Zoroastrianism and Buddhism: Key Concepts and Practices

Nickname for Zorastrianism

The Good Religion

- Like ben if he was a religion because he is a GOOOD boy

Main places where Zorastrianism is practiced + Population

200,000 + India, Iran, Iraq

Zoraster/Zarathustra

Had encounter with god while bathing in river, started this whole thing, came from well to do persian family, revealed to him there is only one god

What sort of -Istic is Zorastrianism

Dualistic + Monotheistic

(Cuz only one God, and idea that there is Good vs. Evil)

Ahura Mazda

- Zorastrian GOD.

- Wise Lord/Lord of Light

- Created everything

- even ben :)

Angra Mainyu

- Evil Spirit that tries to lure us away from light

- Came from Ahura Mazda (but Ahura Mazda didn't make him)

- Cannot create, only destroy

- CHOSE to be against Ahura Mazda (free will)

- Opposite of perfect sweet angel Ben

Spenta Mainyu

- Holy spirit

- CHOSE to be WITH Ahura Mazda

- Purity, fire, light

- Similar to Ben

What happens in the end of life in Zorastrianism

Final battle between Good vs Evil (AND GOOD WILL 100% WIN)

- Ben will fight off the Ari's of the world

Hixr

Z - Contaminants

- Anything that comes from you is a contaminant

- Poop, urine, feces, you get the deal

Z - Triad of the Faith

Humata - Good Thought

Hukta - Good Word

Huvarastha - Good Deed

Humata

Z - Good Thought (every thought about ben + me holding hands)

Hukta

Z - Good Word (so every word ben says)

Huvarastha

Z - Good Deed (something ben has never done)

Dakhma

Z - "Towers of Silence"/Sky Burial

Whats wrong with normal ways of dealing with death according to Zorastrianism?

Burial - Contaminants the earth silly

Cremation - It makes the air bad silly

(unless it was ben's body. He makes everything better)

Nasa

Z - Contamination From Death

- Unless it was Ben's body

Sade Nahn

Purification process done to join Zorastrianism + before you get married

- Ask for for forgiveness from sins

- Eat pomegranate leaves

- Covered in blessed bull urine (Ben's favorite)

Farohar

The winged symbol or emblem of Zoroastrianism.

- Center guy might be Zoraster or Ahura Mazda

- 3 Layer/Tri-tiered wings represent triad of faith

- 2 Golden Rings

-- Held one is symbol of dedication to faith

-- Larger ring means the universe/sun

- Tails = choice of good and evil, facing towards good

Xfafstars

Evil animals

- Killing them is good

- Things that fly/creep + bite/sting

- Killing them can make up for bad things (ex. killing corn carrying ants makes up for a long period)

Navjote

Zorastrian initiation ceremony.

- 7-15 years old

- Boys + girls

- Go through the Nahn (ritual bathing)

- Put on Sudreh (sacred linen shirt)

- Put on Pushti (sacred thread) around waist

- Mobed (priest) offers prayers

Sudreh

The sacred shirt worn by Zorastrians

Pushti

Sacred thread worn around waist in Zorastrianism

Mobed

Priest - in zorastrianism

Avesta

Book that contains the holy writings of Zoroastrianism. Broken up into different portions

- Yasnas --> texts about ritual worship

- Gathas --> divine hyms attributed to Zoraster, IN YASNAS

- Visperad --> festivals

- Yashts --> hymns of praise

- Bendidad --> Purity laws

- Khordeg Avesta --> daily prayers

Population + location of buddhism

500M

Mainly in asia (China, Thailand, Japan)

Might be the ony major worldwide religion that is declining in population

Nirvana

"To extinguish"/"Blow out"

- Goal of Buddhism

- Reaching enlightenment

- Cool band

- You are no longer holding on to the physical world

- I would never reach this. I will always hold onto Ben

Pari-nirvana

FULLY EXTINGUISHED, when you die while having reached nirvana

Siddhartha Gautama

Buddha/Founder of Buddhism

- parents tried to shield him from life, never saw suffering, then touched grass (ben you should try this), and was like damn "life is suffering"

Four Sights of Buddha

old man, sick man, a corpse, and an ascetic (wandering religious guy without possessions)

Bodh Gaya + Bodhi Tree

When Buddha came to meditate and came to understand the four noble truths

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow.

2) The cause of suffering is desire/attachment.

3) Getting rid of suffering IS ATTAINABLE.

4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

- Represented by wheel of Dharma

WISDOM ONES

1. Right understand/view

2. Right intention

ACTION/MORALITY ONES

3. Right speech

4. Right action

5. Right livelihood

6. Right effort

MENTAL ONES

7. Right mindfulness

8. Right concentration

Three marks of existence

Dukka - Life is suffering

Anicca - Everything is temporary and changing

Anatta (Anatman) - You don't have a soul

Dukka

Life is suffering (except when I'm with ben)

Anicca

Everything is temporary and changes (except my love for ben)

Anatta/Anatman

You don't have a soul (you especially Ben)

Belief of Soul in Buddhism

- Think if it as a wave in the ocean

- Wave is never the same

- It exists but it is always changing

8 auspicious symbols

1. Parasol (umbrella) - protection from evil

2. Conch Shell - Represents buddha teachings/Sound of shell is Ommm

3. Fish - Being saved from the ocean of earthly life + suffering

4. Knot of Eternity - Intertwining of wisdom + compassion

5. Vase of Treasures - Symbol of good fortune, represents perfect nature of dharma

6. Victory Banner - Victory of the enlightened teachers + knowledge over ignorance

7. Lotus flower - Symbol of enlighmenment + purity, grows in the mud + is still pretty

8. Eight spoked wheel - wheel of dharma, represents 8fold path, leads to perfection

parasol (umbrella)

protection from evil

(Ben is my parasol)

Conch Shell

Represents buddha teachings/Sound of shell is Ommm

Two golden fish

Being saved from the ocean of earthly life + suffering

knot of eternity

Intertwining of wisdom + compassion

The Vase of Great Treasures

Symbol of good fortune, represents perfect nature of dharma

- The only treasure I need is quality time with Ben

Victory Banner

Victory of the enlightened teachings + knowledge over ignorance

Lotus Flower

Symbol of enlighmenment + purity, grows in the mud + is still pretty

- Like Ben. Ben is pretty. Pretty stupid

Wheel of Dharma

Eight spoked wheel - wheel of dharma, represents 8fold path, leads to perfection

How to join Buddhism

1. Awknowledge three poisons

- Delusion

- Craving

- Hospitality

2. Surround yourself with buddhists/people who acknowledge buddhism (right assosciatation)

Theraveda Buddhism

"Way of the Elders"

- Nuns + Monks

- Focuses on teachings of Buddhism + dedicate their life to it

- KNOWN AS HINOYAMA - SMALLER RAFT (cuz less people do it)

- Look directly at the teachers of the Buddha/the dharma

- RIVER ANALOGY - They would create a raft to get to the other side

Mahayana Buddhism

"Greater Raft"

- Emphasizes the bodhisattvas

- Following specific person rather than just the teachings

- Following those who achieve enlightenment

- RIVER ANALOGY - woud get a ride with someone who already has a raft

Bodhisatvas

Those who reach enlightenment but still reincarnate to help others get there. Dalai Lama is a famous one of these

Zen Buddhism

- You already are buddha

- Utlize koans to SHOCK PEOPLE

- ZAP BAM POW YOU UNDERSTAND IT NOW

- Simplicity

- Don't need stuff like chanting, commoners paying monks

- Didn't like Theraveda Buddhism encouraging people to leave society

- Supa Popular with common people

- Bodhidarma is a big teacher of this

RIVER ANALOGY - Jump into cold water to shock themselves

Koans

Paradoxical problems used by Zen Buddhists to SHOCK PEOPLE into realizing we are all of Buddha Nature. RINZAI-ZEN Buddhists (sub-branch) use this especially

Zazen meditation

Meditation with specific posture + non-judgemental acceptance of thoughts in your mind. Often used in SOTO ZEN BUDDHISM

Bodhidharma

Teacher of Zen Buddhism

- Famously told the emperor that there is NO MERIT in him helping building monasteries to spread Buddhism

- Anti Pay-to-win

Vajrayana Buddhism

"Diamond/Thunderbolt Vehicle"

- Shorten time to attain enlightenment

- Uses tantric activities to go faster

- Manta - speech

- Mudras - physcal gestures

- Mandalas - translates 2 "circles" (represent nirvana) - sight

RIVER ANALOGY - Use a raft + current but also use paddles to row

Tantric Activities

Stereotypically innapropriate stuff that is encouraged in Vajrayana Buddhism

Mantra

Tantric Activity

- Speech (like ben talking)

Mudras

Tantric Activity

- Physical Gestures

(no ben related comment on this one)

Mandalas

Tantric Activity

- Sight (like seeing ben)

Karuna

- Compassion and dependency on the help of support of others

- Major part of Mahayana buddhism

- Like me being dependent on Ben

Iconic Representation

Representation WITH form

- Like my poster of Ben

Aniconic Representation

Representation without form

- like the endless knot

Three Gems (excluding Ben who is a gem)

- Sanga

- Dharma

- Buddha

Sangha

Buddhist community

Mara

Buddhist demon that represents spiritual obstacles, especially temptation (my temptation is ben)

Satori

Little moments of enlightenment that lasts seconds

(like seeing Ben after a long day of being with Ari)

Stupa

Memorial to Buddha, each has some THING they hold onto

(if I was a stupa, I would hold onto Ben)

Stuff that can send you straight to hell in Buddhism

Least worst --> Most worst

-Patricide (killing dad)

-Matricide (killing mom)

-Killing an arhat (enlightened person)

-Drawing the blood of a Buddha (now means violating a stupa)

-Creating a schism within Buddhism

-Violates Buddha, dharma, and sungha, ALSO understood that a monk MAY NEED to do this