Buddhism Essay, Research Paper

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 ? 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?

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