Buddhism

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Buddhism
By Alissa Marchat, Grace Cho, Caitlin Risner
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Buddhism

• Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on
  personal spiritual development and the attainment
  of a deep insight into the true nature of life.
• The estimates of the number of followers ranges
  from 230 to 500 million, but most are around 350
  million.
• Followers can worship at a temple or at home
• HOLY BOOKS
• Tipitaka

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Symbol

• Dharmacakra
• The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold
  Path

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The Four Noble Truths

• Suffering birth, aging, illness and death
• The cause of suffering desire (rebirth)
• The cessation of suffering the cessation of
  desire
• The way leading to the cessation of suffering
  the Noble Eightfold Path

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The Noble Eightfold Path

• 1. The right viewpoint realizing the Four Noble
  Truths
• 2. Right values Commitment to mental and ethical
  growth in moderation
• 3. Right Speech - One speaks in a non hurtful,
  not exaggerated, truthful way
• 4. Right Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding
  action that would do harm
• 5. Right Livelihood - One's job does not harm in
  any way oneself or others directly or indirectly
  (weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.)
• 6. Right Effort - One makes an effort to improve
• 7. Right Mindfulness - Mental ability to see
  things for what they are with clear consciousness
  
• 8. Right Meditation - State where one reaches
  enlightenment (Nirvana) and the ego has
  disappeared

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Founding

• Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), born in northern
  India in 560 B.C., claimed to have reached
  Nirvana (enlightenment).
• Born to a royal family
• He witnessed suffering
• He tried everything to discover an end to
  suffering
• He finally found enlightenment while meditating
  under a Bodhi tree

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Holy days

• Dharma Day- a festival the marks the beginning of
  Buddha's teachings
• Kathina- celebrates the largest alms-giving
  ceremony of the year
• Losar- new year celebration
• Parinirvana- marks the death of Buddha
• Sangha Day- celebrates the spiritual community
• Wesak- the most important festival in the
  Buddhist calendar

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Countries of Buddhism

• Thailand- 95
• Cambodia- 90
• Myanmar- 88

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Divisions of Buddhism

• Theravada- It is one of the largest subdivisions
  of Buddhism.
• Mahayana- It is not a single group but a
  collection of Buddhist traditions.
• Korean Zen- It focuses on the enlightenment of a
  sudden awakening.
• Nichiren- focuses on the world, and in its view
  that it is the only correct tradition.
• Pure Land- offers a way to enlightenment for
  people who can't handle the subtleties of
  meditation, endure long rituals, or just live
  especially good lives.
• Tibetan- a religion in exile, forced from its
  homeland when Tibet was conquered by the Chinese.
• Zen- achieving enlightenment by seeing one's
  original mind directly without intellect.
• The New Kadampa- It offers local access to
  Buddha's teachings, meditation practice and an
  alternative view to life that promotes peace and
  harmony.

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The Significance of Pilgrimage

• Four main locations of pilgrimage sprung up
  within the first couple of hundred years after
  Buddha's death which marked key locations in the
  Buddha's life.
• Since then other locations have emerged in
  virtually every area where Buddhism has been
  established with its own practices and customs.
• The purpose of pilgrimage is to encourage a
  spiritual discipline, to fulfill a vow or simply
  to travel.
• It is an important Buddhist practice. Pilgrimage
  also helps to express feelings of devotion and
  creates a relationship with the historical
  figures associated with the pilgrimage site.