Buddhism Study Notes

Buddhism

Fast Facts

  • Approximately 500 million Buddhists worldwide.
  • There is a variety of Buddhist groups, but all share a common connection through the Buddha, Siddattha Gotama.
  • The Buddha was born in the Sakka region over 2500 years ago.
  • He married Yasodhara, a princess.

The Four Sights

The Buddha encountered four significant sights that led to his spiritual quest:

  1. Old Man / Old Age
  2. Disease
  3. Death
  4. Encounter with an Ascetic lifestyle, inspiring his search for enlightenment.

Gotama's Teachers

The Buddha studied under various teachers during his quest for enlightenment:

  • Alara
  • Uddaka
  • Kalama
  • Ramputta

Community and Text

  • The Buddha's followers formed the sangha, which is a Pali term for community.
  • Pali is a language similar to what the Buddha spoke (Old Magadhi) and the language of the Pali Canon.
  • The Pali Canon is the most complete collection of Buddha's teachings (sutras) and contains the earliest accounts of his life and teachings.
  • Sutra refers to the discourses or sermons of the Buddha preserved in Buddhist scriptures.

Later Years of the Buddha

  • Information about Gotama’s last years is found in the Mahaparinibbana Sutra.
  • Parinirvana refers to the Buddha’s final state of nirvana after death.

Teachings of the Buddha

  • "Dharma is for crossing over, not for retaining."
Interdependent Origination
  • An essential concept in Buddhism, defined by Sariputta as: “whoever sees [Interdependent Origination] sees Dharma, whoever sees Dharma sees [Independent Origination].”
  • Also known as Conditioned Arising, this idea alongside Nirvana represents profound truths understood at the Buddha’s awakening.
12 Nidanas: Causes of Existence Leading to Dukkha
  1. Spiritual Ignorance
  2. Constructing Activities
  3. (Discriminative) Consciousness
  4. Sentient Body
  5. Six Sense Bases
  6. Sensory Stimulation
  7. Feeling
  8. Craving
  9. Grasping
  10. Becoming
  11. Birth
  12. Aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, unhappiness, and distress.

Three Marks of Existence

  1. Impermanence
  2. Suffering
  3. No-self

The Five Skandas

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The Four Noble Truths

  1. Suffering is inherent in life.
  2. The cause of suffering is desire.
  3. There is a way to end desire and suffering.
  4. The way is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Noble Eightfold Path: The Middle Path

  1. Right View: Understanding things as they are according to Buddha’s teachings.
  2. Right Intention: Commitment to tread the path of enlightenment.
  3. Right Speech: Speaking kindly and truthfully.
  4. Right Action: Abstaining from harm, theft, and misconduct.
  5. Right Livelihood: Earning a living without harming others.
  6. Right Effort: Striving to abandon harmful actions and cultivate virtues.
  7. Right Mindfulness: Focused awareness of mind and body.
  8. Right Concentration: Developing stages of concentration leading to equanimity.

Three Main Buddhist Traditions

  1. Theravada
  2. Mahayana
  3. Vajrayana

Ashoka

  • First great champion of Buddhism
  • Member of the Mauyan Dynasty
  • Ruled India from 272-231 BCE, converting to Buddhism in 260 BCE.

Theravada Buddhism

  • Known as “The way of the Elders.”
  • Found primarily in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma.
  • Emphasizes individual efforts to achieve nirvana.
  • Buddha is viewed as a human teacher, no longer affecting the living.
  • Monastic life is central; Arhats are considered the ideal.
Theravada Texts
  • Tripitaka (Three Baskets) includes:
    • Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline)
    • Sutra Pitaka (Discourses)
    • Abhidharma Pitaka (Texts about Dharma)

Mahayana Buddhism

  • Predominant in East Asia and parts of South Asia, more liberal in practice.
  • Known as “Buddhism for the masses,” everyone can achieve nirvana.
  • Views Gotama as an expression of ultimate reality.
Mahayana Concepts
  • Trikaya (Three Bodies):
    1. Nirmanakaya: Earthly form of the Buddha.
    2. Samboghakaya: Celestial level of expression.
    3. Dharmakaya: Ultimate truth beyond forms.
Mahayana Ideals
  • Vowing to postpone nirvana for the sake of others (Bodhisattva Vow).
  • 6 Perfections of Bodhisattva:
    1. Generosity
    2. Morality
    3. Patience
    4. Energy
    5. Meditation
    6. Wisdom
Mahayana Texts
  • Notable texts include:
    • Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
    • Lotus Sutra
    • Emphasis on Bodhichitta - aspiration to enlightenment to benefit others.

Vajrayana

  • Prevalent in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia.
  • Integrates Tantra Hinduism with bodhisattva ideals.
  • Known as the Diamond Vehicle or Thunderbolt Vehicle.
  • Features Lamas (teachers) and practices like Deity yoga.
Vajrayana Texts
  • Includes Pali Canon and Buddhist Tantras.

Three Jewels of Buddhism

  1. I take refuge in the Buddha.
  2. I take refuge in the Dharma.
  3. I take refuge in the Sangha.

Most Important Ethical Practices

  1. Not killing or causing harm.
  2. Not stealing.
  3. Avoiding sexual misconduct.
  4. Not lying.
  5. Avoiding intoxicants.

Meditation Practices

  • Includes Samatha and Vipassana.
  • Walking Meditation, Visualization, and Chanting are also practiced.

Holidays and Festivals

  • Vesak: Commemorates the Buddha’s birth and transition to Parinirvana, celebrated on the first full moon of the month of Vesakha.