world religions - buddhism

siddhartha gautama

-the buddha, founder of buddhism

dukkha

suffering

3 marks of existence

1. anatta = no self

2. anicca = impermanence

3. dukkha = suffering

middle way

to avoid extremes, a point of balance

four noble truths

1. life is filled with suffering

2. desire leads to suffering

3. desire can be ceased

4. follow the path of cessation

noble eightfold path

right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindlessness, concentration

nirvana

get rid of the dukkha in your life

how did siddharta gautama die

spoiled meal of rice milk

malankyaputta

disciple of buddha who sought to understand a path to enlightenment

angulimala

was a bandit who eventualy encountered the buddha and abandoned his selfish ways

theravada

wisdom or way of elders

path to enlightenment through individual effort

arhat

one who is worthy

mahayana

"great vehicle"

has the oldest buddha texts

lots of scripture but favors oral traditions

nirvana is possible

bodhisattva

-"one whose essence is enlightenment"

-achieve compassion and wisdom

-will be reborn

celestial buddhas: amitabha

truth

celestial buddhas: maitreya

happiness, future buddha

celestial buddha: manjushri

wisdom

celestial buddha: avalokiteshvara

compassion

shunya

emptiness

taoism

nature is the most powerful way

live in harmony with the tao

confucianism

-be extroverted

-respect the arts

-participate in society

ch'an/zen

-sudden awakening through sitting meditation

zazen

sitting meditation

koan

riddle used to prove the inadaquency of logical reasoning and to provoke enlightenment

tibetan

-emphasizes guidance of spiritual teachers

-importance of meditation

-pursue enlightenment for benefit of all

dalai lama

-highest ideal of mahayana buddhism

buddha

originally known as siddhartha gautama

-attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree

triple refuge

buddha, dharma, sangha

dharma

buddhas teachings

sangha

Buddhist community

bodhi tree

where siddhartha gautama achieved enlightenment

parinirvana

final nirvana attained by a buddha

kashyapa

chief of buddhas followers

kundun

-means presence

-can be used as title of respect for a teacher

lama

title for spiritual teacher

anatta

no self or soul

bodhicitta

wish to attain enlightenment for all beings

om mani padme hum

sacred mantra in tibetan buddhism