Introduction to Buddhism

FUNDAMENTALS
FUNDAMENTALS OF OF
INDIAN
INDIAN PHILOSOPHY:
PHILOSOPHY:
Society,
Society,Religion
Religionand
andSpirituality
Spirituality

 CULTURE, RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

ARE INSEPARABLE

 NOT INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY FOR ITS

OWN SAKE
 INTRODUCTION TO
BUDDHISM

UNIVERSAL UNTIL
UNTIL 4TH
4TH -- 5TH
5TH
CHANGE CENTURY
CENTURY A.D. A.D.
and BUDDHISM
BUDDHISM
RIVALED
RIVALED
IMPERMANENCE
CONFUCIANISM
CONFUCIANISM
(NON-ATMAN) AND
ANDTAOISM
TAOISM
 SCHOOL
SCHOOL OF
OF THOUGHTS
THOUGHTS

1. DHYANA
1. DHYANA(CONCENTRATION)
(CONCENTRATION)

To MEDITATE,
To MEDITATE, achieve
achieve CALMNESS
CALMNESS OF
OF MIND
MIND as
as to
to
remove IGNORANCE
remove IGNORANCEAND ANDDELUSIONS
DELUSIONS

2. PRAJNA
2. PRAJNA(WISDOM)
(WISDOM)
Togain
To gain WISDOM
WISDOM that
thatTHINGS
THINGSPOSSESS
POSSESSNO
NOSELF
SELF
FOUR BASIC ENDS OF HUMAN
LIFE (PURUSARTHAS)

1.
1. DHARMA
DHARMA--DUTIES
DUTIESand
and
OBLIGATIONS
OBLIGATIONS
2.
2. ARTHA
ARTHA-- MEANS
MEANSof
ofSUPPORT
SUPPORT
3.
3. KAMA
KAMA-- PURPOSE
PURPOSEofofWEALTH
WEALTH
4.
4. MOKSHA
MOKSHA--to
toEMANCIPATE,
EMANCIPATE,to
to
RELEASE
RELEASE(CONQUER
(CONQUER
IGNORANCE)
IGNORANCE)
 BUDDHIST TEACHINGS

SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA
SIDDHARTA
 GAUTAMA
of the
of the SAKYA
SAKYA clan
clan
(560-477 B.C.)
(560-477 B.C.)

RIDDLES OF
RIDDLES
 OF
SUFFERING, OLD
SUFFERING, OLD AGE,
AGE,
DEATH AND
DEATH AND DISEASE
DISEASE
 FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1. LIFE is full of SUFFERING.

2. SUFFERING is caused by passionate
DESIRES, LUSTS, CRAVINGS.
3. ONLY as these are OBLITERATED WILL
SUFFERING CEASE.
4. SUCH ERADICATION OF DESIRE
maybe accomplished by following THE
EIGHT-FOLD PATH.
 EIGHT-FOLD PATH

 RIGHT BELIEF in and the ACCEPTANCE OF

THE FOUR-FOLD TRUTH

 RIGHT ASPIRATION

 RIGHT SPEECH

 RIGHT CONDUCT
 EIGHT-FOLD PATH
 RIGHT MEANS OF
LIVELIHOOD

 RIGHT ENDEAVOR

 RIGHT
MINDFULNESS

 RIGHT MEDITATION
 SIX PARAMITAS

 ALMSGIVING  ENDEAVOR

 OBSERVANCE  MEDITATION
OF PRECEPTS

 PATIENCE  WISDOM
“You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy,"
“Peace comes from within." "Do not seek it without."
- Buddha, or "Enlightened One"

Attained
enlighten
ment at
the age of
35
 Summary: Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.)

Hindu prince rejected his wealth and searched for years until he found
enlightenment through meditation. The holy man came to be known as
Buddha, "one who is awake."

At 29, he left his home and his family in search of meaning. Buddhist tradition
calls this decision The Great Renunciation. For 49 days he sat under the bo
tree, the tree of wisdom. Demons tempted him, but he resisted.

As he sat, his knowledge transcended life and death ... he reached nirvana, a
state of complete peace, free of human limitations. With his Enlightenment,
Buddha celebrated the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.“

Through physical discipline and self-denial, Buddha taught equality and

believed that people are the masters of their own fate. “All we are is a
result of what we have thought," he said.