Buddhist Beliefs and Teachings

• 3 watches of the night

  First watch: knowledge of past lives

  Second watch: cycle of samsara, karma, anatta

  Third watch: Suffering occurs due to desire and attachment but can be overcome via enlightenment
• 3 Refuges


  provide safety from suffering:

  Buddha - understanding the; following the

  Sangha - Buddhist community - EITHER monks/nuns in a monastery OR people who are Buddhist

  Dhamma - Teachings
• Dependant Arising paticcasamuppada


  All is interconnected/dependant on everything else therefore, do not harm, care for environment. The law of cause and effect - karma
• Anicca - impermanence


  
  

  Story of Kisa Gotami - mustard seed from a house where no one has died
• Anatta - no self


  Questions of King Melinda - chariot. Only separate parts together. There is no singular thing you can point at as the chariot
• 4 Noble Truths

  Number 1:

  Dukkha - Suffering exists

  Three types of suffering:

  • Normal
  • Caused by change - not accepting anicca
  • Caused by attachment
• 4 Noble Truths

  Number 2:

  Samudaya - Suffering has a cause

  Suffering is caused by tahna (craving)

  Craving is rooted in ignorance

  Craving causes hatred and greed

  Ignorance, hatred and greed are the three poisons, keeping you in the cycle of samsara
• 4 Noble Truths


  Number 3:

  Nirodha - Suffering can end

  Need to stop tanha and appreciate what you have
• 4 Noble Truths


  Number 4:

  Magga - There is a way to end suffering

  Eightfold path / threefold way:

  Sila (ethics):

  • Right Speech
  • Right Action
  • Right Livelihood

  Samadhi (meditation):

  • Right Effort
  • Right Mindfulness
  • Right Concentration

  Panna (wisdom):

  • Right Understanding
  • Right Intention
• Pure Land Buddhism


  Amitabha Buddha created Sukhavati, a pure land

  Aim of Pure Land Buddhists is to get to Sukhavati as here you are taught by Amitabha and it is easier to reach Buddhahood and therefore Nirvana.

  There is no suffering in Sukhavati

  Pure Land Buddhists need faith in Amitabha (which is different to other Buddhists and the Buddha)
• Theravada Buddhism


  Humans are made of 5 aggregates : form, sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness.

  This is anatta

  Aim for humans is to become an arhat - someone who has reached nirvana and has therefore escaped the cycle of samsara
• Mahayana Buddhism


  Believe in sunyata in regard to humans -> nothing has a separate soul or self

  Everyone has Buddha-nature - the essence of the Buddha and therefore can achieve Buddhahood

  The aim of humans is the become a Bodhisattva - someone who has reached nirvana yet choses to stay in the cycle of Samsara to help others reach enlightenment - compassion
• Three Marks of Existence


  Dukkha - suffering

  Anicca - impermanence

  Anatta - no self