BUDDHISM: BEGINNINGS AND BELIEFS

BELIEFS Ultimate goal: the end of human

suffering

Think about: How happy are you? What are the most important goals in

your life? What makes us suffer? How do we deal with suffering?

BEGINNINGS Like Hinduism, Buddhism

arose in ancient India; unlike Hinduism, however, Buddhism began with one founder, a man named Siddhartha Gautama.

This man would experience an extraordinary experience of “awakening.” He would then be known as the “Awakened One,” or Buddha.

BEGINNINGS Buddha awoke to an awareness of

the nature of the human condition; furthermore, he awoke to the means of transcending it. One of the fundamental realizations was this:Human beings are by nature prone to

suffering. Buddha realized this, and he began

to prescribe a cure. Buddhism, therefore, can be

understood as a therapy for living.

BEGINNINGS To do: learn about the origins about

Buddhism and the life of its founder.

Read the Biography: Story of Buddha handout together as a class.

Answer the questions.

BELIEFS Each person is responsible for his or her

own salvation There is no ONE source, like the Bible or

Qu’ran that outlines the beliefs of Buddhism

All Buddhist teachings show the way to end the suffering of life and to stop samsara, the endless cycle of rebirths.

When one achieves nirvana, one has attained perfect wisdom and is released from the cycle of samsara.

GENDER EQUALITY In Buddhism, there is no distinction

between men and women Gender is part of the delusion we have

as unenlightened humans Women are not property of men

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTENCE Buddha believed that ALL things,

outside of nirvana, have three characteristics.

ANICCA (impermanence)

DUKKHA (dissatisfaction)

ANATTA (No-self)

ANICCA This is the idea that nothing is

permanent in life. Nothing stays the same for long. I.e. environmental changes, car breaks

down, clothes change, we age.

DUKKHA This is the idea that all humans and

animals experience suffering. I.e. physical disease like cancer, or

mourning or distress. Dukkha touches everything that exists.

ANATTA This is the idea that we cannot point to

one thing and call it our “self”. i.e. an eye, heart, brain, is not the

person. The self is changing, depending on state

of mind, moods etc.

LESSON 1- HANDOUT Complete handout entitled Lesson 1

Textbook Questions.

THE FIVE PRECEPTS These are rules followed by Buddhist lay

people to control non-beneficial physical and verbal behaviour that might cause suffering.

THE FIVE PRECEPTS 1. Abstain from killing or harming living

beings. (Ahimsa) 2. Abstain from stealing. 3. Abstain from improper sexual

conduct. 4. Abstain from false speech. i.e , telling

lies, setting people against each other, and gossiping.

5. Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs.

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Buddha observed that no one can

escape death and unhappiness. Buddha looked at the cause of

unhappiness and its treatment and delivered his findings in the four noble truths.

THE NOBLE TRUTH OF SUFFERING To live is to suffer. Birth, old age, disease,

death, sorrow, frustration etc.

Also could include, being separated from the ones we love, having to be around people we don’t like etc.

Buddhists do believe there is happiness in life but it does not last forever.

THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE ORIGIN OF SUFFERING Every kind of suffering

has its origin in negative desire.

Greed causes suffering. The possessions people desire most, cause the most suffering.

People should be happy with the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING Reaching Nirvana can only

happen when the urge to possess more and more things is destroyed.

One must change his or her own view and live a more natural and peaceful life.

Nirvana is a state of being where one is in a blissful, happy and content state where nothing can cause suffering.

THE NOBLE TRUTH OF THE PATH LEADING TO THE EXTINCTION OF SUFFERING. To end suffering,

one must adopt the Middle Way by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Adopting this path means living a Buddhist way of life.

For some people, the Eightfold Path is a blueprint for a happier life.

SIX PERFECTIONS A Bodhisattva is a person who has

attained nirvana but chooses to be reborn within samsara to help others with enlightenment.

A Bodhisattva practices the Six Perfections:

Giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.

EIGHTFOLD PATH TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS Complete handout entitled Lesson 2

Textbook Questions