Understanding Buddhism: The Middle Way of Wisdom and Compassion

B uddhism T he middle way of wisdom and compassion A 2 5 00 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout the F ar E ast A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 3 00 million people B ased on the teachings of the B uddha B uddhism T he middle way of wisdom and compassion A 2 5 00 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout the F ar E ast A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 3 00 million people B ased on the teachings of the B uddha

T he T hree J ewels of B uddhism B uddha T he T hree J ewels of B uddhism B uddha the teacher buddha the teacher dharma-wheel sangha D harma D harma the teachings the teachings S angha S angha the community the community

buddha W ho was the B uddha? B orn S iddhartha G autama 5 6 3 B .C .E . R aised in great luxury to be a king E mpathy for the suffering of others; at age 2 9 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering F ollowed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six years R ejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved N irvana a B uddha, the A wakened O ne at the age of 3 5 S pent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved W ho was the B uddha? B orn S iddhartha G autama of noble caste in India, 5 6 3 B .C .E . R aised in great luxury to be a king E mpathy for the suffering of others; at age 2 9 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering F ollowed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six years R ejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved N irvana an awakening to the truth about life, becoming a B uddha, the A wakened O ne at the age of 3 5 S pent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved of noble caste in India, an awakening to the truth about life, becoming

buddha W hat did the B uddha teach? T he F our N oble T ruths: T o live is to suffer T he cause of suffering is self attachments T he solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving T he way to P ath W hat did the B uddha teach? T he F our N oble T ruths: T o live is to suffer T he cause of suffering is self- -centered desire & attachments T he solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving N irvana T he way to N irvana P ath centered desire & N irvana ( extinction ) is through the E ight- -F old ( extinction ) N irvana is through the E ight F old

W hat is the E ight W isdom: R ight understanding R ight motivation W hat is the E ight- -F old P ath? W isdom: R ight understanding R ight motivation R ight speech R ight action R ight livelihood F old P ath? M oral discipline: R ight speech R ight action R ight livelihood M oral discipline: M ental discipline: R ight effort R ight mindfulness R ight meditation M ental discipline: R ight effort R ight mindfulness R ight meditation 8fold

H ow does B uddhism differ from H induism? B uddhism rejects A uthority of the ancient V edic texts T he V edic caste system T he V edic and H indu deities T he efficacy of V edic worship and ritual T he concept of B rahman H ow does B uddhism differ from H induism? B uddhism rejects A uthority of the ancient V edic texts T he V edic caste system T he V edic and H indu deities T he efficacy of V edic worship and ritual T he concept of B rahman

H ow does B uddhism differ from J ainism? B uddhism rejects T he concept of A tman T he practice of strict asceticism and withdrawal from the world (preferring the middle way ) V egetarianism as required H ow does B uddhism differ from J ainism? B uddhism rejects T he concept of A tman T he practice of strict asceticism and withdrawal from the world (preferring the middle way ) V egetarianism as required

W hat do B uddhists believe? R ebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma) N irvana A chieving rebirth W hat do B uddhists believe? R ebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma) N irvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind A chieving N irvana rebirth is a peaceful, detached state of mind N irvana means escape from the cycle of means escape from the cycle of O nce G autama B uddha died, after 8 0 years of life in this world, having achieved his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct being B uddhism is non G od O nce G autama B uddha died, after 8 0 years of life in this world, having achieved N irvana his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct being B uddhism is non- -theistic: G od he is just a revered teacher N irvana and teaching multitudes and teaching multitudes theistic: B uddha B uddha is is not not the B uddhist the B uddhist he is just a revered teacher

B uddhist M etaphysics D ukkha A nicca A natta there is no eternal, unchanging self ( no atman) S uffering is a state of mind balanced, peaceful, detached state of mind and suffering can be extinguished ( B uddhist M etaphysics D ukkha: life in this world is filled with A nicca: everything in this world is A natta::the self/ soul is also impermanent there is no eternal, unchanging self ( no soul no atman) S uffering is a state of mind achieve a balanced, peaceful, detached state of mind and suffering can be extinguished (N irvana : life in this world is filled with suffering : everything in this world is impermanent the self/ soul is also impermanent suffering impermanent no soul achieve a N irvana) )

W hat are some B uddhist texts? T ripitaka B askets : V inaya S utta A bhidhamma D hammapada B uddha O ther texts used by specific schools W hat are some B uddhist texts? T ripitaka (the B askets : V inaya ( discipline ) S utta ( discourse ) A bhidhamma (metaphysical teachings ) D hammapada collected sayings of the B uddha O ther texts used by specific schools (the P ali P ali C annon) C annon) the T hree the T hree ( discipline ) rules for monastic life ( discourse ) sermons of the B uddha (metaphysical teachings ) collected sayings of the rules for monastic life sermons of the B uddha tripitak

T he S pread of B uddhism W ithin two centuries after the B uddha died, B uddhism began to spread north and east into A sia B y 1 3 B uddhism had disappeared from India T he S pread of B uddhism W ithin two centuries after the B uddha died, B uddhism began to spread north and east into A sia B y 1 3th th century B uddhism had disappeared from India century

budhmed2 S chools of B uddhism T heravada T he W ay of the E lders (a.k.a.: the small vehicle ) O ldest school of B uddhism F ound in southern A sia (S ri L anka, B urma, T hailand, etc.) M onasticism is the ideal life for achieving A do F ocus on wisdom and meditation G oal is to become a F airly unified in belief & practice (some cultural differences) S chools of B uddhism - - T heravada T he W ay of the E lders (a.k.a.: the small vehicle ) O ldest school of B uddhism F ound in southern A sia (S ri L anka, B urma, T hailand, etc.) M onasticism is the ideal life for achieving N irvana A do- -it it- -yourself approach to enlightenment F ocus on wisdom and meditation G oal is to become a B uddha F airly unified in belief & practice (some cultural differences) _1244006_cam-angkor150 N irvana stupa yourself approach to enlightenment B uddha

S chools of B uddhism M ahayana T he G reat V ehicle D eveloped first century C .E . F ound in N orthern A sia (C hina, J apan, etc.) L ay B uddhism D evotional beings ) & heavenly F ocus on compassion G oal is to become a toward enlightenment (the D iverse schools and sects including: P ureland, N ichiren, T endai, S hingon, and others S chools of B uddhism - - M ahayana T he G reat V ehicle D eveloped first century C .E . F ound in N orthern A sia (C hina, J apan, etc.) L ay B uddhism B uddhism for the masses D evotional seek guidance from beings ) & heavenly B uddhas F ocus on compassion G oal is to become a bodhisattva toward enlightenment (the B odhisattva D iverse schools and sects including: P ureland, N ichiren, T endai, S hingon, and others buddha B uddhism for the masses seek guidance from B odhisattvas B uddhas ( (kwan Y in B odhisattvas ( wise kwan Y in, , A mida ( wise , etc.) A mida, etc.) kwanyin bodhisattva and assist others B odhisattva Ideal ) and assist others Ideal )

S chools of B uddhism T ibetan V ajrayana D eveloped 7 A mix of T heravada & M ahayana: R ituals ( M antras M andalas M udras B odhisattvas M editation, monasticism, wisdom & compassion B ardo T hodol S chools of B uddhism - - T ibetan V ajrayana the D iamond V ehicle D eveloped 7th th century C .E . A mix of T heravada & M ahayana: R ituals (T antra M antras (chanting) M andalas & & T hankas M udras (hand gestures) B odhisattvas, including living M editation, monasticism, wisdom & compassion B ardo T hodol - -T ibetan B ook of the D ead Thanka7 the D iamond V ehicle century C .E . mandala T antra): ): (chanting) T hankas (symbolic images) (hand gestures) , including living L amas dalai-lama (symbolic images) L amas (D alai L ama) (D alai L ama) T ibetan B ook of the D ead

religion_top S chools of B uddhism Z en T he meditation school: L ay and monastic S eeks sudden enlightenment ( meditation, arriving at emptiness ( the B uddha N ature U se of meditation masters ( K oans B eauty, arts & aesthetics the tea ceremony, calligraphy, etc. S chools of B uddhism Z en T he meditation school: L ay and monastic S eeks sudden enlightenment (satori meditation, arriving at emptiness (sunyata the B uddha N ature U se of meditation masters (R oshi K oans (paradoxical riddles to confound reason) B eauty, arts & aesthetics gardens, archery, the tea ceremony, calligraphy, etc. satori) through sunyata) and ) through ) and R oshi) ) (paradoxical riddles to confound reason) gardens, archery, garden

meditation B uddhism in the W est B uddhism in the W est O ver the past two centuries, especially since the later half of the 2 0 inroads into the W estern world through Immigration of A sian peoples who have brought their diverse forms of B uddhism to the W est W estern followers who tend to adopt meditation practices and the philosophy rather than more devotional forms of B uddhism M any such western followers remain within their own faith traditions, finding B uddhism to be a complement to rather than in conflict with other religions T he two groups remain independent of one another O ver the past two centuries, especially since the later half of the 2 0th th century, B uddhism has made inroads into the W estern world through Immigration of A sian peoples who have brought their diverse forms of B uddhism to the W est W estern followers who tend to adopt meditation practices and the philosophy rather than more devotional forms of B uddhism M any such western followers remain within their own faith traditions, finding B uddhism to be a complement to rather than in conflict with other religions T he two groups remain independent of one another century, B uddhism has made

W eb R esources: Buddhanet.net:Buddhist information and education network. Includes online resource for Buddhist Studies and other Buddhism resources: http://www.buddhanet.net/ W eb R esources: Dharma the Cat: a multi award winning, lighthearted but informed look at Buddhism. Includes original comic strip expressing Buddhist teachings, an interfaith forum discussing Buddhist ideas from the perspective of other religions, and many other contributions from a wide variety of folks: http://www.dharmathecat.com/ Learn more about Tibetan Buddhism at Osel Shen Phen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center: http://www.fpmt-osel.org/ Created by Laura Ellen Shulman