Unit 2, Lecture 1: Introduction to Buddhism and the Life of the Buddha

Buddhism: single unified religion, single historical founding (Budda), denies soul Dharmic Traditions: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism - All have dharma but different meanings - All have karma (action), samsara (cycle of rebirth), moksha (liberation) The Life of The Budda: missionary, universal teaching to any human being to rid suffering The Three Jewels, taking refuge in the... - The Buddha o “The awakened one, the enlightened one” -> we are all asleep but him - The Dharma: The Buddhist teachings o The teachings of the Buddha and path of the Four Noble Truths o the truth/way of the universe itself that Buddha discovered - The Sangha: passing down teachings once Buddhist dies o The monastic community/assembly founded by the Buddha pass on dharma o NOW: refers to all followers Regions of Indian/S. Asian Origin Originated in India (near where Hinduism made -> shared ideas between) - Spread widely from missionary (monks) 500 B.C - 600s A.D. South -> Theravada: doctrine of the Elders - See themselves as faithful inheritors of Buddha’s original teachings - Pali Sutras: early teachings of Buddha North -> Mahayana: The Great Vehicle - See themselves as inheritors of the Buddha’s higher teachings - Refer to Theravada as - Sanskrit Sutras: higher teachings of Buddha The Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni Buddha) Insider Approach: born as son of King, miraculously birth so wise men interpreted as prophecy to be great king of greatest emperor or renunciate as greatest religion o Analogy: son becoming great king as father vs becoming artist (religion), so father tried best to be great king -> tried to make happiest to not renunciate o Until 20s: very happy inside until restless to outside, chose clear path w/o suffering people -> path has Four Signs § Unique person lying on bed in pain from disease (anyone can be sick) § Bent over old person (everyone gets old -> pleasures temporary) § Dead body (everyone dies -> what is the point of pleasures) · First 3: no matter how happy you got it, you can get sick, all will get old, and will die eventually § Renunciate man to find path from freedom from death o Sneaks out to become renunciate in forest, studying mediation -> high inner bliss more than temporary pleasures -> bliss still temporary from death o Starved himself, hard practices to break one free from body o Musician tells not too loose to can’t play, not too tight or it breaks