World Religions Buddhism

Buddhism: Key Vocabulary: Buddhism: Life is suffering, eliminate suffering through elimination of desire, escape from the world into Nirvana. Nirvana: The ultimate reality - the end of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul. Nirvana is significant in the Buddhist religion, especially in ancient times. Four Noble Truths: Four truths that Siddhārtha Gautama proposed to help the Buddhists reach nirvana. Middle Path: Also known as the “The Eightfold Path,” the Middle Path helps the Buddhists end their desires in the world. The eight steps in the Middle Path all begin with the word “Right.” Four Noble Truths: 1. Ordinary life is full of suffering. 2. This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves. 3. The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and to see others as extensions of ourselves. 4. The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path. Eight Steps of the Middle Path: 1. Right view: We need to know the Four Noble Truths. 2. Right intention: We need to decide what we really want. 3. Right speech: We must seek to speak truth and to speak well of others. 4. Right action: The Buddha gave five precepts: ‘Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not be unchaste. Do not take drugs or drink alcohol.” 5. Right livelihood: We must do work that uplifts our being. 6. Right effort: The Buddha said, “Those who follow the Way might well follow the example of an ox that arches through the deep mud carrying a heavy load. He is tired, but his steady, forward-looking gaze will not relax until he comes out of the mud.” 7. Right mindfulness: We must keep our minds in control of our senses: “All we are is the result of what we have thought.” 8. Right concentration: We must meditate to see the world in a new way. Buddhism: Creed, Cult, and Code Creed - Nirvana - Four Noble Truths - The Eightfold Path - Siddhartha Gautama - Reincarnation - No castes The Buddhists’ Creed portrays what the Buddhists believed in terms of self-denial and selflessness. Cult - Practicing the steps in the Eightfold Path: 1. Right view; 2. Right intention; 3. Right speech; 4. Right action; 5. Right livelihood; 6. Right effort; 7. Right mindfulness; 8. Right concentration; - Seeking to resolve our human desires; - Based on Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha The Buddhists’ Cult demonstrates the importance of the Eightfold Path. Code - The Four Noble Truths - The Middle Path (The Eightfold Path) The Buddhists’ Code was to follow Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path (The Eightfold Path) Key People: Siddhartha Gautama: Founder of Buddhism (aka the Buddha) Review: Analyze any of the world religions according to the rubric of Creed, Cult, and Code; Buddhism: Creed: Nirvana Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path Siddhartha Gautama Reincarnation No castes The Buddhists' Creed portrays what the Buddhists believed in terms of self-denial and selflessness. Cult: Practicing the steps in the Eightfold Path: Right view; Right intention; Right speech; Right action; Right livelihood; Right effort; Right mindfulness; Right concentration; Seeking to resolve our human desires; Based on Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha The Buddhists' Cult demonstrates the importance of the Eightfold Path. Code: The Four Noble Truths The Middle Path (The Eightfold Path) The Buddhists' Code was to follow Buddha's Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path (The Eightfold Path) How did Siddhartha Gautama come to his insights of the Four Noble Truths? Summarize the Four Noble Truths: Gautama sought an answer to the problem of suffering. After living a life of pleasure, he turned to harsh asceticism, which nearly killed him. He abandoned the harsh ascetic path and the life of pleasure to seek a middle way. When meditating he came to the Four Noble Truths: (1) life is suffering; (2) suffering is caused by desire; (3) suffering can end by escaping the world through the elimination of desire; (4) seek escape by following the Eightfold Path/Middle Way. What might be a religious optimism? Some possibilities: - Suffering exists, but serves some purpose; - Creation contains imperfections but can be blessed or redeemed; - One is not a prisoner of one’s fate but a person has their own destiny in their own hands (to a certain extent); - God exists and is personally involved in history. What are some points of contact and points of separation between Hinduism and Buddhism? Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the five major religions in the world currently, and both of these religions play a vital role in our history. Fascinatingly enough, nonetheless, Buddhism is an extension of Hinduism, meaning that they both compare and contradict each other. Buddhism and Hinduism compare, to start, in the way that they both believe in karma, dharma, reincarnation, the belief of gods, and many other reasons. Hinduism and Buddhism contradict each other, nevertheless, in the way that they practice their code and cult. The cult of Hinduism focuses on yoga and making their mind great so that they can please their Brahman. In Buddhism, however, the Buddhists focus on the need of following the Eightfold Path (which states the right way to live), and they most importantly focus on worshiping the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). Another way in that the Buddhists and the Hindus differ from each other is through their code. The Hinduism code gets based on the dharma, or the divine law, but the Buddhism code focuses on the Four Noble Truths, which speak about the need to end our desires to end our suffering, and to also follow the Eightfold Path to end our struggles. Buddhism and Hinduism, overall, contradict and compare to each other significantly, and it is amazing to watch Buddhism and Hinduism grow and develop. Facts: Monism (as in Hinduism and Buddhism) holds that the material world is an illusion and so God is indifferent to it.