. This endless cycle is governed by karma (causality).
How do people (beings) move about in this world? The answer is karma.
Karma means __________ or ____________. Every action has a result. Karma
is a built-in universe scale for good and evil—good leads to good result and
visa versa. Karma transgresses from one life to another. It determines how a
being will be reborn (higher or lower). Your current circumstances are
determined by deed in your previous life, but between the present and the
future there is free will. _______________________ is possible.
How does one achieve salvation? All is cyclical. All is painful. Even Gods suffer.
The goal is ____________. Nirvana is extinction. Where is Nirvana? Nowhere.
Nirvana is outside the vertical concept of the universe.