Buddhist philosophy

1. Buddhism
By Donald Johnson

2. Founder
Siddhartha Gautama
(566 - 480 BC)
Became known as
Buddha, which means
“enlightened one”
Birthplace
Nepal

3. The Four Noble Truths
Life is suffering
Suffering is caused by desire
Desire can be overcome
There is a path that overcomes desire and ends
suffering

4. The Eightfold Path
Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

5. Four Themes of the Path
• Right thought is the true desire to free oneself from
attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness.
• Right speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or
hurtful talk.
• Right effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the
content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned
and prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be
enacted and nurtured.
• Right mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on
one's body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a
way as to overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance. .

6. Karma
Karma - good or bad actions a person takes during
their lifetime results in the same
The weight that actions carry is determined by five
conditions: frequent, repetitive action; determined,
intentional action; action performed without regret;
action against extraordinary persons; and action
toward those who have helped one in the past
What goes around comes around
Neutral Karma - derives from acts such as breathing,
eating or sleeping. Neutral karma has no benefits or
costs.

7. Shangri-la
A place of bliss and peace

8. Shambala
A mythical, hidden “paradise in earth”

9. Where and when did religion begin?
3000B.C.
Sumerian
Civilization
3000B.C.
Egypt
Civilization
5000B.C.
Yellow River
2000-1000B.C.
Judaism
566B.C.
Buddhism
Hinduism

10. Symbols
Buddha, Bodhi Tree

11. Number
of
followers
350 million
(6% of world’s
population)

12. Place(s) of worship: Temples, shrines, anywhere you can meditate
(This is the typical interior of a temple in Korea)

13. Days of
worship
There is no weekly day of
observance like the Moslem
Friday, Jewish Saturday or
Christian Sunday.
Meditation is a daily act of
“worship”.

14. After-
life
Ideas
Buddhists maintain that rebirth takes place
without an unchanging self or soul passing
from one form to another. The type of rebirth
will be conditioned by the moral tone of the
person's actions (kharma).

15. The Cycle of Birth
Karma plays out in the Buddhism cycle of rebirth. There are six separate planes
into which any living being can be reborn -- three fortunate realms, and three
unfortunate realms. Those with favorable, positive karma are reborn into one of
the fortunate realms: the realm of demigods, the realm of gods, and the realm
of men. While the demigods and gods enjoy gratification unknown to men, they
also suffer unceasing jealousy and envy. The realm of man is considered the
highest realm of rebirth. Humanity lacks some of the extravagances of the
demigods and gods, but is also free from their relentless conflict. Similarly,
while inhabitants of the three unfortunate realms -- of animals, ghosts and hell -
- suffer untold suffering, the suffering of the realm of man is far less.
The realm of man also offers one other aspect lacking in the other five planes,
an opportunity to achieve enlightenment, or Nirvana. Given the sheer number
of living things, to be born human is to Buddhists a precious chance at spiritual
bliss, a rarity that one should not forsake.

16. Holy book
The Tripitaka
The Tripitaka writings were
originally memorized and
recited orally by disciples.
They include a code of
ethics and accounts of
Buddha’s teachings.

17. Holy Day
Every May, on the night of
the full moon, Buddhists all
over the world celebrate
Vesak for the birth,
enlightenment and death of
the Buddha such a long time
ago.
They meditate, observe the
eight-fold path, partake in
vegetarian food, give to
charity and “bathe” the
Buddha.

18. Religious
Leaders
There is no central
leadership for Buddhism.
In Tibet, however, they
believe that the monk, the
Dalai Lama, is their
spiritually reborn leader on
earth.

19. Links
http://www.losangdragpa.com/losangdragpa1buddhism.html
http://chinapage.com/map/map.html
http://idp.bl.uk/education/buddhism/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/buddhism/index.htm