What is religion anyway??

• Religion can be defined as "Human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, spiritual, or divine".

Reality

Knowledge

Values

?

3 Different Paths

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--Faith--

Belief without

evidence or reason

--Science--

To Know based on

available

Evidence

--Philosophy--

To understand reality using a variety

of methods of rational inquiry

-Blind men and the Elephant-�A Story from the Hindu Upanishads

3 major schools of religion

• Abrahamic religions— draw origin back to Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, Islam
• Dharmic religions--family of religions that originated from the Indian subcontinent—Hinduism, Buddhism
• Taoic religions--religion, or religious philosophy, that focuses on the East Asian concept of Tao, or The Way—Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism

Basic Facts

• Started In India around 5th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama
• Estimated 380 million followers making it the world’s 4^th largest religion
• Mostly in China, Tibet, Mongolia, Japan, South East Asia, Korea

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama

Not Buddha – Chinese Monk Budai

Siddhartha Gautama �(563-483 BCE) �

• Born in Nepal.
• Raised in great luxury to be a king.
• At 29 he rejected his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and the source of all of life’s suffering.
• Lived a strict, frugal life for 6 yrs.
• Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana.
• Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

The Buddha is not a god. He is the founder and the leader of the religion.

Non-theistic religion, meaning that it doesn't include the belief in a creator god

Middle Way�

• The primary guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way which was discovered by the Buddha prior to his enlightenment.
• It is often described as the practice of non-extremism; a path of moderation in all things.

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Buddhism worship

Temple or Shrine

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What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?

Desire!

• Therefore, eliminate desire and suffering will be eliminated.

4 Noble Truths

1. Suffering Exists
• Recognize suffering in the world. To live is to suffer.
2. The cause of all suffering is self-centered desire and attachments.
3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments.
4. Following the Eightfold Path will allow you to eliminate desires.

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• This leads to the final enlightenment or nirvana

Understanding 4 Noble Truths

Nirvana

• The union with the ultimate � spiritual reality.
• Escape from the cycle of � rebirth (samsara).

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8-Fold Path

• 1. Right understanding
• 2. Right intention
• 3. Right speech
• 4. Right action
• 5. Right livelihood
• 6. Right effort
• 7. Right mindfulness
• 8. Right concentration

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Right Understanding�To understand and accept the Four Noble Truths.�

Right Thought�To cultivate thoughts of generosity, love, kindness

and compassion.�

Right Speech�To refrain from lying, slander, harsh words and gossip. 

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Right Action�To abstain from killing, stealing

and other misconduct�

Right Livelihood� Occupations which are unethical, immoral and illegal should also be avoided.�

Right Effort�To apply mental discipline to prevent unwholesome thoughts from arising, and to dispel unwholesome thoughts that have arisen.  �

Right Mindfulness�To be aware of the body, and bodily postures and sensations.  To be aware of the mind and its thoughts, emotions and feelings.  To be aware of the Dhamma.�

Right Concentration�To practice meditation to train the mind to be focused and disciplined in order to cultivate and acquire wisdom.

Sacred Text

• Like Hinduism, Buddhist scriptures and other texts exist in great variety. Different schools of Buddhism place varying levels of value on learning the various texts.
• The Buddhist canons of scripture are known as the Tripitaka
• These terms literally mean "three baskets" and refer to the three main divisions of the canon, which are:
• The Vinaya Pitaka: rules for Buddhists monks and nuns,
• The Sūtra Pitaka contains discourses ascribed to the Buddha.
• The Abhidharma Pitaka contains material often described as systematic expositions of the Buddha's teachings.

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Types of Buddhism

• Theravada Buddhism
• Oldest division, monastic life

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• Mahayana Buddhism
• “For the Masses”

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• Tibetan Buddhism
• Dalai Lama is spiritual leader.

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Theravāda Buddhism

• The oldest and more conservative school of Buddhism. (India)
• The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana.
• Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”

Mahāyāna Buddhism

• Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
• Means “the Great Vehicle”
• Sometimes called “Buddhism for the masses.”

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• Mahayana Buddhism focuses on not just attaining enlightenment and the release from suffering for oneself but for all of humanity
• Mahayana Buddhists look to become bodhisattvas, beings that have achieved enlightenment but have held it off in an attempt to help others

Tibetan Buddhism

• Developed in Tibet in the 7cCE.
• A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.

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The Dalai Lama

14^th Incarnation

• The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

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• Current Dalai Lama

lives in exile in India

as China has since

annexed Tibet

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Zen Buddhism

• The “Meditation School.”
• Newest denomination
• Seeks sudden enlightenment through meditation, arriving at emptiness.

Leaders and House of Worship

• Leaders are Buddhist monks and nuns

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• They worship in temples and often do so through meditation and yoga

Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of the Temples, Oahu, Hawaii