4. Demographics
• 533 million Buddhists worldwide
• 228 million in China
• 71 million Japan
• 4.3 million United States
• 8% of Hawaii Buddhist
worldreligiondatabase.org (2021)
15. From desire comes grief, from grief comes fear
One who is freed from desire knows no grief or fear
Freedom from attachment brings enlightenment
Dhammapada XVI.212-213 cited in Mark, Buddhism, 2020
16. Buddha’s
fi
rst disciples
The Five Disciples (Sangha) :
Two Merchants: Tapussa & Bhallika
Kaundinya, a monk from earlier
Two other disciples.
Preached his
fi
rst sermon on
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Eightfold Path
21. The Second Council
383 BC
Dispute over monastic rules
First Schism
Theravada Buddhism (Elders)
Mahayana Buddhism (Great Vehicle)
Vajrayana Buddhism (Way of Diamond)
Mark, 2020
28. Problem with Life
All life is suffering
Suffering is caused by desire
Desire is wanting something we don’t get
29. Problem with Life
1. Principle of Dependent Origination: Nothing in life is Permanent
2. Principle of the Anatman: We are a bundle of perceptions
(Corduan, p. 318)
30. Goal of Life
1. Release from samsara - cycles of reincarnation
2. Achieve Nirvana - elevated state becoming one with universe
3. Through Enlightenment - Release of all Desire
31. Three Universal Truths
1. Impermanence - Nothing lasts forever
2. Suffering - All of life is suffering
3. Non-Self - We are a bundle of perceptions
32. Four Noble Truths
1. Dukha - All life is suffering
2. Tanha - Cause of suffering is desire
3. Nirodha - End of suffering by letting go of desire
4. Magga - Eightfold path leads to release from desire
34. Right View
An accurate understanding of the
nature of things (including the Four
Noble Truths)
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
35. Right Intention
Avoiding thoughts of attachment,
hatred, and harmful intent
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
36. Right Speech
Refraining from verbal misdeeds such
as lying divisive speech, harsh speech,
and senseless speech.
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
37. Right Action
refraining from physical misdeeds such
as killing, stealing, and sexual
misconduct
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
38. Five Precepts
1. Do not kill
2. Do not steal
3. Do not commit sexual misconduct
4. No harmful speech
5. No intoxicant
39. Right Livelihood
avoiding trades that directly or
indirectly harm others, such as selling
slaves, weapons, animals for slaughter,
intoxicants, or poisons
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
40. Right Effort
abandoning negative states of mind
that have already arisen, preventing
negative states that have yet to arise,
and sustaining positive states that have
already arisen,
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
41. Right Mindfulness
awareness of body, feelings, thought,
and phenomena (the constituents of
the existing world)
Lopez, D. S. (2021, February 5). Eightfold Path. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
44. Buddhist Practices
• Meditation - focus and achieving higher state
• Chanting -reciting scriptures
• Mala - String of beads used to maintain focus
• Bowing - sign of respect
• Offerings - leaving gifts like
fl
owers that fade and die
47. Karma
Karma is “deed” or “action”, and is the accumulated results of those
actions…Ones karma is the result of actions in the past…all people
are said to be in their current situation as the result of karma
Irons, Edward. (2008). Karma in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 276.
48. Dukkha
Suffering
The Central concept in Buddhism.
The result of Karma and Tanha
Tanha
Craving: that which causes dukkha
Irons, Edward. (2008). Dukkha in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 168.
49. Dukkha
Dukkha Pali/Sanskrit for meaning “discomfort”, “impermanence”, and
“imperfection”. Life is not simply pain and suffering; life is
fi
lled with
unsatisfying events, sensations, and overall impermanence. Thus
even happy experiences are part of dukkha.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 168.
50. Tanha
Craving - that which causes dukkha. Sensual pleasures, Tanha is the
mechanism through which dukkha comes.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 168.
51. Samsara
Journeying
The cycle of birth, decay, death, and
rebirth to which all living beings are
subject until they achieve
enlightenment.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Samsara in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 420.
52. Samsara
All Schools of Buddhism teach Samsara never had a beginning.
Yogacara School of Buddhism (within Mahayana Branch) teaches that
samsara is concurrent with nirvana. They are experienced at same
time. Possible no end.
Other Schools of Buddhism: teach that Samsara ends.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Samsara in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 420.
53. Nirvana
Buddhist conception of achieving unity
with Brahman
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 370.
54. Nirvana
Nirvana literally means “extinction” as when a candle’s
fl
ame is
extinguished… merging with the divine in a state without conditional
aspects.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 370.
55. Nirvana
Hinduism: state of liberation from individuality and the Samsara
cycle, and merging with Brahaman, the ultimate reality.
Buddhism: liberation from individuality, but also liberation from desire,
hate, delusion, and Karma.
Theravada Buddhism: All of the above, & extinction from existence
Mayayana Buddhism: All the above, liberation from suffering, but
continued existence of a conscious “self” and experience of “bliss”
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 370.
56. Nirvana (Differences)
Hinduism: state of liberation from
individuality
Merging with Brahman
Achieved through action (Karma)
Irons, Edward. (2008). Nirvana in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 370.
Buddhism: state of liberation from
desire
Achieving a State of existence
Extinction of Self (some branches)
58. The Five Aggregates
Called the Skandhas
Literally bundles, the self is a “bundle of perceptions”.
They form at birth, disperse at death.
Buddha rejected concept of Atman. The self does not exist.
Irons, Edward. (2008). Skandhas in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 457.
59.
60. Rupa
Form, physical. material existence.
The perception that there are physical
things that exist in space and time.
Buddhism: Basic Beliefs and Practices. (2012).Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University.
Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-beliefs-and-practices
61. Vedana
Sensations (ex. The
fi
ve senses)
Buddhism: Basic Beliefs and Practices. (2012).Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University.
Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-beliefs-and-practices
62. Samjna
Perceptions
Irons, Edward. (2008). Rupee in Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Facts on File. 457.
Buddhism: Basic Beliefs and Practices. (2012).Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University.
Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-beliefs-and-practices
63. Samskara
Mental constructs.
Buddhism: Basic Beliefs and Practices. (2012).Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University.
Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-beliefs-and-practices
64. Vijanana
Our conciousness.
The mental activity when we are
conscious, thinking, and processing.
Buddhism: Basic Beliefs and Practices. (2012).Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed: Columbia University.
Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-beliefs-and-practices
72. Schools of Buddhism
1. Theravada Buddhism (Tradition of the Elders)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (The Great Vehicle)
3. Vajrayana Buddhism (The Way of the Diamond)
4. Zen Buddhism (The Way of Meditation)
76. Theravada Beliefs
• Existence of the supernatural world and spiritual beings
• Rejection of Personal God (God of the Bible)
• Self is an illusion and does not exist
• Nirvana is the extinguishing the self
• Differentiation between Monk and Layman
• Monk may attain Nirvana
• Layman may only become a monk in the next life
82. Purpose of Meditation
1. Focus on Mindfulness - become aware of your body
2. Focus on impermanence of life
3. Focus on nonexistence
4. Focus on empty mind of “self”
83. Theravada Meditation
1. Mindfulness - become aware of your body
2. Focus on impermanence of life
3. Focus on nonexistence
4. Focus on empty mind
84. Types of Meditation
1. Samatha - calming meditation, ex. Mindfulness, to
achieve higher spiritual states. Temporary
2. Vipassana - insight meditation. ex. Understanding
impermanence of life, losing “self”, non-existence, see
past the illusion of physical world.
85. Chanting
Scriptures from the Pali Canon in the Pali language
1. Buddhabhivadana — reverence for Buddha
2. Tisarana — the Three Refuges
3. Pancasila — the Five Precepts
4. Upjhatthana — the Five Rememberences
5. The 32 parts of the body
87. Theravada Lay People
• Only monks can attain nirvana
• Secondary participants in practice
• Store up merit to reincarnated into a monk
• Attain a higher plane according to acquired merit (31 planes)
93. Four Buddhas & One to Come
• Kakusandha (the
fi
rst Buddha of the current bhadrakalpa)
• Koṇāgamana (the second Buddha of the current bhadrakalpa)
• Kassapa (the third Buddha of the current bhadrakalpa)
• Gautama (the fourth and present Buddha of the
current bhadrakalpa)
• Meitreya (the
fi
fth Buddha who has not yet come)
106. Zen Beliefs
• Buddha’s consciousness exists in each follower
• Enlightenment is a single experience / event
• Realizations are also sudden events
• Meditation is central to realizations
• Follows teachings of Mahayana Buddhism
107. Zen Buddhism
• Personal Restraint
• Mindfulness Meditation
• De-emphasizes study of the Sutras
• Emphasizes spiritual practices instead
• Emphasizes applications from Buddha’s life
132. Parliament of World Religions in Chicago (1893
)
Charles T. Strauss, First American Convert
133. Immigration &
Nationality Act of 1965
Aka Hart-Celler Act
Abolished National Origins Formula
18 million immigrants over next 30 yrs
31 percent from Asia
134. Gibson, Jung (2006) Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign Born Population of the United States. No. 81: US Census Bureau
135. In
fl
uence of Asian Immigation
• Establishment of Buddhist Temples
• Production of Buddhist literature and publications
• Buddhist schools and teaching
145. Demographics of American Buddhists
• White (53%)
• Gen X & Baby Boomers (55%)
• College Education (61%)
• Make over $70,000/year (45%)
• Democrats or Politically Liberal (70%)
Pew Research (2017)
149. Beliefs of American Buddhists
• Believe in God or a Divine Being (60%)
• Pray or Meditate Daily or Weekly (66%)
• Never read the Bible (70%)
• Democrats & Liberals (70%)
• Believe in an absolute right or wrong (4%)
• There is no Hell (63%)
