Buddhism

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Buddhism

• Religions of the World
• Part one of a series

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The Historical Buddha

• Originated in the 6th century BCE with Siddhartha
  Gautama (also referred to as Skyamuni, the Sage
  of the Sakya People)
• After experiencing the Four Sights (old age,
  sickness, death, and a begging monk), Gautama
  left his family and became a wandering monk
• While meditating under a Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya,
  he grasped the Four Noble Truths and became
  Buddha (Enlightened One)

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Three Subdivisions of Buddhism

• Theravada (Way of the Elders) Focus is the
  monastic community and the need for
  self-discipline in order to attain nirvana
• Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) Focuses on compassion
  in the bodhisattva form (holy person who
  postpones nirvana in order to help people). This
  subdivision has the most followers, since it is
  geared towards the layman.
• Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) Dominant form of
  Buddhism in Tibet. It is known for its mystical
  rituals, which include, tantras, mantras, and
  mandalas

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The lotus represents a pattern of growth that
signifies the progress of the soul from the
primeval mud of materialism, through the waters
of experience, and then into the sunshine of
enlightenment.
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Beliefs(Buddha is a title. When referring to
the Buddha, it is assumed to mean Buddha
Gautama)

• Buddhists believe in reincarnation but as a
  reconfiguration of basic energies, not as self
• The Pancasila or Five Precepts, are fundamental
  ethical principles that all Buddhists should
  follow. They are abstaining from harming any
  living being, taking anything when not given,
  sensual misconduct, false speech, and losing
  control thru intoxication.
• Liberation is attained by embracing the Four
  Noble Truths

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Meditating under a sacred Bodhi Tree
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The Four Noble Truths

• Suffering is universal
• Craving for things that will not last is the root
  of suffering
• Nirvana is the end of suffering and reincarnation
• In order to reach Nirvana, one must follow the
  Noble Eightfold Path

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A Dharma Wheel Represents the Noble Eightfold
Path
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The Noble Eightfold Path (interdependent
practical principles seen in relationship with
each other)

• Right View
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Mindfulness
• Right Concentration

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Cover from the Tibetan Book of the Dead
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Sacred Texts

• Dhammapada (Pali canon) Recorded conversations
  of the Buddha in the Pali Indian dialect.
• The Tipitaka (Three Baskets) A collection of
  Buddhas sayings, the monastic rule, and a
  philosophical system (most important text in
  Theravada Buddhism.
• Bardo Thödol or Tibetan Book of the Dead
  Describes the consciousness experience of the
  interval between death and rebirth.

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Buddhist Temple
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Worship

• A Buddhist devotion to the religion is a natural
  part of their life that can include their diet,
  job, trade, or profession.
• They conduct daily meditations, give offerings at
  shrines, temples, or monasteries.
• Many Buddhists have shrine rooms in their homes.
  
• As part of their devotions, Buddhists recite the
  three refuges or the Three Jewels (Buddha,
  Dharma truth or teachings, and Sangha monastic
  community), some Buddhists also chant.
• Practicing meditation frees the mind from
  everyday emotions.

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Symbolism

• Buddhapada Buddhas footprints are early
  representatives of the Buddha. They are highly
  revered in all Buddhist countries. They
  symbolize many things. The most popular meaning
  is the grounding of the transcendent.
• The Color Yellow During Gautamas lifetime,
  saffron was found to be the cheapest and easiest
  way to dye cloth. Criminals were designated to
  wear this color to signify their state. Gautama
  Bhudda chose to wear this color as a sign of
  humility and separation from materialistic
  society. It has the highest symbolic value in
  Buddhism.

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Current Events

• Russian President vows to support Russian
  Buddhists
• Prison inmates go Zen to deal with life behind
  bars

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We are what we think. All that we are arises with
our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the
world. Siddhartha Gautama
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Holly Library maintains many resources relating
to Buddhism, including

• Buddhism a Short History (Edward Conze)
• A History of Buddhist Philosophy (David J.
  Kalupahana)
• Women in Buddhism (Diana Y. Paul)
• The Awakening of the West (Stephen Batchelor)
• The Art of Happiness, (the Dalai Lama)
• Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture (Loden Sherap
  Dagyab Rinpoche, translated)
• Discovering Buddhism, DVD
• The Long Search, DVD (BBC series)

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Bibliography

• Couliano, I Eliade, C. Wiesner, H. (1991).
• The Harpercollins Concise Guide to World
  Religion. Harpercollins Publications
• Klostermaier, Klaus K. (1999). Buddhism A Short
  Introduction. Oneworld Publications
• Conze, M. Conze, E. (2000). Buddhism A Short
  History.
• Oneworld Publications
• Pollock, Robert (2002). The Everything Worlds
  Religions Book Discover the Beliefs,
  Traditions, and Cultures of Ancient and Modern
  Religions. F W Publications, Inc.
• Religionfacts website (www.religionfacts.com)

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Image Sources

• Slide 1 http//sribuddha.magnify.net/media/site/V
  SKXT5FFR9H62Z8S/uploads/C_Documents_and_Settings_B
  alan_My_Documents_My_Pictures_buddha_4.jpg
• Slide 3 http//www.utilitarianism.com/gautama-bud
  dha.jpg
• Slide 5 http//www.types-of-flowers.org/blog/wp-c
  ontent/uploads/2009/01/lotus_2.jpg
• Slide 7 http//joebikeindia.info/Assets/Images/In
  dia20Images/BodhGaya_BodhiTree.jpg
• Slide 9 http//img2.travelblog.org/Photos/1878/13
  759/f/58670-Dharma-Wheel-3.jpg
• Slide 11 http//rickpdx.files.wordpress.com/2009/
  05/tibetanbookdead.jpg
• Slide 13 http//www.molon.de/galleries/Thailand/C
  hiangMai/images01/0520Buddhist20temple.jpg
• Slide 15 http//www.gettyimages.com/detail/200521
  125-001/The-Image-Bank
• Slide 17 http//www.allmyanmar.com/new20allmyanm
  ar.com/buddhist20monks20school.jpg
• Slide 19 Quote http//www.brainyquote.com/quotes
  /authors/b/buddha_4.html
• Photo http//www.poetseers.org/the_poetseer
  s/lord_buddha/borobudur

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Coming soon in the World Religions series
Christianity