Buddhism
Religions of the World
Part one of a series
The Historical Buddha
• Originated in the 6th century BCE with
Siddhartha Gautama (also referred to as
Skyamuni, the Sage of the Sakya People)
• After experiencing the Four Sights (old age,
sickness, death, and a begging monk), Gautama
left his family and became a wandering monk
• While meditating under a Bodhi tree at
Bodhgaya, he grasped the Four Noble Truths
and became Buddha (Enlightened One)
Three Subdivisions of Buddhism:
• Theravada (Way of the Elders): Focus is the
monastic community and the need for selfdiscipline in order to attain nirvana
• Mahayana (Greater Vehicle): Focuses on
compassion in the bodhisattva form (holy
person who postpones nirvana in order to help
people). This subdivision has the most
followers, since it is geared towards the layman.
• Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle): Dominant form
of Buddhism in Tibet. It is known for its
mystical rituals, which include, tantras, mantras,
and mandalas
The lotus represents a pattern of growth that
signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval
mud of materialism, through the waters of
experience, and then into the sunshine of
enlightenment.
Beliefs
(Buddha is a title. When referring to “the Buddha”, it is
assumed to mean Buddha Gautama)
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation but as a
reconfiguration of basic energies, not as self
• The Pancasila or Five Precepts, are fundamental
ethical principles that all Buddhists should follow.
They are: abstaining from harming any living
being, taking anything when not given, sensual
misconduct, false speech, and losing control thru
intoxication.
• Liberation is attained by embracing the Four
Noble Truths
Meditating under a sacred Bodhi Tree
The Four Noble Truths:
• Suffering is universal
• Craving for things that will not last is the
root of suffering
• Nirvana is the end of suffering and
reincarnation
• In order to reach Nirvana, one must
follow the Noble Eightfold Path
A Dharma Wheel:
Represents the Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path
(interdependent practical principles
seen in relationship with each
other):
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Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Cover
from
the
Tibetan
Book
of the
Dead
Sacred Texts
• Dhammapada (Pali canon): Recorded
conversations of the Buddha in the Pali
Indian dialect.
• The Tipitaka (Three Baskets): A
collection of Buddha’s sayings, the
monastic rule, and a philosophical system
(most important text in Theravada
Buddhism.
• Bardo Thödol or Tibetan Book of the
Dead: Describes the consciousness
experience of the interval between death
and rebirth.
Buddhist
Temple
Worship
• A Buddhist devotion to the religion is a natural part
of their life that can include their diet, job, trade, or
profession.
• They conduct daily meditations, give offerings at
shrines, temples, or monasteries.
• Many Buddhists have shrine rooms in their homes.
• As part of their devotions, Buddhists recite the
three refuges or the Three Jewels (Buddha,
Dharma; truth or teachings, and Sangha; monastic
community), some Buddhists also chant.
• Practicing meditation frees the mind from everyday
emotions.
Symbolism
Buddhapada: Buddha’s footprints are early
representatives of the Buddha. They are highly
revered in all Buddhist countries. They symbolize
many things. The most popular meaning is the
grounding of the transcendent.
The Color Yellow: During Gautama’s lifetime,
saffron was found to be the cheapest and easiest
way to dye cloth. Criminals were designated to
wear this color to signify their state. Gautama
Bhudda chose to wear this color as a sign of
humility and separation from materialistic society.
It has the highest symbolic value in Buddhism.
Current Events
• Russian President vows to support
Russian Buddhists
• Prison inmates go Zen to deal with life
behind bars
We are what we think. All
that we are arises with our
thoughts. With our thoughts,
we make the world.
Siddhartha Gautama
Holly Library maintains many resources
relating to Buddhism, including:
• Buddhism: a Short History (Edward Conze)
• A History of Buddhist Philosophy (David J.
Kalupahana)
• Women in Buddhism (Diana Y. Paul)
• The Awakening of the West (Stephen Batchelor)
• The Art of Happiness, (the Dalai Lama)
• Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture (Loden
Sherap Dagyab Rinpoche, translated)
• Discovering Buddhism, DVD
• The Long Search, DVD (BBC series)
Bibliography
• Couliano, I; Eliade, C.; Wiesner, H. (1991).
The Harpercollins Concise Guide to World Religion.
Harpercollins Publications
• Klostermaier, Klaus K. (1999). Buddhism: A Short
Introduction. Oneworld Publications
• Conze, M.; Conze, E. (2000). Buddhism: A Short History.
Oneworld Publications
• Pollock, Robert (2002). The Everything World’s Religions
Book: Discover the Beliefs, Traditions, and Cultures of
Ancient and Modern Religions. F + W Publications,
Inc.
• Religionfacts website (www.religionfacts.com)
Image Sources
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Slide 1:
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Slide 3: http://www.utilitarianism.com/gautama-buddha.jpg
Slide 5: http://www.types-of-flowers.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/lotus_2.jpg
Slide 7:
http://joebikeindia.info/Assets/Images/India%20Images/BodhGaya_BodhiTree.jpg
Slide 9: http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/1878/13759/f/58670-Dharma-Wheel-3.jpg
Slide 11: http://rickpdx.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/tibetanbookdead.jpg
Slide 13:
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e.jpg
Slide 15: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/200521125-001/The-Image-Bank
Slide 17:
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Slide 19: Quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddha_4.html
Photo: http://www.poetseers.org/the_poetseers/lord_buddha/borobudur
Coming soon in the
World Religions series:
Christianity