buddhism

• siddhartha gotama was born approximately 2500 years ago to the Shakyas clan
• before she was pregnant, Siddhartha’s mother, Queen Maya, had a dream that a white elephant with six tusks and a head of rubies came down from heaven and entered her womb through her right side. Priests said this was a good omen that her son would be holy and achieve perfect wisdom.
• Siddhartha was born in the garden of Lumbini, beneath a salah tree. Siddhartha was born out of his mother’s side, immediately taking seven steps, each one causing lotus flowers to appear. He then declared that he would experience no more births.
• Describe the wise man Asita’s prophecy.

  Asita had a vision about Siddhartha. He told Siddhartha’s father that his son could either be a great religious teacher who would sacrifice his wealth and power to live a spiritual life or a great leader of his clan.
• How did Asita’s prophecy affect Raja Shuddhodana?

  Raja was worried about this and vowed to shield his son from any experiencea that would make him want to leave the palace. He grew up in great luxury, accomplished in sports and martial arts,
• Describe the four sights Siddhartha saw when he left the palace

  When Siddhartha left the palace, he saw an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and finally a holy man. These sights shocked him and made him realise that he and his family would eventually grow old, become sick and die also. He was unhappy and wanted to help everyone overcome suffering.
• The Buddhist word for universal suffering is dukkha.
• What did the fourth sight inspire Siddhartha to do?


  This fourth sight led him to secretly leave the palace in the middle of the night without telling anyone. This is symbolic of the complete detachment necessary for enlightenment. He became a wandering, possessionless ascetic. Through spending time with other teachers, he learned how to achieve advanced levels of meditative states, known as the mental state of ’nothingness’
• siddhartha took being an ascetic even further by trying to detach himself from reality. He wore little clothes, didn’t wash, pulled out his hair, slept on beds of thorns, sought out harsh weather and stopped eating all together. Eventually, he gave up and decided to concentrate on meditation. His rejection of the ascetic path is highly significant for Buddhism, which advises the middle way between self-indulgence and self-torture. He realised he needed to find a simple life between the two extremes. This encourages Buddhists today to act in ways that would reduce the suffering in the world.
• Siddhartha was 35 when he finally reached enlightenment. He sat under the Bodhi tree in deep meditation. He resisted many temptations during this time, representing his fears, doubts and desires. After he did not succumb, he reached the deep meditative state called ‘enlightenment’. there were four stages in this night, known as the ’four watches’. He accepted that everything constantly changes, and how negative feelings and cravings made people grasp at life even though it brings them suffering (dukkha)
• As the dawn broke out, Siddhartha achieved Nibbana, literally meaning “blown out” This was the extinguishing of all of his desires and the way to overcome suffering. At this moment he could be called the Buddha. he was happy to dwell within his state, but Brahma, the king of the gods, asked that he share his understanding with others. He set in motion the when of teaching, Buddhism centring around the dharma.
• Buddha taught that there are three conditioned marks of existence - also known as the Three Universal Truths. These are called Anicca, Anatta and Dukkha.
• The first mark of existence


  Anicca. This means that everything is constantly changing. our lives and everything around us are constantly changing. Nothing will stay permanently fixed. This is what life is all about, which humans find hard to grasp, which only leads to ‘unsatisfactoriness’ or ‘suffering’ (dukkha). The Buddha believed that if people understood that change is constant, there would be less suffering in the world. Buddhist teachers emphasise the need not to get too attached to pleasures as they do not last and can lead to suffering.
• The Story Of Kisa Gotami

  During Buddha’s time, there lived a woman named Kisa Gotami. She married young and gave birth to a son, who fell sick and soon died. Kisa Gotami was heartbroken and refused to believe he was gone, carrying the body around the village, asking for someone to make her son better. A village elder took pity on her and told her to visit the Buddha. The Buddha told her all she had to do was bring him back mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. Kisa Gotami had great hope but was quickly let down as every house she went to had lost a loved one.
• What did this teach Kisa Gotami and future buddhists?

  She came to realise that death is inevitable and a part of the cycle. She buried her son and became a loyal follower of the Buddha. This teaches Buddhists that everyone experiences loss and suffers, to trust the Buddha’s teachings and to not form too strong attachments.
• The second mark of existence 


  Anatta. This means that if everything is subject to change, there is no such thing as an individual or separate self. What you call yourself is not a permanent entity, rather an association of past ideas with present thoughts and feelings. If there is no self, there is no point being selfish. Complete loss of the delusion of the self is what leads to enlightenment.
• The third mark of existence.


  Dukkha. This means suffering. There is a general unsatisfactoriness about life because it changes, and we change also. Because we exist, we suffer. We grow old, get sick, and die. Buddhism teaches that there are three mental poisons or fires that lead to continued suffering. Greed, hatred and ignorance. We will not be free from suffering as long as we feel these. This is meant to be neither pessimistic or optimistic, just realistic
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation but that we do not have a soul. They believe that we are made up of five bundles or skandhas. These pass on to the next life in a different arrangement. They are not permanent because they constantly change.
• The five skandhas

  • the physical form or body - new cells generate and we constantly change

  • sensations and feelings - emotions towards things and people are constantly differing

  • characteristic traits - likes and dislikes change as we get older

  • cognitions - problem solving and working out right and wrong

  consciousness - awareness of ourselves and our surroundings. changes when you’re awake and asleep.
• The Four Noble Truths

  • dukkha - we suffer in life which is inevitable and universal. Includes aging, sickness, death

  • samudaya (tanha) - we suffer in life because we crave and desire things. The root cause of suffering (3 root poisons) are greed, ignorance and hatred.

  • niradha (nibbana/nirvana) - we can put an end to our suffering. extinguishing 3 root poisons.

  magga - eightfold path. 8 steps/guidelines buddhists must all follow to achieve enlightenment. the avoidance of extremes - the middle way.
• Kamma


  “action” or the law of ‘cause and effect.’ this buddhism concept means that everything we do in life builds up positive or negative kamma. they believe that our actions are our responsibility and the kamma we build up affects our future lives.
• Buddhists believe that until you reach enlightenment by building up positive kamma, you are bound to the wheel of samsara.
• The wheel of samsara


  • it is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth

  • it is conditioned by our kamma

  • all beings are tied to it

  • it is fuelled by the 3 root poisons and if we are led by these we will continually suffer

  • we need to extinguish ignorance, hatred and greed to escape

  • we cannot escape unless we reach enlightenment

  • practising the Buddhas path brings us closer to this

  • it can take many lifetimes to be released from it
• Right view


  Realising that life is suffering and everything is impermanent. Accepting the Buddha’s teachings (Dhamma) as a way to overcome this.
• Right thoughts/intentions 


  Before Buddhists do anything, they must think about the intention of it. Doing things for the right reasons and to help others
• Right speech 


  Speaking truthfully and helpfully. Not lying or gossiping.
• Right action 


  Being kind to all living things and avoiding killing
• Right livelihood 


  Earning a living in a way that will not harm others and upholds Buddhist values
• Right effort 


  Not thinking any harmful thoughts and sticking to the path. Thinking compassionately and humbly
• Right mindfulness 


  Buddhists have to be aware of everything around them. No drugs or alcohol as this can affect your ability to see things clearly. Be mindful and in a state of calm.
• Right concentration 


  Buddhists train their minds to get rid of the 3 root poisons through meditation, so they can achieve enlightenment after many rebirths
• the Three Jewels

  The Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha
• Lay Buddhists only have to follow the original five precepts, but have additional responsibilities such as families, demanding jobs and mortgages to worry about. They provide physical help, like helping to build temples, and financial help to the monks.
• First Precept


  Buddhists should not harm living things. Buddhists should show loving kindness to all creatures and plant life, and try to never intentionally harm a person or animal - as this would be harming all living things, including yourself. (because life is something we all share)
• Second Precept 


  Buddhists should not take things that are not given to them. Stealing is wrong, and you should not try to grab at wealth, power or fame at the expense of others. You should be generous and share instead.
• Third Precept 


  Buddhists should not misuse their senses. A warning against over-indulgence. You can enjoy yourself, but remain faithful and mindful that every pleasure is temporary and will eventually lead to suffering. Buddhists should be content with a simple life.
• Fourth Precept

  Buddhists should not speak in a way that would be hurtful. Buddhists will not call others names, gossip or tell lies. they will try to be honest and tell truth in all that they say.
• Fifth Precept 


  Buddhists should not take any substance that could cloud the mind. They should avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, taking illegal drugs or even drinking caffeine. Buddhists believe that this will lead to a false view of happiness which will lead to suffering. They believe that real happiness only comes when you see things how they really are. They believe to be enlightened you need to have a clear head and be alert and aware of your surroundings.
• Meditation is often seen as central to Buddhism because only through the training of the mind can you begin to see the world and yourself as they really are; only then can you stop craving and follow the path that leads to enlightenment
• Samatha meditation 


  this is suitable for everyone and is about developing calm. it involves the development of mindfulness so that the meditator can start to detach themselves from the Skandhas and concentrate on the impermanence of existence. One popular kind of Samatha meditation is metta bhavana, which means trying to develop the qualities of loving kindness. From meditation on loving kindness, Buddhists can go on to develop compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. These are developed gradually unril the Buddhist can show love for all beings equally without becoming attached.