Buddhism
A Buddhist Parable
A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger!
He fled, the tiger after him! Coming to a precipice
(*cliff), he caught hold of a vine and swung
himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at
him from above. Trembling, the man looked down
to where far below, another tiger was waiting to
eat him. Only the vine sustained him.
Two mice, one black & one white, little by little
started to gnaw away at the vine. The man saw a
luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine
with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the
other.
How sweet it tasted.
Siddhartha Gautama
The Man Who Woke Up
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When Siddhartha was born, a Sadhu came to
the king and prophesized that his son would
either conquer the lands through the sword or
through the spirit.
The king, wanting a warrior, protected his son
from everything that might soften his heart.
Keeping his son locked in the palace,
Siddhartha saw only wealth & beauty.
The 4 Passing Sights
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One day, curiosity drove Siddhartha to escape the
palace. During his adventure he passed four sights
that softened his heart.
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Aged Frailty
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Disease
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He saw a man suffering from a rotting disease, vomiting his blood,
bile & guts out.
Death
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He saw a toothless old man, crippled with arthritis.
He saw a corpse lying in a ditch by the road, putrefied & swollen.
A Priest Collecting Gold.

He saw a fatted priest, clothed in fine garments with gold threaded
trim, collecting money from those seeking protection from suffering.
Buddha Beneath the Bo Tree
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Siddhartha announces that he shall end suffering. He
then striped himself of all his possessions and ran into
the forest.
He came to rest beneath the shade of a Bodhi tree.
Here he released all of his desires for food, drink,
comfort and social contact.
After 49 days of meditating, at the age of 35, he
attained Enlightenment.
The Middle way: A life between the two extremes of
indulgence & denial.
He realized the illusions that the world had painted as
reality. Rising, he ventured forth to share his
epiphany.
6 Features of Religion
Siddhartha Sees Corruption…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Authority—complex organization. Those with talents
will rise above others in matters of the spirit, who’s
advice is sought & their council treasured.
Ritual—collective expressions of celebration & loss.
Explanations—for all of life’s ultimate concerns.
Traditions—using lessons from the past in the
present.
Grace—faith & belief that the ultimate reality of the
ultimate concern is on ‘our side.’
Mystery—being finite, the human mind cannot
fathom the infinite that surrounds it.
Buddhism
Religion without Features or Form
1.
2.
3.
Religion devoid of Authority—challenges individuals
to take responsibility for their lives. “Do not accept
what you hear by report. Be lamps unto yourself.”
Buddha
Religion devoid of Ritual—no trappings or
memorized prayers. Every moment is new. ‘Be,
here, now.’
Religion devoid of Explanations—avoidance of
speculation. Where do we come from & where do
we go? “On such questions the Buddha maintains
a noble silence,” for opinions here tend not to
educate or enlighten.
Religion without Features or Form
continued…
4. Religion devoid of Tradition—a teaching is good or not
good, and can be accepted or rejected. Standing
upon our father’s shoulders we can use our mind
to judge every condition as the future arrives in
the present.

A man once saw a rabbit run into a tree & break it’s neck. He ate
very well that night. For the rest of his days he waited on a second
rabbit.
5. Religious Intensity of Self-Effort—rebirth is false and
we are not bound to our lot. “There is a path to
the end of suffering. Tread it.”
6. Religion free of the Supernatural—condemnable arts
are miracle workers. “By this you shall know that a
man is not my disciple; that he tries to work a
miracle.
4 Noble Truths
1.
2.
3.
4.
Life is Suffering—suffering is common. Pain is
plentiful while pleasure is scarce.
Desire—suffering has a cause & effect. The cause of
suffering is the desire. Private fulfillment at the
detriment of rivals.
Mastery of Desire—the only cure for suffering is to
overcome desire. Trade the narrow limitations of
self interests for a universal life interest.
Escape the Curse of Desire—the way to overcome
desire is to follow the Eightfold Path
8 Fold Path
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Right Knowledge—a map for a purposeful journey.
Knowledge & the 4 Noble Truths. See what is wrong.
Right Aspirations—true enlightenment. A steadfast emotional
spirit. Want the cure for your ills, purity.
Right Speech—strive to speak truth. Honesty.
Right Behavior—all are one. Show compassion for all sentient
beings.
Right Livelihood—follow truth. ‘The hand of the dyer is
stained by the dye in which it works.’
Right Effort—escape misery only by steadfast preservations
of the way; moral exertion. Self-Competitor at own pace.
Right Mindfulness—ignorance is our greatest nemesis in life,
not sin. “To understand something is to be delivered from
it,” Spinoza. Think of a goal, and pursue it constantly.
Right Absorption—focusing the mind & body to truly see truth
without distortion. The 3 poisons are; delusion, craving &
hostility. Contemplate deeply.
Create a Circle Map
8 Fold
Path
a. Draw this circle map.
b. Label the red section
with each of the 8
paths.
c. Write an example of
each in the orange
area. (detailed
example;
livelyhood=doctor)
Buddha dies after 40 years of teaching,
at the age of 75.
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Siddhartha is said to have eaten poisonous
mushrooms, served to him by mistake. He forgave
the mistake of his cook, and died at peace.
His followers decided;
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The sacred sources (texts)
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Sutras (threads of ideas)—like the Christians’ “Lord’s Prayer.”
Primary source for Mahayana.
Dhammapada—doctrine used by Theravadas meaning, “path of
eternal truth.”
3 School Split:
a.
b.
c.
Theravada (doctrine of the elders); Buddha is a Teacher
Mahayana (great way); Buddha is a God
Vajrayana (diamond way) Tibetan Buddhism; Head Priest is a
Goddess.