BUDDHISM
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• Identify the religious practices and
beliefs;
• Understand the self in relation with religious
beliefs; and
• Evaluate the Eight-fold Path in terms of how it
achieves the Middle Way
Buddhism…
BUDDHIST MONKS
Siddhartha Gautama (better known as the
Buddha) was, according to legend, a Hindu
prince who renounced his position and
wealth to seek enlightenment as a spiritual
ascetic, attained his goal and, in preaching
his path to others, founded Buddhism in
India in the 6th-5th centuries BCE.
BELIEFS
• Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal
spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep
insight into the true nature of life and do not worship
gods or deities.
• Buddhists believe in rebirth and reincarnation, and
that if a person releases their attachment to desire
and the self, they can attain Nirvana, a state of
liberation and freedom from suffering.
More simply , suffering exists; it has a cause; it
has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its
end.
DHARMA WHEEL OR 8 FOLD PATH
Right view (know the
truth)
Right intentions
Right mindfulness
(free your mind of
(control your thoughts)
evil)
Right speech (say
Right concentration
nothing that hurts
(practice meditation)
other)
Right effort Right action (work
(resist evil) for the good of
others)
Right livelihood (respect
life)
It gives a Buddhists a path they can
follow to end suffering
8 guiding principles that suggest
the way to end suffering
ultimately achieve
enlightenment.
Buddhists conceive of the
world as a suffering-laden
cycle of life, death,
and rebirth, without
beginning or end, known
as SAMSARA. Beings are
driven from life to life in
this system by karma,
which is activated by their
good or ill actions
committed in this life as
well as previous lives.
Rebirth in Buddhism
refers to the
teaching that the
actions of a
sentient being lead
to a new existence
after death, in an
endless cycle
called saṃsāra.
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and
happiness, like heaven. In Buddhism,
nirvana is the highest state that someone
can attain, a state of enlightenment,
meaning a person's individual desires
and suffering go away.
Nirvana is when a person,
characteristically an enlightened
Buddhist monk, has spent all their
karma and will no longer be
reborn
Siddhartha
Gautama was the
first person to
reach this state of
enlightenment and
was, and is still
today, known as
the Buddha
Rituals and Ceremonies
•Meditation - Buddhists may use
meditation to open themselves to a higher
state of awareness. Meditation is central to
Buddhism.
2 types of meditation practices: Samatha &
Vipassana
.
•Samatha meditation - This is known as calming
meditation and Buddhists believe that it leads to deeper
concentration. It is important as it allows Buddhists to let go
of cravings and therefore achieve NIRVANA. It focuses on
mindfulness of breathing.
•Vipassana meditation - This is known as
insight meditation. When a Buddhist
meditates, they believe that they can see
things as they really are. This allows them to
gain realization and understand the
impermanence of things and the nature of
reality. It is not just about focusing on
breathing - it is also about focusing on
exploration. It can even be done when
walking.
Meditation is essential in Buddhism.
Therefore, in order to
achieve enlightenment, Buddhists
must know how to meditate properly.
Buddhist Mantras or Buddha Mantra are the
syllables and words chanted repetitively
while practicing centering and
consciousness shifting.
•Mala - Buddhists may use a string of
beads to help them focus during
worship.
The Buddhist Mala is one of the most
common tools for Buddhist practice. It is used
for counting the times of Buddha's name
recitation or mantra chanting.
•Bowing - Mahayana Buddhists
often bow as a sign of respect.
Offerings - Buddhists may leave gifts as a mark of
respect and reverence to the Buddha. These gifts may
include flowers, which are beautiful but fade and serve
as a reminder of the impermanence of things.
A monk’s hair is shaved off so to symbolize
simplicity and detachment of materialism.
The saffron (for a more
appropriate name for the
color) robes monk wear
dates back centuries. Orange
was chosen mainly because
of the dye available at the
time.
The robes themselves are
meant to symbolize simplicity
and detachment of
materialism.
Through the reflection of Dharma, Buddhists can
achieve a deeper understanding of life.
Buddhists believe in non-violence principle.
