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Transcript of Buddhism Highest law in life “Do no harm to any living creature” Dr. Jessica Stowell, OU...
Buddhism Buddhism
Highest law in lifeHighest law in life
““Do no harm to any Do no harm to any living creature”living creature”
Dr. Jessica Stowell, OU Confucius Institute, retired
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Axial Age 500BCEAxial Age 500BCE
the spiritual foundations of the spiritual foundations of humanity were laid humanity were laid simultaneously and simultaneously and
independently in China, India, independently in China, India, Persia, Judea, and Greece. Persia, Judea, and Greece.
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Where and how did Where and how did Buddhism begin?Buddhism begin?
ww.pacificasiamuseum.org/ww.pacificasiamuseum.org/buddhism/base.htmbuddhism/base.htm
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What do Buddhists What do Buddhists believe?believe?
multiple schools of thoughtmultiple schools of thought
local culture drives practiceslocal culture drives practicesMahayana & Chan/Zen Mahayana & Chan/Zen prevalent in East Asiaprevalent in East Asia
Ideal is BodhisattvaIdeal is Bodhisattva
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Bodhisattva Bodhisattva
http://www.pacificasiamuseuhttp://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/buddhism/base.htmm.org/buddhism/base.htm
Basic Buddhist ValuesBasic Buddhist Values
CompassionCompassion Suppression of Suppression of
egoego Living for Living for
othersothers
3 poisons in Buddhism3 poisons in Buddhism
DelusionDelusion CravingCraving HostilityHostility
5 precepts of Buddhism5 precepts of Buddhism
Do not killDo not kill Do not stealDo not steal Do not lieDo not lie Do not be unchasteDo not be unchaste Do not take drugs or drink Do not take drugs or drink
intoxicantsintoxicants
Buddhism in ChinaBuddhism in China
Arrived from India 1Arrived from India 1stst or 2 or 2ndnd century century CECE
Clashed with ConfucianismClashed with Confucianism– Redemptive power of charity & good Redemptive power of charity & good
worksworks
1100
Journey to the WestJourney to the West Xuan Zang brought sutras back to Xuan Zang brought sutras back to
ChinaChina Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian 634 CEWild Goose Pagoda in Xian 634 CE
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Migration of BuddhismMigration of Buddhism
Buddhism travels Buddhism travels
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Buddhist Temple Buddhist Temple activityactivity
http://youtube.com/watch?http://youtube.com/watch?v=eqMuY9Pj28gv=eqMuY9Pj28g
Basic Tenets of BuddhismBasic Tenets of Buddhism Four noble truthsFour noble truths
– Life is suffering—life brings frustration, Life is suffering—life brings frustration, dissatisfaction, sorrowdissatisfaction, sorrow
– The cause of suffering is desire for The cause of suffering is desire for private fulfillment --expectationsprivate fulfillment --expectations
– We overcome suffering by letting go of We overcome suffering by letting go of selfish desireselfish desire
– We let go of desire by following We let go of desire by following eightfold patheightfold path
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““All things are transitory; All things are transitory; those who realize this are those who realize this are
freed from suffering. This is freed from suffering. This is the path that leads to pure the path that leads to pure
wisdom”wisdom”
– The DhammapadaThe Dhammapada
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1155
The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold Path
realizing the 4 Noble Truths and realizing the 4 Noble Truths and making your way to Nirvanamaking your way to Nirvana
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1. Right Understanding1. Right Understanding
Seeing life as it isSeeing life as it is Knowing that happiness cannot come Knowing that happiness cannot come
from anything outsidefrom anything outside
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1177
2. Right Purpose2. Right Purpose willing, desiring and thinking that is willing, desiring and thinking that is
in line with life as it isin line with life as it is– order your life around learning to liveorder your life around learning to live
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3-5 Right speech, action & 3-5 Right speech, action & occupationoccupation
Live in harmony with the unity of lifeLive in harmony with the unity of life speak & act kindly speak & act kindly live for the welfare of alllive for the welfare of all do no harmdo no harm treat all creatures as yourselftreat all creatures as yourself
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1199
6. Right Effort6. Right Effort
constant endeavor to train oneself constant endeavor to train oneself in thought word and actionin thought word and action– break free from those who follow the break free from those who follow the
way of the worldway of the world
1199
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7. Right attention7. Right attention
keeping the mind where it should be keeping the mind where it should be ““an unruly mind suffers and brings an unruly mind suffers and brings
suffering; a well trained mind brings suffering; a well trained mind brings health and happiness”health and happiness”– focus on the positive, kindness, peace of focus on the positive, kindness, peace of
mindmind
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8. Right meditation8. Right meditation
means of training the mindmeans of training the mind ““as rain seeps through an ill as rain seeps through an ill
thatched hut, selfish passion will thatched hut, selfish passion will seep through an untrained mind”seep through an untrained mind”
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How does Buddhism How does Buddhism function in China now?function in China now?
20-50% claim Buddhist practice 20-50% claim Buddhist practice often blended with Taoism & often blended with Taoism &
Confucian thoughtConfucian thought
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The little creek…not religion, The little creek…not religion, not philosophy, but local not philosophy, but local
traditionstraditions It nourishes the spirit in…It nourishes the spirit in…
– The search for meaning in The search for meaning in contemporary Chinacontemporary China
Common Spiritual heritage : Common Spiritual heritage : TaoismTaoism, Buddhism, , Buddhism,
Confucianism Confucianism Centered on familyCentered on family Pivots on recognition of vital energyPivots on recognition of vital energy
—Qi-animating all reality—Qi-animating all reality World is a sacred place of power & World is a sacred place of power &
mysterymystery Humans must cooperate with the Humans must cooperate with the
power & make it operative in societypower & make it operative in society
Religious freedom or Religious freedom or restrictionrestriction
1982 Document 19 on religious 1982 Document 19 on religious policypolicy– Declared 5 religions legitimate:Declared 5 religions legitimate:
BuddhismBuddhism TaoismTaoism CatholicismCatholicism ProtestantismProtestantism IslamIslam
– Document is ambiguous & enforcement Document is ambiguous & enforcement capriciouscapricious
Buddhist templesBuddhist temples
Government funds used to restore Government funds used to restore temples destroyed during Cultural temples destroyed during Cultural RevolutionRevolution
New temples constructed with New temples constructed with private funds by monks & nunsprivate funds by monks & nuns– Gives donors merit through Gives donors merit through
contributionscontributions– Important to participate in moral revival Important to participate in moral revival
of Chinaof China
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COMPARISON TO OTHER COMPARISON TO OTHER MAJOR FAITH GROUPSMAJOR FAITH GROUPS
Your turnYour turn
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