1st OHP --BUDDHISM What is Buddhism? Buddha is the central symbol and reality of
Buddhism, because he embodies the way of thinking and living. It is an analysis
and description of human existence as conditioned by desire and ignorance and a
method of attainment of spiritual freedom through human effort. In short, it
describe human predicament and offers a rational method of spiritual freedom.
Origins of Buddhism Borned as Siddhartha Gautama (563 – 483BC) as the son of
an Indian Prince. He was carefully kept within the palace grounds till he was
29, when he eluded the guards and saw 4 signs – an old man, representing old
age; a sickly man, representing suffering; a corpse representing death; and a
monk, representing peace. When he sat under the Bodhi tree, he realised what was
the cause of human suffering which was desire Thus after he experienced Nirvana,
he decided to teach all those who would hear. Difference between Buddhism &
Hinduism - Buddha himself disregarded the caste system of India, but NOT out of
resentment. Constantly denied the religious status of caste. Therefore, he
wanted a religion that would embrace everyone without discrimination. Tenets of
Buddhism -Buddha took no interest in philosophy as he did not think it did man
any good to discuss what God was and whether he existed. He was more concerned
about human misery and believed he found a way to cure it. -Believed that
everyone has an embryo of enlightment in him. If properly nurtured, the embryo
will develop and become an enlightened, ideal person -The teaching on
Harmlessness A Buddhist should try to care for all living things equally in an
unemotional and detached way. His followers should not harm anything by word or
deed, so Buddhism is noted for its kindness. -The 5 Precepts … = Buddhists try
to practice 5 basic guidelines, which deal with human weakenesses -Buddhist do
not believe in a Being in the sense of a creator God, which other religions
believe in. For them, life is not a preparation for eternity but a way of living
out your present life until you reached your highest good. Buddha’s dharma
(teaching) acts as a solution to life’s problems rather than to tap the
supernatural resources for it. -The 4 Noble Truths -The 8-fold Paths à The
Dharma-chakra: the wheel of the law. The goal ultimately, was enlightment. 2nd
OHP – AFTERLIFE - Funerals Monks are invited to the funerals and the 5 Percept
together with Buddha’s teaching on death is given. Monks will return days
later to give another sermon before either cremation or burial. -Rebirths Buddha
rejected the Hindu version of the transmigration of the souls as he felt that
eternal souls do not exist. He felt that one could only break the effects of
karma, by giving up one’s cravings so as to cease the Samsara reincarnation
cycle through the nirvana. Rejected the Hindu class structure He felt that “it
is the things we do and the way we feel that we have to be born again and again,
till we stop doing wrong, wanting things and having selfish feelings. Only then
will nothing be left to be born again.” Nirvana - Buddha believed that it was
man’s desire to live and to have, that bound him to this world. - What is
Nirvana? It is the goal of all Buddhists and it means “to escape from this
world and the rebirth into it.” Enlightment constitute salvation but Nirvana
is the ultimate blessedness where salvation leads to. - It is really hard to
pinpoint what Nirvana is as it connotes the indescribable and transcendent realm
sought in this pragmatic religion. - State most desired as the pattern of life
has been broken such that it is timeless and changeless. Meditation as a way to
Nirvana. *READ FROM THE OHP* - Rather, it is the creation of a new and higher
state of mind, panna. - *READ AGAIN* OHP 3- DIVISION OF BUDDHISM -“Yellow Hat
School”- Dalai Lama -Belif that Buddha was an incarnation of an Eternal Being,
who has…