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4. Buddhism A. Siddhartha Gautama (c. 560-480 B. C. E.) 1. Early life - son of a minor ruler who sheltered his son from the sufferings of the world to avoid the fulfillment of a prophesy - by age 13 Gautama began to receive glimpses of human suffering: the Four Signs: > an old man > a diseased man > a rotting corpse > an ascetic - unhappy, he became determined to find the meaning of human suffering and left his family, comfortable life, and inheritance behind to do so - Gautama first studied with a guru, he then joined a group of five wandering monks and practiced severe asceticism, but still found no answer - after rejecting his studies and severe asceticism and having eaten and enjoyed a full meal, he sat under a fig tree, began to meditate and achieved enlightenment - he came to realize that it is people’s desires that bring suffering and causes karma that results in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth - Buddha gave his first sermon to his former companions at Deer Park
B Buddha’s Teachings (dharma – law) 1. The Middle Way
2. The soul does not exist; rather the human personality is comprised of the physical body, feelings, understanding, will and consciousness and is subject to birth, death and rebirth 3. The Four Noble Truths > suffering is inevitable as it is part of the human condition > suffering is caused by self-centered desires and cravings > suffering can be overcome by eliminating self-centered desires and cravings > the way to achieve this is to follow the Eightfold Path (p. 128)
4. Nirvana - the extinguishing of self-centered desire and craving and release from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
C. Practice 1. Lay followers - expected to observe five basic rules: no killing, lying, stealing, improper sexual activity and intoxicants - support the monks and nuns with food, clothing and life’s necessities
2. Monks - were to lead a modest and celibate life and be the epitome of virtue avoiding dishonest, harmful and frivolous activity - they shave their heads, wear course saffron robes and possess only a beggar’s bowl
3. Nuns - toward the end of his life Buddha agreed to allow women into the monastic order - an important alternative to marriage
“I take refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the Dharma; I take refuge in the Sangha” (The Three Jewels)
D. Innovations 1. Unlike Hinduism > no one was excluded from the monastic order > Nirvana was achieved only through individual effort > undermined the caste system and role of the Brahmins 2. Unlike Jainism > women as well as men could achieve Nirvana > vegetarianism was not required
II. Development of Buddhism A. Division 1. a council met a year after Buddha’s death to settle differences in interpreting his teachings, but failed as did a second council held in 390 B. C. E. and a third called by Asoka in 247 B. C. E.
2. division remained permanent: - Hinayana (Theravada) - Mahayana
B. Spread of Buddhism 1. Asoka (r. 268-232 B. C. E.) - sent out missionaries to non-Indian people
2. The Silk Road
C. Theraveda Buddhism (the lesser vehicle, the tradition of elders) 1. People achieve enlightenment through their own efforts and meditation only
2. Monks - seek lives of meditation and self-denial and live in the Sangha - when they achieve enlightenment they become saints - when they die they achieve Nirvana - one can become a monk for a short period of time
3. Lay followers support the monks to earn credit for a better position in their next life
4. Buddha - his relics (arahats) are revered - Jataka Tales > tales of Buddha’s previous lives to illustrate the moral values needed to become a Buddha and are a
common theme in art 5. Wat – Buddhist complex of buildings
6. Meditation - Sammatta > involves intense concentration to achieve spiritual states that open the path of enlightenment - Vipassana > insight meditation that strives for sudden, intuitive realization of Buddhist truths
D. Mahayana Buddhism (The Greater Vehicle) 1. Basic Assumptions - In addition to the teachings openly taught by Buddha, there are principles he shared with only a few of his followers - Buddha is a godlike being who came to earth as a man due to his compassion and desire to help humankind - that there are also other compassionate Buddhas worthy of respect and veneration in the cosmos (allowing the incorporation of local gods into Buddhist practice) - Bodhisattvas > enlightened individuals who delayed achieving Nirvana to help others attain enlightenment > some live in heaven, others on earth; all respond to prayers for help > worshiped as saviors
2. Pure Land Sect (Ching-t’u Judo) - believe in many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas including the Dhyani Buddhas that preside over heaven like lands where virtue can be cultivated and evil does not exist - focus is on Amitabha who presides over the Western paradise called the Pure Land - the goal is to achieve after death eternity in the Pure Land by leading a virtuous life and reciting Amitabha’s name - monks may marry, have children and live in the world - worship may take place in a church where sermons are heard and prayers are
offered to Amitabha 3. Intuitive Sects (Ch’an, Zen, Cho) - founded in the 5th century by the monk, Bodhidharma - focus on meditation as a means to intuitively (as opposed to rationally) receive truth - study of texts, monastic discipline, temples and images are important, but only direct insight can bring enlightenment - Koans > case studies or riddles used in meditation to confuse reason so that truth (a flash of insight) can be found - Zen principles of beauty, simplicity and profound thought have influenced many aspects of Japanese culture
4. Rationalist Sect (T’ien-t’ai, Tendai) - in order to ascertain the truth of Buddhist teachings one must study the Buddhist scriptures as well as meditate
5. Sociopolitical Sect (Nichiren > Sun Lotus) - Nichiren was a 13th century Japanese Tendai monk who rejected all the Buddhist scriptures except the Lotus Sutra which states the existence of a universal truth (Buddha nature) that is found in all life making attainment of enlightenment possible for all people - chanting, studying and teaching the Lotus Sutra is the basis of the practice - claimed the source of Japan’s internal and external problems were due to the following of false sects - strongly patriotic and intolerant taught that once Japan was purified it could then reach out to the rest of the world
6. Tibetan Buddhism (Bon > Tantric) - a form of folk Buddhism that blended Buddhism and traditional Tibetan religion - similar to Mahayana Buddhism but also relies on magic and manuals (tantras) that contain the incantations and spells that are used to help deal with the unknown and achieve enlightenment - use of the phrase, “om manu padme hum” “Om, the jewel in the lotus, hum”) to invoke the Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara, the patron of Tibet revered for his great compassion - Lamas (Superior Ones > Monks) > from the 9th century the kings gave the lamas land and right to collect funds from its inhabitant and the monasteries became very wealthy and powerful > by 14th century Tibet was ruled by the lamas > Red Hat School - Bardo Thodol (Book of the Dead) > Yellow Hat School - Dalai Lama - Dalai Lama > 1950 China invaded Tibet and established a puppet government > 1959 failed revolt led by the Dalai Lama who escaped with his followers to India > spokesman for peace and human rights and Nobel Prize winner > Buddhism and the monasteries have been repressed by the Chinese, but repression is loosening
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