Intro to Buddhism

Where does the story of the Buddha take place?

Northern part of the Indian Sub-continent

Why are there 3 different dates for Buddha’s story?

No evidence to confirm, believed the world was cyclical and didn’t need recording

What was the Buddha’s name?

Siddartha

What does the name Siddartha Gautama mean?

one who is successful in all endeavors (Ksatriyas) and most excellent cow

What does the title Sakyamuni Buddha mean?

• Sakya = name of clan

• Muni = holy or sage

• Holy person of the Sakya clan

A Buddha vs. The Buddha

• A Buddha: title for anyone who has achieved enlightenment

• The Buddha: nickname for the historical founder of Buddhism

Hagiography

biography (real birth place) + myths (miracle stories); used to study Catholic Saints

Kapilavastu

Kingdom of whom Siddartha is from

What request did Queen Maya make to King Suddhodana?

to return home and give birth to her child

What is the significance of the White Elephant Dream?

• The white elephant entered her right armpit which indicated purity

• Elephant’s symbolized royalty

Chronology of Siddartha’s birth

1. The Queen made it halfway through the journey → Lumbini Park

2. She leans against a tree and tree gives her support

3. She gives birth to her son through her right armpit

4. He is born and could open his eyes, walk and talk

5. Lotus bloomed as he took 7 steps

What is the significance of giving birth through the armpit?

birth through the womb meant exposure to polluted substance

What is the significance of Siddartha taking 7 steps?

• 6 cyclec/realms of reincarnation

  • Heaven, Jealous gods (asura), human, animal, hungry ghosts and hell bound

• He’s leaving the 6 realms of reincarnation

What happened to Queen Maya after birth?

Died 7 days after giving birth as if she were an illusion

Who is Prajapati?

• Stepmother of Siddartha

• Sister of Queen Maya

• Sister in Law of the King

What were the 2 predictions made by the Hermit Asita?

1. Siddartha were to be a king to unite the 8 kingdoms

2. An enlightened being (A Buddha)

Why did Siddartha lead a sheltered life?

His father prevented him from leaving so he may not become a buddha

How was Yasodhara chosen as his wife?

During a match-making banquet she had tripped and he reached to help her

What does the name Rahula suggest?

fetter = shackles; unwanted child

What are the 4 sights?

1. Old men = Aging

2. Sick Men = Sickness

3. Priests chanting prayers over a corpse = Death

4. Sramana

What type of preparations did the King arrange?

Everyone greeting Siddartha must be young and healthy

Chronology of the Great Renunciation

1. Comes back to confront his father

2. His father ups the guard and entertainment to distract his son

3. A fog swept through the palace and everyone fell into a slumber

4. Siddartha awakens and leaves the palace

What is the significance of Siddartha waking up?

• Budd → Bud → awakened one

• Him waking up during the slumber meant he has become a Sramana and everyone is stuck in Samsara

What is the goal of Siddartha’s search?

overcome his fears of aging, sickness and death

What skill did he learn from his teacher?

Meditation

Hoe did Siddartha initially attract his 5 disciples?

they witnessed the nagas protecting him from the rain

Examples of Siddartha practicing Asceticism

• ate bird droppings

• drink water from puddles

• naked

• lived in the forest

How did the behaviors of snakes influence mythology?

some snakes would come out during the rain which associated them with being lesser rain gods

If you ___ the string too much it will ___, if you leave it too ___ it will not play

tighten, snap, slack

What is the Middle Way Teaching?

• Path to enlightenment needs to be a in the middle of self-indulgence and asceticism

• Universal principle applicable to all beings

• Up to the individual to find their way

Who is Sujata and what’s her purpose?

• Wealthy village girl

• brought rice and milk as thanks to the Tree god for granting her wish for a husband and children

• however, she mistook Siddartha as the tree god and gave him her offerings

Why did Siddartha’s disciples leave him?

they saw him consume food/drink and bathe in the river which deviate from the path of asceticism

Why did he float the bowl in the river?

asking for a sign whether he should continue on the path of enlightenment

What vow did he make after floating the bowl?

made a seat out of straw under a tree and vowed to remain seated until he had reached enlightenment

Mara’s 5 Daughters

• Challenges

  • dressed in revealing clothes

  • swinging, singing, dancing

• Meaning

  • lust, greed, desire

  • temptations of the body

• Overcome

  • morality

  • to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds

Mara’s Army

• Challenge

  • Soldiers shot flaming arrows

  • arrows turned into petals

• Meaning

  • arrow represented a thought obstacle of the mind

  • worriness, distractions and negative thoughts

• Overcome

  • Stability

  • practice meditation

  • be unmoved

Mara Himself

• Challenge

  • pulled out his arm through the puddle

  • appeared as a reflection

• Meaning

  • twin figure

  • self-doubt

• Overcome

  • wisdom

  • realize that the reflection is an illusion

What does the Earth Represent?

• Earth goddess is his witness, has been with him in many life times

• remembered all good deeds from previous lives

What are the 2 dilemmas that Siddartha has after achieving Nirvana?

Should he stay in this world to teach and who shall he teach?

Which God appears to help Siddartha after his dilemma?

Brahma who tells him to use his third eye

The meal was originally described as a ___ ___ dish in the scriptures

pork delicacy

Why did Siddartha choose to eat the dish?

• he was paying off the negative karma and sacrificing himself

• overcame his fears

How did the type of meal change later in history?

Buddhism in India → Pork Delicacy

Buddhism in China → Mushroom (practiced vegetarianism)

What were the 2 discovery in Lumbini Park?

• found a wooden shrine

• first evidence of when he was born and confirmed he was form 6th century bce

What species of tree is the Bodhi tree?

Fig tree

What is Deer park?

place where he held his first sermon

Sariras

physical evidence of enlightenment

How was the Buddha prepared for death?

• washed

• cremated by the river