Post on 08-May-2015
Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley Hs Chappaqua,
NY
Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley Hs Chappaqua,
NY
Religions of South Asia
Religions of South Asia
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
Basic Facts of Buddhism
Basic Facts of Buddhism
The “middle way of The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”wisdom and compassion.”
2,500 year old tradition.2,500 year old tradition. The 3 jewels of Buddhism:The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
BuddhaBuddha, the teacher., the teacher. DharmaDharma, the teachings., the teachings. SanghaSangha, the community, the community..
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
Born in NE India Born in NE India (Nepal).(Nepal).
Raised in great luxuryRaised in great luxuryto be a king.to be a king.
At 29 he rejectedAt 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life tohis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentseek enlightenmentand the source ofand the source ofsuffering.suffering.
Lived a strict life for 6 yrs.Lived a strict life for 6 yrs. He sat in meditation, and found He sat in meditation, and found
nirvananirvana.. Became Became “The Enlightened One,”“The Enlightened One,”
at 35.at 35.
What is the fundamental cause
of all suffering?
What is the fundamental cause
of all suffering?
Desire!Desire! Therefore, extinguish the self, Therefore, extinguish the self,
don’t obsess about oneself.don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths1.1. There is suffering in There is suffering in
the world. To live is to the world. To live is to suffer.suffer.
(The Buddha found (The Buddha found this out when he was this out when he was young and young and experienced suffering experienced suffering and death in others.)and death in others.)
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
2.2. The cause of The cause of suffering is self-suffering is self-centered desire centered desire and attachments.and attachments.
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
3.3. The solution is to The solution is to eliminate desire eliminate desire and attachments – and attachments – to reachto reachNirvanaNirvana
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths4.4. To reach To reach nirvananirvana, one , one
must follow the must follow the Eightfold Path. Eightfold Path.
Eightfold PathEightfold Path
NirvanaNirvana The union with the The union with the ultimate ultimate spiritual reality. spiritual reality.
Escape from the cycle of Escape from the cycle of
rebirth. rebirth.
Buddha – 19c Thailand
Buddha – 19c Thailand
Buddhist AltarBuddhist Altar
The DalaiLama
The DalaiLama
zen Buddhismzen BuddhismThe “Meditation School.”The “Meditation School.”Seeks sudden enlightenment Seeks sudden enlightenment
through meditation, arriving through meditation, arriving at emptiness.at emptiness.
Use of meditation mastersUse of meditation mastersBeauty, art, and aesthetics:Beauty, art, and aesthetics:
Gardens.Gardens. Archery.Archery. Tea ceremony.Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.Calligraphy.
Buddhism in America (1999)
Buddhism in America (1999)
Distribution of Buddhism Centers
in the US, 2001
Distribution of Buddhism Centers
in the US, 2001