Untitled Flashcards Set

Understanding world religions

• Faith - believing what you don't see, higher ideal/s

• Spirituality - what i do to achieve higher ideals 

• Religion - who else believes in it, includes everyone

• “Opium” - karl marx

• Credo - creed: i believe

Intersubjectivity 

• Helping others as it can affect you

• Why people band together (like in religion)

• To realize yourself, you must live and coexist with others

Worldviews

Religious 

• Rituals

• Common belief system

• Trend

• organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or gods

• Religare - to tie together, to bind fast

Spiritual/spirituality 

• Personal connection/journey 

• Derived from the latin term spiritus, meaning to breath

• People are surrounded by a divine reality as pervasive, intimate, necessary, and invisible as the air we breathe

• “Spirituality is something an individual can have without being implicated in the ambivalent complexity of human societies and institution” (Grassie 2010)

• One's integrative view of life and involves a quest for the meaning and ultimate value of life as opposed to an instrumentalist or materialistic attitude to life. Hence, one can be spiritual without being religious

Worldview

• A collection of beliefs about life and the universe being held by people

• Social environment and upbringing are critical in the development of a religious life

• People organize their beliefs and ideas while eventually creating a comprehensive narrative through which they look at the world and interrelate with it

• Achieved through travel, cultivation, developing insights with others (you have a say in this and that)

• No worldview = no co-existence

Belief systems or worldviews

• Monism - there is no real distinction between god and the universe.

• Polytheism - belief and worship of many gods. 

• Monotheism - the doctrine or believed in one supreme god. The creator of the universe and may have directed all events that led to the creation of everything. God created the universe

• Atheism - disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god

• Agnosticism - god cannot be known. They know there is a higher being, but they don’t follow the religious beliefs (refuse to join a religion but believe theres a god/s)

Theism - term used to mean monotheism

Theology

• Involves the systemic study of the existence and nature of the divine. It deals with the study of the nature and purpose of god that may be undertaken using a particular perspective. Theology is a study, not a formulation of religious beliefs

Philosophy of religion

• Studying the concepts and beliefs of the religions as well as the prior phenomena of religious experience and activities of worship and the meditation on which these belief systems rest and our of which they have arises

Religion theories

Animistic theories

All religions aim to get salvation

• History

• Introspection

Abrahamic Religions

• They all trace their origins to the great patriarch abraham and his descendants

• They believe that abraham and his family played a significant role in the beginning sof their respective faiths

• They share common beliefs: in one God; common roots to the patriarch Abraham; in heaven and hell; in prophets; in angels; in 

Judaism

• One of the oldest monotheistic religions originating in West Asia

• A religion professed by the jews known as the “people of the book”

• Jewish people consider themselves as  the chosen people of God as they must provide an example to the world dog their moral behavior

Historical Background

• The origin of the Jewish people and the beginning of Judaism are recording in the first five books of the Hebrew bible, the pentateuch

• Founding fathers (patriarchs): Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish people

• Judaism is anchored upon God’s revelation to Abraham that He is the creator and ruler of the universe, and that He loves His creatures and demands righteousness from them

• God entered into a covenant with Abraham, promising him that he would become the father of a great nation

• He would become the embodiment of uprightness and holiness to the world. Later on, he was succeeded by his son Isaac, his grandson Jacob and Jacob’s 12 sons

• The jewish people believe they were descended from a tribe in Canaan located in the eastern Mediterranean presently occupied by I*****, Jordan, and Syria

• A covenant has been established between God and Abram, and Abram must prove his worth to this agreement by way of tests of faith throughout his lifetime

Timeline

• Abram bore a son to Sarai’s Egyptian handmaid Hagar. He was named Ishmael who is considered as the ancestor of Arabs. However, Ishmael was not the heir to God’s promise

• Abram and Sara had a son named Isaac, the heir to God’s covenant and the ancestor of the Jewish People

• Isaac married Rebecca who bore him twin sons, Jacob and Esau. A close encounter with an angel merited him to a change of name from Jacob to “Israel” which means “the one who wrestled with God.” The Jewish people are referred to as the “children of Israel.”

• Jacob fathered 12 sons and 1 daughter. The 12 sons who became the ancestors of the tribes in Israel were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachhar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin

• Joseph is sold to slavery by his brothers

Socio-Political Dynamics of Judaism

• Kingship as the ideal form of government

• The concept of “covenant” between the ruler and the ruled is equally important

• They follow the model of tribal federation in which various tribes and institutions shared political power

• For the Jews, politics, society, culture, and religion are all interconnected, thus Judaism is not only considered a religion but as a way of life 

Sacred Scriptures

• The Jewish people have been called the “people of the book” in reference to the Hebrew bible (Tanakh or Mikra) that has been the authority, guide, and inspiration of the many forms of Judaism that have evolved in different places and times

• The Hebrew bible is divided into 3 principal sections, namely the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim

Torah

• “Teaching”

• Composed of the first five books or the Pentateuch traditionally believed to have been authored by Moses through divine instruction in Sinai

• The Pentateuch also narrates the history, religious statues, and moral regulations for individuals and society, ceremonial rites and creation stories by Yahwe, and the origin and growth of mankind

• Can also pertain to the entire Hebrew bible known as the old testament to non-Jews but Tankah(written torah) to the jews

• Broadly speaking, Torah could mean the whole body of Jewish laws and teachings

Nevi’im

• “Prophet”

• subdivided into Earlier prophets, Later Prophets, and 12 minor prophets

• Prophets served as spokespersons who criticize the hypocritical practices of Jewish rituals. They were specifically chosen by God to preach his message to the people

Kevutim

• “Writings”

• Contains works on poetry, temple ritual, private prayer, philosophical explorations, and other canonical works

Talmud (Oral Torah)

• “study”

• An authoritative collection of rabbinic interpretation of the sacred scriptures, which contains materials of law and moral code

• Circa 2nd century C.E., this oriel law was compiled and written down as Mishnah or a restatement of the law by a respected opinion

• The next few centuries witnessed the writing of an additional strand of commentaries in Jerusalem and Babylonia about the Mishnah. Known as Gemara, it includes legends, folklores, and sayings

Pentateuch Talmud Mishnah

• With all these codified laws and legal materials, Judaism has become a religion of the law and the Jews as the chosen people have shown obedience to God’s covenant throughout their long tumultuous history

Beliefs and Doctrines

• In Judaism, actions are more significant than beliefs. However, while Judaism has no dogma, there is definitely a place for belief within the religion since it focuses on the worship of one god, the practice of good deeds, and the love of learning

• For the Jews, there is one everlasting god who created the universe in its entirety and remains the master of it

• A

Articles of Faith

• God exists

• God is one and unique

• God is incorporeal

• God is eternal

• Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other

• The words of the prophets are true

• Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets

• The written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moses

• There will be no other Torah 

• God knows the thoughts and deeds of men

• God will reward the good and punish the wicked

• The messiah will come

• The dead will be resurrected

Ten commandments

• Set of absolute laws given by God to moses at the Biblical mount Sinai that shall govern the life of every Israelite

• Most scholars consider this period as the official beginning of Judaism as a belief system

• Inscribed on 2 stones tables, these commandments present God’s complete and enduring standard for morality

• Apart from the 10 commandments, there are also 613 mitzvot or laws found within the torah

Worship and Observances

• Jewish holidays are special days observed to commemorate key events in Jewish history and other events that depict special connections with the world, such as creation, revelation, redemption.

• Sabbath - the most important day in the Jewish calendar which commemorates God’s completion of the creation of the universe and his rest after six days of work. Jews must refrain from work and must study the Torah

• Days of awe - Tishri is the seventh month in the ecclesiastical year of the Jewish calendar. The first 10 days of Tishri are called the “Days of Awe” (Yamim Noraim) wherein the first 2 days compromise the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) which is also a day of judgement wherein God assesses one’s deeds and decides what lies ahead of them in the following year and the tenth day as the Day of Atonement(Yom Kippur) which is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish Calendar that brings the period of repentance to its conclusion. It is a day of fasting and praying for absolution of one’s sins, it provides every Jew an opportunity for both personal and communal repentance. The Jews rededicate their temple, lighting an oil lamp to celebrate 

• Synagogues - Jewish temples of worship, instruction, and community fellowship

Positives and Negatives of Religion

Religion

• Supports social stability and cohesiveness

• One paradox of religion is how is something so unifying can divide people

Positives

Promotes Social Harmony

• Provides divine authority to ethical and moral principle that unify people

• Common participation in rituals promotes social cohesiveness 

• Rituals and practices bring people together

• Examples: going to church, filial piety (confucianism) and Ahimsa (Jainism), which emphasize respect and non-violence

Provides Moral values

• Helps distinguish between right and wrong

• Administers a system of reward and punishments that standardizes behavior in society

The unknown

• Provides for phenomena that science or reason cannot explain, such as the origin of life and concepts of the afterlife

Positive goals

• Suggests that everyone has a purpose in life

• Figures like Moses, Siddharta Guatama, and Muhammad exemplify lives dedicated to fulfilling a divine mission

Belongingness

• People with shared belief and rituals gain a sense of belonging and security within their community

Social change 

• Advocates for social issue , like the US churches’ role in civil liberties and anti-slavery movements

• Examples include Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin’s involvement in the “People power revolution” in the Philippines and Gandhi’s passive resistance for India’s independence

Negatives

Fundamentalism

• Strict adherence to orthodox beliefs can lead to religious conflict

• Example: the roman catholic church adopted a hierarchical structure similar to Rome, Confucianism emphasized ruler-subject relationships, and India’s caste system

Conflict

• Jews vs Muslims in Palestine

• Muslims and Hindus in Kashmir

• Christians, Muslims, and Animists in Sudan

Discrimination

• Religion can be a source of discrimination such as homosexuality (Catholicism’s stance on homosexuality, Islamic head covering-practices)

• Some religions view themselves as the “only way” to salvation

Economic tool

• Karl marx viewed religion as the o”pium of the masses” used by the ruling class to maintain a favorable social class

Progress

• Historical beliefs (flat-earth theory, geocentric model) were challenged by scientific discoveries

• George lemaitre, a catholic priest, proposed the big bang theory

Controversies

• Some religious groups oppose reproductive health programs, embryonic stem-cell research, and other scientific advancements

Faith vs reason

• Examples of practices opposing reason include Ancient trepanning (boring holes in the skull to release evil spirits) and suicide bombing, often associated with certain beliefs around jihad

Summary: Religion brings both unity and division, offering moral guidance but sometimes leading to conflict

Christianity

Symbols

The cross 

• serves as a symbol ofJesus Christ’s victory over sins when He died on the cross for humanity’s redemption and salvation. 

• Christ died on the cross and the cross serves as a reminded of the sacrifices made by God in order for humanity to live

Ichthus

• Looks like a fish

• It was used by persecuted Christians as a secret sign when meeting other Christians

• When meeting strangers on the way, a christian would draw one arc of the fish outline, and if the stranger drew the other half it means they are both christians and therefore safe in each other’s company

• Christians made an acrostic from the greek word for fish, which is “itchys”: Iseous Christos Theou Yios Soter, meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior 

Historical Background

• Developed in Palestine around 100 C.E

• Jesus, considered to be the son of God and Messiah or savior, laid the foundation of Christianity

• Regarded as an offshoot of judaism, christianity has survived and even surpassed Judaism and other religions in terms of number of adherents

• Today, Christianity is divided into 3 major sects-Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox church and protestantism

Judea

• Home of Christianity

• Judaism was the dominant religion in Palestine and it was considered by the Jews as the land promised to them by God

• Successive powers have dominated Mesopotamia and nearby territories, including Palestine which is considered to have a desirable location

• Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, Roman empire conquered Palestine

Rome

• Christianity was born in an era when Palestine was ruled by foreign power, the Romans.

• Conditions were ripe for the beginning of a new religion since the concept of Messiah (which was promised in Judaism as the one who will liberate them from the evils of the world) proved to be very attractive for a group of people being colonized by a foreign power

• Social conditions cooperated with the relatively free atmosphere created by Agustus’ Pax Romana or Roman Peace

• The birth of Jesus paved the way for the development and spread of a new religion called Christianity

• Since it was Rome that was responsible for the spread of christianity, the hierarchical nature of the Catholic church took on the form of the Roman political structures, which has a patriarchal nature. Thus, women were excluded from the hierarchy and can also serve as nuns 

Eastern Orthodox church

• It consists of the christian churches that formally separated from the Roman Catholic Church is 1054 when the bishop of rome, Pope Leo IX, and the patriarch of constantinople,  Michael Celarius, excommunicated one another because of some disagreements

• These churches include greek, russian, serbian, romanian, and bulgarian orthodox churches

Sacred Scriptures

• The old testament - composed of 46 books

• The new testament - composed of 27 books

• The 10 commandments - set of laws given by God to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses

Seven Sacraments

• Baptism

• Confirmation

• Communion

• reconciliation/confession

• anointing of the sick

• Marriage

• Holy orders

Islam - The religion of peace

Historical Background

• Islam began with the arabian desert people around seventh century 

• They developed their own set of beliefs prior to the formal establishment of Islam and had been influenced by other religions for a long period of time, such as Byzantine Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism

• Arabian people were also familiar with Judaism - Several dessert tribes were Jewish origin

• The single most important factor that accelerated the development of a new religion in the Arabian religion was the native religion practiced by Arabs

• The pre-islamic religion was also an animisti character

• A meteoric stone had fallen in Mecca centuries before became an object of veneration

Kaaba

Life of Muhammad

• Around 570 CE, Muhammad Ibn Adullah was born in the oasis town of Mecca in the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula

• He worked as a caravan worker travelling across the Arabian peninsula

• He met and conversed with Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrianism

• He learned the various ways and means of their belief system

• He used to retreat to Mount Hira near mecca in search of the truth about God

• Muhammad later married an older wealthy widow named Khadija, who owned a caravan

• Around 610 CE, he began hearing the voices of God in a cave on the summit of Mt. Hira, just outside Mecca

• The term islam originated from an Arabic word meaning “Submit”

• Islam means - to surrender or submit oneself for obedience to God

• Allah is a compound of Al(the definite article, the) and ilah (god or deity)

• In short, Allah called “The one who is god)

• Hajira marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar

Quran

• The sacred writing of the Muslims

• It is the revelation from God of his speech (Kalam) and the foundation of Islam religion

• It is the supreme authority in all matters of faith, theology, and Law

• In 610 CE, Muhammad received  the first revelations, he was commanded by angel Gabriel to “iqra” or “recite”

• All muslims believe that the Quran is a copy of eternal scripture written in heaven but made known to Muhammad chapter by chapter

• People say it’s controversial 

• Almost the same length as the new testament

• The chapters are called surahs while the verses are called ayahs that mean evidence or sign

• There are 114 chapters in the Quran wherein 86 are meccan(northern) while 28 are medinian(southern)

• A person able to memorize the entire quran is called hafiz (guardian)

Hadith

• The second scripture behind the quran

• Collected deeds and sayings of Muhammad and his followers that is the second source of Shari’a law

• Hadiths were collected generations after the death of Muhammad

• Around the 9th century CE, Muslims scholars undertook a number of great systematic collection of Hadiths that are known as Katub al-Sittah or the Six Sahih (authentic) books

Beliefs

• Islam began as a way of life(din) for its followers which God intended for his creation from the very beginnings

• God sent several prophets such as Musa (Moses), and Isa(Jesus) to summon people back to the din as a result of human rebellion and transgression

• While islam’s approach to life and death, origins of the universe, and the nature of mankind is simple, it is also rigid and uncompromising

• Islam advocates for the establishment of one single community or Ummah

• The ummah was a community bigger than the tribe, demanding a loyalty which came before loyalty to kinsfolk

• A muslim must not fight a fellow muslim

Five pillars of islam

Hajj

• pilgrimage to Makkah

• All muslims must attempt to take the pilgramage to Mecca or Jajj (visitation of holy places) at least once in their life

• They believe that the Kaaba was originally built for the worship of God by Abraham and his son Ishmael

• The kaaba represents the end of journey because it is the symbolic point of origin of all creation

Sawm 

• Fasting or sawm during the entire 30 days of Ramadan, must be performed by all Muslims every year

• Ramadan is believed to be the month when Muhammad received the first surah of the Quran

• A muslim must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging sexual intimacy from dusk until dawn

• Culminates with the “Feast of breaking the fast” (Id al-Fitr)

• They hold congregational prayers and exchanges presents 

• They are obligated to fast the longest and strictest of all

• Sick people, children are exempted

Zakat

• This almsgiving was for the benefit of the poor, widows, and orphans through an act of charity

• It became mandatory amounting to a certain percentage of a Muslim’s total resources

• giving 2.5% of savings to the poor

• The zakat is payable the moment a muslim has accumulated sufficient resources starting with a basic rate of 2.5% of a person's entire asset including savings, jewel, and land

Salat

• Obligatory prayers

• Prayers are done for spiritual development so that Muslim’s character and conduct remains sound and healthy

• When they pray facing in the direction of Mecca or qiblah 5 times  day - before sunrise (as-subh), noon (az-zuhr), mid-afternoon (al-asr), immediately after sunset(al-maghreb) and before midnight(al-misha)

Shahada

• The creed

• “I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the apostle (messenger) of God”

• If one wants to convert to the Islam religion, they utter this statement

Islamic ritual/terms

• 5 pillars

• Strict law for personal living

• Jihad - holy war

  • A frequently mistranslated term, jihad, means “effort” or “struggle”to convince unbelievers to pursue the Muslim way of life

  • It vould mean a Muslim going to war to wipe out infedels in the name of Allah

  • Islamic law opposes all violent means except in cases of war or legally sanctioned punishment of criminals

• Festivals throughout the year

Military and terrorism

• Islam is a religion of mercy and prohibits terrorism

• During Muhammad;s term, he procribed his soldiers to kill women and children, and even listed murder as the second of major sins

• Muslims who promote terrorism and mass slaughter of innocent civilians do not embody islamic ideals

• The presence of violence in islamic society cannot be attributed to the teachings of islam but to the failing of human adherents of the religion

Dharmic religions

• They emerged from the vast subcontinent of India, a land of complexity and diversity in terms of people, culture, practices, customs, and traditions

• Central to their fundamental teachings are the belief in the DHARMA

• The term has no exact and specific translation in the western

• For the hindus, Dharma could mean an individual’s appropriate behavior or duty to be fulfilled in observance of a custom or law

• For the buddhists, it could mean universal law and order, or the Buddha’s teaching itself

• Hinduism is the 3rd world’s largest religion

Hinduism

• Originated in India, not China

• It is the world’s oldest organized religion that began on the Indian subcontinent with no specific moment of origin and no specific founder

• The term Hindu originated from the Persian word hindu

• Believers usually refer to the Sanatana Dharma or “Eternal religion” when they refer to Hinduism

• In essence, Hinduism is a religion of Dharma, which is the timeless order of all life

• Dharma means “duty”, “correct practice”, “truth” in Hindu belief and practice that which holds the universe together

• The name Hinduism was given to describe the wide array of belief in india

• Originally known as “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way”

• Historically, the foundations of Hindusim may have originated from the customs of the early peoples of the Indus valley

• Classical Hinduism resulted in the amalgamation of their faiths

• 6th century BCE, they began to settle into cities while local leaders started organizing small kingdoms for themselves 

Sacred texts

Shruti

• Means “that which is heard”

• They are regarded as eternal truths that were passed orally until the beginning of the present age wherein there came the need to write them down

• Samhitas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and a few Sutras from the shruti and are considered primary sources ad the most authoritative texts of the Hindu faith

Vedas

• Means knowledge or sacred lore

• the earliest known Sanskrit literature from the Brahamanic period and oldest scriptures of Hinduism

• Rig Veda 

  • most important and oldest religious book in the world  that dates back to around 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE

  • Apart from being the  oldest work of literature in an Indo-European language, it is also the oldest living religious literature of the world

  • It’s Collection of hymns and verses dedicated to the Aryan pantheon of Gods

• Yajur Vida 

  • “knowledge of rites.”

  • Compilation of materials recited during rituals and sacrifices to deities 

• Sama-Veda 

  • “knowledge of chants.”

  • Collection of verses from the basic hymns recited by priests during sacrifices

• Atharva Veda 

  • “Knowledge given by the sage Atharva”

  • contains numerous spells and incantations for medicinal purposes and medical aids to victory in battle among others

Parts of Vedas

• Mantras - hymns and chants for praising God

• Brahmanas - explanations of the mantras with details descriptions of the sacrificial ceremonies related to them

• Aranyakas - the mediations that explicate their meaning

• Upanishads 

  • transcend rituals to elucidate the nature of the universe and human’s connection with it (philosophy of vedas)

  • Translates as “sitting down near” or “sitting close to” as it implies listening intently to the mystic teachings of a spiritual teacher who has fully understood the universal truths

  • It could also mean “brahma-knowledge” whereby ignorance is totally eliminated

  • Sri aurobindo, an indian nationalist and philosopher described the upanishads as the “supreme work of the indian mind”

  • All fundamental teachings and concepts about Hinduism are found in these profound treatises- such as karma (action), samsara(reincarnation), moksha(nirvana), atman(soul), and Brahman (Absolute Almighty)

Gods and Goddesses

Shmiriti

• Means “that which has been remembered”

• Writings serve to reinforce shruti and are interpreted by sages and scholars alike

• The greats epics Ramayana and Mahabhara, which contains the philosophical poem Bhagvad Gita, are part of the Shmiriti

Ramayana

• Central to the story is Rama, a prince of 

• Acted in south east asia

Mahabarata

• Composed of 100,000 verses making it the worlds longest poem and epic

• A struggle of the kingdom called

Bhagavad Gita

• A celebrated episode within the Mahabarata 

Beliefs and Doctrines

• Human beings have dual nature: the spiritual and immortal essence (soul) which is considered real: and the empirical life and character

• True knowledge (vidya) consists an understanding of 

• Law of karma - when a person dies, a person is reborn as another being 

Caste system

• Brahmins - the highest in the hierarchy and the purest among all castes. They serve as ritual experts and handle sacred writing (Vedas)

• Kshatriyas - consist of political rulers and warriors, those who defend the territory against invaders

• Vaishyas - makes up the economic specialists and merchants. They are responsible for producing food and other goods and exchanging them in markets for the benefit of all

• Shudras - the manual laborers. They are considered impure because of the nature of their job - trash collectors, embalmers, undertakers, (those who work in graveyard)

Samsara

• Cycle of birth and rebirth

Buddhism

• One of the most practical among the world's greatest religions because its belief system intends to meet basic human needs and solve humankind’s spiritual problem without depending on supernatural forces

• There is no central figure or God 

Theravada Buddhism

• School of elder monks or school of ancients

• Also called southern school of buddhism

• Based on the Pali Canon, the oldest recorded texts of Buddhist teachings

• It preserved the original teachings of Siddhartha with pristine

• Existed for over 2500 without drastic schisms

• Despite doctrinal differences, relationships between subgroups remain good

• Siddhartha Gautama’s life serves as a constant source of inspiration

Life of Buddha

• Siddhartha Guatama born in 563-480 BCE in Lumbini (modern day Nepal)

• Born a Kshatriya, his father Suddhodana, was an aristocratic chieftain, and his mother, Mahamaya, was a Koliyan princeess

• At birth, Siddhartha declared: “I have been born to achieve awakening (Bodhi) for the good of the world: this is my last birth

Early life

• A seer, Asita, predicted Siddhartha’s destiny for either political or spiritual ascendency

• Siddhartha grew up shielded from suffering in a luxurious palace life

• Married Yasodhara (his cousin) at 16; had a son, Rahula

• At 29, discontent drove Siddhartha to leave his family to search for truth and liberation 

4 encounters

• The beggar - illness is unavoidable

• The corpse - death is inevitable 

• The old - aging is inevitable

• The monk - tranquility in renouncing worldly pleasures

Realizations

• Absurdity of extreme asceticism

• Advocated the “Middle path” between self-indulgence and self-denial

• Achieved enlightenment under the bodhi tree after 49 days of meditation

• After teaching for 45 year and forming a spiritual community (sangha), buddha passed away at age 80 saying “Subject to decay are all component things. Strive earnestly to work out your own salvation”

Sacred Scripture

• The pali canon or the Tipitaka/Tripitaka (three baskets) is the standard collection of scriptures of Theravada buddhists which is the first known, the most conservative, and the most complete 

• Sutta Pitaka (discourse) - buddha’s doctrinal discourses; short poems to long prose narratives about Siddhartha’s previous lives

• Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) - rules of discipline

• Abidha

Principles of Buddhism

• Dukkha - life is suffering

• Samodaya - desire causes suffering

• Niroddha - end desire, end suffering

• Magga - follow the eightfold path

Eightfold path

• View

• Intention 

• Speech

• Action

• Livelihood

• Effort

• Mindfulness

• Concentration 

5 uncontrollable processes

• Aging

• Sickness

• Death

• Decay

• Dying

Summary

• I take refuge in the Buddha

• I take refuge in the Dharma (teaching)

• I take refuge in the Sangha (community)