Buddhism: The Call to Awaken

Buddhism:

The Call to AwakenThe Call to Awaken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_gBe7rO60I

Homework:• (due Tues., 3/12) (due Tues., 3/12) Read 69-72; do Read 69-72; do

72B72B• (due Weds. 3/13) (due Weds. 3/13) 1-2 pgrphs on:1-2 pgrphs on:

““How do you feel about sickness, How do you feel about sickness, old age and death? (Discuss any old age and death? (Discuss any personal experiences you’ve had personal experiences you’ve had with these)What indicators are with these)What indicators are there in our culture that show we there in our culture that show we do not deal healthily with these do not deal healthily with these realities?realities?

Homework:• (due Thurs., 3/14) (due Thurs., 3/14) Rd pp. 72-Rd pp. 72-

75; do 72C75; do 72C• (due Tues., 3/19) (due Tues., 3/19) Read 75-77 Read 75-77

(>”Dukkha”)/ Bring 3 photos of (>”Dukkha”)/ Bring 3 photos of yourself (1-baby; 1-child; 1-yourself (1-baby; 1-child; 1-now)/ Do 76H or Inow)/ Do 76H or I

HomeworkHomework

• ((due . Weds, 3/20due . Weds, 3/20) Read 78-81; ) Read 78-81; do 81 Ndo 81 N

• ((due Thurs., 3/21due Thurs., 3/21) Read 81-85; do ) Read 81-85; do 81 O81 O

• ((due Mon., 3/25due Mon., 3/25) Read 77-78; do ) Read 77-78; do 77 J77 J

• (Tues., 3/26(Tues., 3/26) TEST on Buddhism) TEST on Buddhism

What do you know about Buddhism?

Why be interested in Why be interested in Buddhism?Buddhism?

• Increasing popularity: one of fastest growing religions in U.S.

• Very open, human, practical way• Simple yet profound insight into

our pain, dissatisfaction, suffering and unhappiness

Buddhism:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_gBe7rO60I

Four “Passing Sights”Four “Passing Sights”

– Elderly manElderly man > old age> old age– Diseased manDiseased man > sickness> sickness

} DESPAIR} DESPAIR– Corpse Corpse > death> death– Hindu ascetic or Hindu ascetic or

mendicantmendicant >> } } HOPEHOPE

((sannyasin)sannyasin)

The Middle WayThe Middle Way

• Rejection of extremes ofRejection of extremes of– Self-indulgenceSelf-indulgence– Self-denialSelf-denial

• Balanced happiness inBalanced happiness in– BodyBody– MindMind– SpiritSpirit

Meditation… Why Meditation… Why Bother?Bother?

• Samatha: Samatha: “tranquility “tranquility meditationmeditation

• Vipassana:Vipassana: “insight “insight meditation”meditation”

• Sati:Sati: “mindfulness” “mindfulness”• Metta:Metta: “Lovingkindness” “Lovingkindness”

Siddhartha’s Siddhartha’s EnlightenmentEnlightenment

• During 3 watches of the night, During 3 watches of the night, Siddhartha perceives the truth Siddhartha perceives the truth of reality…of reality…

• Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

• Becomes the “Buddha” Becomes the “Buddha” (“Awakened One”)(“Awakened One”)

Buddhism: Buddhism:


The DharmaThe Dharma

Buddhist Teachings:Background

““Taking Refuge” Taking Refuge” in the Three Jewelsin the Three Jewels

• The Buddha (his example)The Buddha (his example)

• The Dharma (his teaching)The Dharma (his teaching)

• The Sangha (his community)The Sangha (his community)

Three Marks of Three Marks of ExistenceExistence

• Anatta: “no-self”

• Anicca: “impermanence”

• Dukkha: “suffering”

3 Marks of Existence: 3 Marks of Existence: AnattaAnatta

• Anatta: the “no-self”• No ultimate reality within• No essence underlying existence• No eternal substratum that is

truly real

The essence of Buddhism… there is NO essence.

3 Marks of Existence: 3 Marks of Existence: AniccaAnicca

• Anicca: “impermanence”• Very closely related to anatta

• Reality is not static, but dynamic• Reality/Life does not change,

but IS change, flux, flow• Image of river (“You cannot step

into the same river twice” –Heraclitus)

3 Marks of Existence: 3 Marks of Existence: DukkhaDukkha

• Dukkha: “suffering”, dissatisfaction, frustration, dislocation, longing, wanting…

• Natural result/ logical consequence of clinging to the impermanent as if it were permanent…


Buddhist Teachings:Moral Practice

SamsaraSamsara

• Literally, the “cycle of rebirth”, or reincarnation

• Originally a Hindu doctrine– Soul or “self” (atman) reborn– This liberation called moksha

• Problem in Buddhist teaching?• “No-self” (anatta, an-atman)!• Who/what is reincarnated?

KarmaKarma

• Moral law of cause and effect• Karma is energy caused by

action which produces an effect

• Analogies: flame, pebble in pond

• Possible problems with teaching?

• How we influence karma: morality…

The Sila (Precepts)The Sila (Precepts)

• Karma is action• Positive moral action means

good karma• 5 Precepts for all; 10 for

monks/nuns• All retreatants “take the sila”

or promise to abide by the 5 Precepts

The Ten PreceptsThe Ten Precepts

1. Do not take life.


1. Do not take life.2. Do not take what is not given.


1. Do not take life.2. Do not take what is not given.3. Do not engage in sensuous

misconduct.


1. Do not take life.2. Do not take what is

not given.3. Do not engage in

sensuous misconduct.

4. Do not use false speech.


1. Do not take life.2. Do not take what is not given.3. Do not engage in sensuous

misconduct.4. Do not use false speech.5. Do not drink/take intoxicants.


6. Do not eat after noon.


6. Do not eat after noon.7. Do not watch dancing or

shows.



shows.8. Do not use garlands,

perfumes or ornaments.




perfumes or ornaments.9. Do not use a high or soft bed.




perfumes or ornaments.9. Do not use a high or soft bed.10.Do not accept gold or silver.


Buddhist Teachings:Reality & Rehab

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

1. To live is to suffer– Life in this world (samsara) is full

throughout with dissatisfaction, etc. (dukkha)

– Experience of things not being quite right, “out of joint”, in need of repair

– ALL living is dukkha, whether pleasant or unpleasant… Why?

– Dukkha, therefore, is unavoidable


1. To live is to suffer(dukkha).2. Suffering is caused by

desire(tanha).– Karma/cause and effect logic– Tanha= craving, greed, lust,

hunger, thirst, selfishness– Like dukkha, tanha is

unavoidable… the “self” simply will crave for itself



desire(tanha).3. Suffering can be brought to

cessation.– Suffering ends when desire ends.– Desire ends with the end of the one

who desires… the self– I AM I WANT I SUFFER



desire(tanha).3. Suffering can be brought to

cessation.4. The solution to suffering is the noble

Eightfold Path.– A “rehab” program of moderation– Encompasses all areas of life

The Noble Eightfold The Noble Eightfold PathPath

1. Right Views2. Right intentions

3. Right speech4. Right conduct

5. Right livelihood6. Right effort

7. Right mindfulness8. Right meditation

BonusBonus

• Name this manName this man

Documents

Buddhism: The Call to Awaken