Buddhism

The Human Condition – o The 3 Marks of Existenceo The 4 Noble Truths oThe 1st Noble Truth (Life is Dukkha)o The 2nd Noble Truth (Dukkha is caused by Tanha)o The Life of the Buddha

The Goals - o Karmao The 3rd Noble Truth (You can stop Dukkha by stoping Tanha) o Nibbana

The Means – o The Three Jewelso The Noble Eightfold Path / The 4th Noble TruthoThe 5 preceptsoMeditation and Prayer

The MeansThe Means

Three JewelsThree Jewels

What are the goals?

The goals of existence are to make progress towards enlightenment and finally to attain it.How are the goals achieved?

Through the Means

• The Three Jewels are part of the means

The Three JewelsThe Three Jewels• The Three Jewels are

the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha

• Also known as Three Refuges.

• The Dhamma could not have been taught without the Buddha, and could not have been followed without the Sangha, so the three are inseparable.

• They are known as the Three They are known as the Three Refuges, because the Buddhist Refuges, because the Buddhist promise of devotion says:promise of devotion says:

““I take refuge in the Buddha,I take refuge in the Buddha,

I take refuge in the Dhamma,I take refuge in the Dhamma,

I take refuge in the Sangha.”I take refuge in the Sangha.”

• Taking refuge is making a promise to Taking refuge is making a promise to be devoted to the Buddha and his be devoted to the Buddha and his teachings.teachings.

• It is also a sign of the support It is also a sign of the support structure of the religion – a refuge is structure of the religion – a refuge is somewhere you turn for security and somewhere you turn for security and guidanceguidance

DhammaDhamma

• Can mean ‘teachings’ / truth / way / etc• It is sometimes used to mean Buddhism• Usually seen as Four Noble Truths and

Eightfold Path• Scriptures can be dhamma• Central to Buddhism• Like a raft – to be used to reach

enlightenment

SanghaSangha• Community of Buddhists• Specifically monks• Monks = bhikkus• Can become a monk for life, or just a

short time• Monks live by 10 Precepts and many

other rules in Vinaya Pitaka scriptures (laity only use 5 Precepts)

• Differences between monks and laity will differ depending on school of Buddhism