Chapter 3: Buddhism "Religion of Release"

Duhkha

________ (Suffering): moral and sentient existence includes change, pleasure, pain, and desire- these lead to attachment which leads to suffering and anguish.

What is Enlightenment?

(nirvana) is not personal or individual; all fields of suffering must be liberated.

What is Samsara?

It is the cycle of birth and death which is all marked by suffering.

What is Samudaya (Origin of Suffering)?

the origin is obsessive attachment to what we want and obsessive aversion to what we dont want.

Interdependent Origination

nothing is truly metaphysically independent; all things exist in relation to everything else.

Tibetans

________ mix indigenous religious practice with Buddhism (arriving around the 5th- 7th c. CE)

What is the Noble Eightfold Path?

virtues that are practiced collectively cure the aspirants of suffering.

Bodhisattvas

________ are spiritual warriors who delay their own salvation until all sentient beings achieve enlightenment.

fundamental spiritual problem

The ________ is suffering and anguish caused by ignorance, and the cure is understanding the noble truths and practicing to "wake up "to achieve enlightenment.

What do Buddhists believe?

they can overcome the misery of the world and reach their own Buddha status by a process of mental, spiritual, and moral purification.

Problem

Suffering

Solution

reach Nirvana

Buddhist canon has 3  main forms

Theravadin, Mahayana, and Tibetan

Four Noble Truths

find the root cause of suffering and cure it (enlightenment)

Noble Eightfold Path

 virtues that are practiced collectively cure the aspirants of suffering

Interdependent Origination

nothing is truly metaphysically independent; all things exist in relation to everything else

Samudaya (Origin of Suffering)

the origin is obsessive attachment to what we want and obsessive aversion to what we dont want

^^Nirodha ^^(Cessation of Suffering)

the cure is to practice ridding oneself of such obsession

1st Noble Truth

suffering, track the symptoms of sickness

2nd Noble Truth

 origin of suffering, diagnosis based on assessment of symptoms (the problem is attachment & aversion)

5 Skandhas

physical form, sensation-affection, perception, habits, consciousness

Theravada

"way of the elders" (sometimes called Hinayana, the smaller vehicle)

Mahayana

"the great/larger vehicle"

Sub division of Mahayana

Vajrayna

Other branches falling under Mahayana

Nichiren (Japan), Pure-Land Buddhism, more devotional in nature

Mahayana also focuses on "pure emptiness" (shunyata) meaning what?

zero, or formlessness

Problem and Solution in Buddhism

Problem: Suffering
Solution: reach Nirvana

The Four Passing Sights

Old age, disease, death, and a monk

Noble Eightfold Path

virtues that are practiced collectively cure the aspirants of suffering

Interdependent Origination

nothing is truly metaphysically independent; all things exist in relation to everything else

The Four Noble Truths

1. Duke: meaning suffering; pleasure, pain, and desire lead to attachment which leads to suffering and anguish

2. Samudaya: meaning origin of suffering; the origin is the obsessive attachment to what we want, and obsessive aversion to what we don't want

3. Nirodha: meaning cessation of suffering; the cure is to practice ridding oneself of such obsession

4. Marga: meaning the path - Eightfold Path; best accomplished through right views, intentions, right speech, action, etc.

What are the Keys to early Buddhist enlightenment experience?

1. understand the 4 Noble Truths

2. Follow the Eightfold Path

3. Understand everything is impermanent

4. Understand the 5 Skandhas (physical form, sensation-affection, perception, habits, consciousness)

Branches of Buddhism

Theravada & Mahayana

Theravada

"way of the elders"; practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and south-east Asia

Mahayana

"the great/larger vehicle"; practiced in Tibet, China, Thailand, and all of America/Europe

Vajrayana

A subdivision of Mahayana; a Lamaism/form of Mahayana with Tantric elements and indigenous Tibetan shamanism

What are the the Bodhisattva Saints of the Mahayana?

- Bodhisattvas are spiritual warriors who delay their own salvation until all sentient beings achieve enlightenment

- emphasis on compassion and altruism

- enlightenment (nirvana) is not personal or individual

Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism "The Three Baskets"

1. Vinaya Pitaka, "Discipline Basket"

2. Sutta Pitaka, "Discourse Basket"

3. The Abhidhamma Pitaka, "Special Teaching Basket"