Story and background of Siddhartha Gautama
What 4 sights did Siddhartha see at the age of 29 in the
city of Channa?
-Old man, sick man, dead man,
ascetic monk
Main beliefs/concepts of religion
Know all 4 noble truths
--There is suffering, suffering
has an origin, suffering can cease, there is a path out of suffering
8 Fold Path- fundamental ethics of buddhism
3 Characteristics of Existence
-Annica (impermanence (world constantly in flux)
-Dukkha (dissatisfaction –all humans and animals experience
suffering)
-Anatta (no self.. no separate , eternal unchanging self)
5 Precepts
1) Abstain from killing or harming
living beings
2) Abstain from stealing
3) Abstain from improper sexual conduct
4) Abstain from false speech
5) Abstain from taking alcohol and
harmful drugs
Main sects
or divisions of Buddhism
1) Theravada or Hinayana:
conservative, key virtue is wisdom and Buddha is revered as a teacher /
saint (Burma, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia)
2) Mahayana:
liberal, ideal is the bodhisattva who follows example of Buddha and
remains in world to serve his fellows (China, Vietnam, Korea)
3) Vajrayana:
Trantric Buddhism- emphasis on rituals, mantras and visual mandalas;
Dalai Lama (god-kings) living incarnations of previous holy beings (Tibet, Bhutan,
Nepal)
Zen
Buddhism: emphasis on meditation to
achieve inspiration (satori) which brings enlightenment; less emphasis on
scripture, rituals, worship (Japan)
Concepts of Hinduism that
Buddhism rejects
caste
system, Hindu rituals and offerings to gods, theories, language of
Sanskrit (he used Pali), nirvana only if
Brahmin caste, refusal to accept authority of Vedas and Upanishads
Tibet/Dali Lama
