Year 11 Buddhism
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Sangha
Sangha- community of Buddhist monks or nuns
Sangha is the term used for the Buddhist spiritual community.
On Sangha Day Buddhists celebrate both the ideal of creating a spiritual
community, and also the actual spiritual community which they are trying to
create.
 The Sangha is precious in Buddhism as without those in the community to look
up to or share aspirations with, the spiritual life would be very challenging.
 Sangha members represent the embodiment of the Dhamma and they have
been, by and large, responsible for the preservation and promotion of the
religion, both during and after the time of the Buddha.
Watch some of the video “The Triple Gem: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha” which shows
images of life in the Sangha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH60ZG3hODA
Early
Councils
Early Buddhism remained centered around the Ganges valley, spreading gradually
from its ancient heartland. The canonical sources record two councils, where the
monastic Sangha established the textual collections based on the Buddha's teachings
and settled certain disciplinary problems within the community.
1st Buddhist council (5th c. BCE)
Main article: First Buddhist Council
The first Buddhist council was held just after Buddha's Parinirvana, and presided over
by one of His most senior disciples, at Rājagṛha (today's Rajgir) during the 5th century.
The objective of the council was to record all of Buddha's teachings into the doctrinal
teachings (sutra) and Abhidhamma and to codify the monastic rules (vinaya). One of
the Buddha's main disciples and his cousin, was called upon to recite the discourses
and Abhidhamma of the Buddha, and Upali, another disciple, recited the rules of the
vinaya. These became the basis of the Tripiṭaka (Three Baskets), which is preserved
only in Pāli.
2nd Buddhist council (4th c. BCE)
Main article: The Second Buddhist Council
The second Buddhist council was held at Vaisali following a dispute that had arisen in
the Saṅgha over a relaxation by some monks of various points of discipline. Eventually
it was decided to hold a second council at which the original Vinaya texts that had
been preserved at the first Council were cited to show that these relaxations went
against the recorded teachings of the Buddha.
Answer
Identify the importance of the first two council in the development of Buddhism
Schools of
Buddhism
Using the table below and one of the following websites
old.refuel.org.uk/ppt_collection/buddhist_sects_5.pptx (copy into safari/chrome & download)
http://www.buddha101.com/h_early.htm
Outline the unique features of Theravada, Mahayana & Vajrayana schools of
Buddhism
1
School of Buddhism - Some differences
Theravada(elder - teachers)
 Man as an individual
 Man on his own in the universe
(emancipation by self effort)
 Key virtue: wisdom
 Religion a full-time job
(primarily for monks)
 Ideal: the ARHAT
 Buddha - a saint
 Eschews metaphysics
(avoids the philosophical sidedoers)
 Eschews ritual
(avoids ritual)
 Confines prayer to meditation
 Conservative
Mahayana (great)
 Man as involved with
others
 Man not alone
(salvation by grace)
 Key virtue: Karuna
(compassion)
 Religion relevant to life in
the world
(for lay persons as well)
 Ideal: the
BODHISATTVA
 Buddha - a saviour
 Elaborates metaphysics
 Includes ritual
 Includes petitionary prayer
 Liberal
Note:
Theravada is the more
conservative stream of
Note:
Buddhism. Theravada Buddhists
Within Mahayana
follow more traditional rules. It
Buddhism a person delays
emphasises the Enlightened
Enlightenment until
salvation - COMPASSION
person - saving others through
ACTION.
Vajrayana
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Built upon the Mahayana
and Theravada traditions
and seen as a successive
continuation of them.
Emphasies the unity of
relative truths (luminosity
/appearance) and the
absolute truth (emptiness)
Emphasis on magical and
sacramental rites
enlightenment is attained
through the chanting of
magical spells, special
hand gestures and
mystical diagrams.
Tradition is passed on orally
from master to student
Buddhahood is embodied in
various male and female
deities and accorded
particular respect as special
embodiments of wisdom.
Belief that all of physical
reality was an illusion. The
only thing that exists was
void or emptiness
The physical world was
identical with the Void and
human perception was
identical with Nirvana.
Additional notes
2
Principal beliefs
The Three
Use the website for the following
Jewels
www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/bd101/bd101_04.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpFPngMpB6A
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/devotion/devotion10.htm
Define - Buddha
Define - Dharma
Define - Sangha
Describe how the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are vital parts of Buddhism
The 4
Noble
Truths
Identify the 4 noble truths
1.
2.
3.
4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/beliefs/fournobletruths_1.shtml
The 1st
Noble
Truths
Using the following – Describe the 1st Noble truth
http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble4.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/bs-s03.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/beliefs/fournobletruths_1.shtml
Summary activity (HW)
New Terminology – below list the new terms you have learnt about today and the definition
Homework
Watch – The Four Noble Truths: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5xna0mbS6A
OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZparcAtjXVo
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