chapter 1: buddist belifes and teachings

Where was budda born and when? 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

Near the border of India and Nepali some 2500 years ago, in around 500BC

What is some essential information of the birth and life of the Buddha? 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

• Stories of his life combine facts with legends to express spiritual truth.

• He was born into a privileged life.

Who were Siddharthas’ parents? 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

His parents were king suddodana and queen maya.

Describe Siddharthaa’ enlightenment. 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

After Siddhartha was enlightened he became known as the Budda, which is a title meaning ‘awakened one’ or ‘enlightened one’.

Describe the stories of Siddharthas’ life. 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

There are many stories of Siddhartha’s life, recording different events or details. These recording different events or details.These include legendary or miraculous events which communicate spiritual truths.

What is the story of Siddartha’s birth? 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

Queen Maya dreamed a white elephant came down from heaven and told her she would give birth to a holy child. —> She gave birth to Siddhartha in the Lumbini Gardens, where she had stopped to rest on the way to her parents house. —> According to legend, Siddhartha: Could immediately walk and talk, walked seven steps and lotus flowers appeared under his feet, declared that he would not be reborn. —> Shortly after his birth, a prophecy was made that Siddhartha would become a great king or a holy man.

Describe Buddhas life of luxury. 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

• Queen Maya died seven days after the birth of Siddhartha.

• King Suddhodana wanted to protect Siddhartha from hardship.

• Siddhartha grew up in a palace surrounded by luxury, and his father prepared him to become a king.

In what ways was Siddharthas’ childhood luxurious? 3.1 the birth of the Buddha and his life of luxury

The Anguttara Nikaya describes how he was 'delicately nurtured: he was entertained by female dancers, there were lotus ponds of many colours, he was always protected by a sunshade, and he had three mansions (one each for the winter, summer, and rainy seasons).

What are the four sights?

old age, illness, death, and a holy man.

What is some essential information of the four sights? 3.2 the four sights.

• The four sights inspired Siddhartha to renounce his life of luxury.

• The four sights can be seen as spiritual insights into the nature of suffering and the spiritual path.

What are the two sections the four sights? 3.2 the four sights.

the first three show a deepening awareness of the problem of suffering, while the fourth shows the solution.

Describe when Siddhartha saw the four sights. 3.2 the four sights.

• As he got older, Siddhartha grew more curious about life outside the palace walls.

• One day he decided to leave the palace grounds and travel with Channa, his attendant and chariot driver, to the nearby city.

• Siddhartha encountered four sights while he was outside the palace:

Describe the sight of old age. 3.2 the four sights.

Siddhartha saw a frail old man and realised that everyone will age.

Describe the sight of illness. 3.2 the four sights.

Siddhartha saw someone lying in the road in agony and realised that illness is a reality of life.

Describe the sight of death. 3.2 the four sights.

Siddhartha saw a dead man being carried through the streets in a funeral procession and realised that everyone will die.

Describe the sight of the holy man. 3.2 the four sights.

Siddhartha wanted answers to the problems of old age, illness and death. He saw a holy man walking through the streets with a peaceful expression. This inspired Siddhartha to believe that a spiritual answer to suffering Was possible.

Describe asceticism

Siddhartha realised he wouldn't find answers to the problem of suffering by living his life of luxury. Leaving the palace, he abandoned his horse, cut off his hair, and gave back his jewellery and comfortable clothes.

Describe leaving the palace. 3.2 the four sights.

• Siddhartha left behind his newborn son and wife to pursue spiritual enlightenment.

• The four sights resulted in Siddhartha's renunciation. Renunciation means letting go and is an important aspect of the Buddhist life.

How long was siddhartha an ascetic and why was he an ascetic? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

Six years, to seek the solution to the problem of suffering.

What did siddhartha conclude about the ascetic life? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

that asceticism by itself was not the path to spiritual wisdom and so stopped following ascetic practices.

What did he begin to think after having tried an ascetic life? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

If there could be a middle way between the extremes of indulgence and self-denial.

Describe the ascetic lifestyle. 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

Ascetics live a simple and strict lifestyle with few pleasures or possessions.

They belleve extreme self-discipline and self-denial can lead to spiritual wisdom.

Why did Siddhartha become an ascetic? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

Siddhartha was impressed by the sense of peace he felt coming from the holy man (who was an ascetic) before he left the palace. This inspired him to follow ascetic practices for six years to try to overcome the Problem of suffering.

What did he practice in this time? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

• living in dangerous and hostile forests which were too hot in the day and freezing at night

• sleeping on a bed of thorns

• eating so little that he looked like a skeleton.

What did Siddhartha learn in this time? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

Siddhartha also learnt meditation under the guidance of various masters.

Meditation is the practice of calming and focusing the mind, and reflecting deeply on specific teachings to penetrate their true meaning.

Give a quote that explains why asceticism is not perfect. 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

“When the Great Being was practising severe austerities for six years it was to him like a time of intertwining the sky with knots” this shows that for Siddhartha, asceticsm did not provide the solution to suffering.

Why did Siddhartha turn away from an ascetic life? 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

• As a result of his ascetic practices, Siddhartha became very thin and weak, and could not meditate effectively.

• He learnt discipline and willpower, but did not find the answer to the problem of suffering.

• He decided finally to reject asceticism as ineffective.

Describe when Siddhartha turned away form his life of ascetic. 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

• He accepted rice and milk from a cowgirl and restored his health and strength.

• The Jataka describes how he then returned to the life of collecting alms from villagers.

Give a quote from when Siddhartha returned from his ascetic life. 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

“Realising the practice of such austerities was not the path to Enlightenment he went about gathering alms in villages and townships”

Describe the spiritual understanding Siddhartha had gained. 3.3 the Buddhas ascetic life.

• Siddhartha had previously realised that a life of luxury was not the path towards spiritual wisdom.

• He now realised that suffering through self-denial was not the path either.

• This inspired him to follow a middle way between the two extremes.

After rejecting asceticism, how did Siddhartha tink he could achieve enlightenment? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

Siddhartha thought meditation might help him to gain enlightenment (spiritual wisdom that arises from understanding the true nature of reality).

Describe his meditation. 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

Siddhartha meditated under a peepul tree (a kind of fig tree). Here he was tempted by Mara (a demon that represents spiritual obstacles, particularly temptation), who tried to prevent him from reaching enlightenment.

Describe his enlightenment. 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

His enlightenment took place during the three watches of the night, which refer to the three realisations that Siddhartha made in order to achieve enlightenment.

Give a quote that describes siddharthas meditation. 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

“(…) not until l attain the supreme Enlightenment will I give up this seat of meditation.”

What do traditional stories tell us about Siddhartha meditation? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

Traditional stories tell how Siddhartha was determined to meditate until he found enlightenment. The demon Mara used various tactics to try to distract Siddhartha from his meditation.

How did Mara attempt to distract Siddhartha from his meditation? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

• sending his beautiful daughters to seduce Siddhartha

• sending his armies to throw arrows and other weapons at Siddhartha offering Siddhartha control of his kingdom

• questioning Siddhartha's right to sit at the seat of enlightenment.

What was siddharthas responce to Maias attempts? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

Siddhartha stayed focused on his meditation:

He was not swayed by the charms of Mara's daughters but continued meditating.

• The arrows and other weapons turned to lotus flowers before

• He touched and called on the earth to witness his right to sit at the seat of enlightenment. The earth shook to acknowledge his right.

What do the stories about Maras temptations show us? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

That Siddhartha used his discipline to overcome negative emotions such as fear, lust and doubt to remain focused on his meditation.

How many parts did the englightenment take place in? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

during three parts (or watches) of the night:

What happened during the first watch? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

Siddhartha gained all of his knowledge from his past lives.

What happened on the second watch? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

	He understood the repetitive cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
	He understood how beings are reborn according to their kamma or actions
	• He understood that nothing has an unchanging essence (anatta)

What happened on the third watch? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

• He understood that beings suffer because of desire and attachment.

• He understood that suffering can be overcome through the path to enlightenment.

What happened after he became enlightened? 3.4 The Buddha's enlightenment

• he became known as the Buddha (the enlightened or awakened one)

• he taught his spiritual wisdom to the five ascetics, who became his first disciples

• asked his followers to choose a middle way between the two extremes of luxury and asceticism.

What does the dhamma refer to? 3.5 the dhamma

the truth the Buddha realised when he became enlightened, and to the path of training he recommended.

Describe the dharma. 3.5 the dhamma

• The Dhamma is one of the three refuges, which are the central values in a Buddhists life.

• The Dhamma is important to Buddhists as they believe by following it they will reduce their own suffering and the suffering of others.

What is the dharma? 3.5 the dhamma

Dhamma generally refers to the Buddha's teachings, but it also has lots of meanings.

What meanings does the dharma have? 3.5 the dhamma

• The truth about the nature of Buddha when he became enlightened.

• The path of training the Buddha recommended for anyone who wants to get closer to enlightenment.

• A universal "law that governs how reality works, i.e. the way that things are.

What does the book “old path white clouds” tell us? 3.5 the dhamma

the monk Thich Nhat Hanh tells how the Buddha thought of his teachings as something to be practised but not to be worshipped or held on to. In this sense his teachings are like a raft used to cross the river: it is necessary for crossing the river itself (or for reaching enlightenment), but a person should not become so attached to the raft that they cannot leave it behind once they reach the other shore.

How does the budda describe his insides? 3.5 the dhamma

The Buddha described his insights into reality as the 'truth, but still encouraged his followers to test and question his teachings themselves.

What are the 3 things of buddism? 3.5 the dhamma

There are three refuges (or jewels) in Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha (the Buddhist community).

What is the importance of these jewels? 3.5 the dhamma

• For a Buddhist, the three jewels are the central values in their life. A Buddhist could be defined as someone who goes for refuge to the three jewels. This means trusting the three jewels as sources of relief from suffering.

• In Buddhist rituals it is common to recite the three refuges. They are also recited in the ceremony where a person becomes a Buddhist.

What is the importance of the dhamma? 3.5 the dhamma

• one of the three refuges.

• Reduces suffering.

• Gives meaning to life.

• Creates satisfaction and happiness

• Improves a Buddhists relationship with others and the world

• Leads Buddhists to become more aware, wiser and more compassionate

Give a quote. 3.5 the dhamma

“to the Buddha for refuge I go To the Dhamma for refuge I go To the Sangha for refuge I go”

What is the dependent arising? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

the idea that everything arises in dependence upon conditions.

How is the dependent arising illustrated? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

in the Tibetan Wheel of Life and other Buddhist teachings.

What does the dependant rising express? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

The Buddhist view or vision of the nature of reality.

What is the dependant arising? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

• Dependent arising is the idea that everything depends on supporting conditions: nothing is independent.

• Dependent arising also means that everything is in a constant process of change, because everything is dependent on conditions which are themselves continually changing.

Give quote. 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

“ All events and incidents in life are so intimately linked with the fate of others that a single person on his or her own cannot even begin to act.”

Give an example 1 of something relying on another/when something happens as a result of something else happening. 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

A tree depends on soil, rain and sunshine to survive.

These conditions change as the weather changes.

Give an example 2 of something relying on another/when something happens as a result of something else happening. And a quote. 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

• A wave depends on how strong the wind is, which is always changing.

“(A wave) is somthing made temporarily possible by wind and water, and (…) is dependent on a set of constantly changing circumstances (…) every wave is related to every other wave.”

Give an example 3 of something relying on another/when something happens as a result of something else happening. 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

Kamma is an example of dependent arising that shows how someone's happiness and suffering depend on conditions, especially their previous actions.

The type of world a person is born into in their next life (for instance, human, animal or heavenly being) depends on their kamma.

What is the Tibetan wheel? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

• The Tibetan Wheel of life is an image that illustrates dependent arising as applied to the birth, death and rebirth of beings (samsara).

What does the outer wheel show? 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

The outer wheel shows 12 links or stages (nidanas). These illustrate how human beings are subject to birth, death and rebirth.

Describe braking the cycle. 3.6 the concept of dependent arising

• This process of birth, death and rebirth continues for many lifetimes until the cycle is broken by following the Buddhist plan.

• When the cycle is broken (particularly by breaking free from the habit of craving, this allows the possibility of nibbana (liberation and a state of complete enlightenment, happiness and peace.