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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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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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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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

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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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