Buddhist Beliefs

• Enlightenment

  • followed the middle way
  • meditated under Bodhi tree and overcame temptations (Mara)
  • 3 watches: gained knowledge of past lives - understood cycle of rebirth - understood suffering
  • learnt the real truth about God and life
• Birth of Buddha

  • Queen Maya dreamt a foretelling of Siddhartha's birth
  • at his birth he could walk and talk
  • prophecy said he will be a great ruler
• Life of the Buddha

  • grew up surrounded by luxury (3 mansions, finest clothes)
  • father made sure he was unaware of pain and suffering as he wanted him to be a king.
• Pure Land Buddhism

  • part of Mahayana Buddhism - practised in Japan
  • based on idea of achieving enlightenment IN the Pure land
  • they want souls to go to the Pure Land where the conditions are perfect for enlightenment
  • based on faith in Amitabha Buddha - created paradise called Sukavati
• Theravada Buddhists

  • Arhat = perfect person
  • only males can become Arhats
  • follow eight fold path to break the cycle of rebirth
  • achieving enlightenment from own meditation
  • after enlightenment = attain nirvana
• Mahayana Buddhism

  • seek enlightenment for the sake of others
  • meditate and follow 6 perfections
  • males and females can become Arhats - Buddha nature
  • only males can become Boddhisattvas
  • after enlightenment = remain in samsara to help others
• Ascetic Life

  • simple and strict lifestyle
  • mediation and self discipline - hostile conditions, made him weak and loss of appetite
  • realised luxury life nor ascetic life would end suffering - led him to the Middle way
• Dharma

  • Buddha's teachings
  • truth about nature of existence
  • path of training for all Buddhists
  • laws of the universe
• The 4 Sights

  1. old man
  2. sick man
  3. dead man
  4. holy man
  5. reaction = left his luxury life to search for true meaning of life
• Dependent Arising

  • nature of reality
  • everything happens because of something else (depends on lots of other things)
  • nothing is permanent
• Eight Fold Path

  • 'Middle way' = no extreme luxury/poverty
  • right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration
  • following 8 fold path and 4 noble truths = enlightenment
• Four Noble Truth

  • teachings about sufferings - Buddha's first teaching
  • Dukkha(suffering): physical/emotional
  • Samudaya(cause of suffering): 3 poisons and cravings
  • Nirodha(it can end): stop cravings and desire
  • Magga(means): way to end suffering
• 3 Marks of Existence

  • Dukkha (suffering): cravings, mental/physical/emotional pain
  • Annica (impermanence): everything changes, cycle of rebirth
  • Anatta (no fixed self/soul): 5 aggregates - form/sense/perception/mental formation/consciousness