Introduction to Buddhism

The 5 Ws of Buddhism

• Who: Siddhartha Gautama (founder)• What: Enlightenment for everyone• When: 600 BCE• Why: Hinduism of the time was

corrupt• Where: Northern India and Nepal

» Now it is practiced all over Asia and becoming popular in North America

Reformation of Hinduism

• Brahmin priests had reduced Hinduism to a money making business.

• The gods seemed to be employees of the priests and people paid for “assistance” from the gods.

• Everything was done in Sanskrit not the language of the people.

• Buddhism had:– No priests– No rituals or sacrifices– The language of the people– No gods

Buddhism is Agnostic

• The Buddha said:– “If there is a God, it is inconceivable that He

would be concerned about my day-to-day affairs.”– “There are no gods that can or will help

man.”– “A belief in God does not aid or hinder my

salvation.”

Enlightenment

• Buddhism is defined as the pursuit of enlightenment.

• Enlightenment means “a sudden awareness of the answer.”

What are the Questions?

The Questions

• Who am I?• Why am I here?• What is my duty in this world?• What is my goal?

2 Main Types of Buddhism

• Theravada• Mahayana

Theravada

• Southern India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia.• The way of “Wisdom and Working out your own

salvation.”• Theravada literally means “way of the wise old

ones.”• Theravada is sometimes called “Hinayana” which

means “lesser vehicle.”• Each person is responsible for his or her own

enlightenment

Mahayana Buddhism

• Northern India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan• The way of “Wisdom and Compassion”• Mahayana literally means “greater vehicle.”• Grace can be obtained through mindfulness and

devotion to the Buddha. More of an emphasis on the gods.

• Mahyana has many divisions (branches)– For example: Mantrayana (Tibetan Buddhism), Zen

Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, etc.

Theravada vs. Mahayana

Theravada• Beliefs:

– Humans are individuals– Key virtue is wisdom– Religion is for monks– Ideal being is the Arhat– Buddha is a saint

• Practices– Prayer through meditation

• Scriptures– Early scripture in Pali (dhamma,

kamma)

Mahayana• Beliefs

– Humans are involved with others– Key virtue is compassion– Religion is for the lay person– Ideal being is Bodhisattva– Buddha is saviour

• Practices– Prayer for requests

• Scriptures– Early scripture in Sanskrit

(dharma, karma)

Arhats and Bodhisattvas

• The Arhat is of the Theravada and is a perfected soul who has risen above the sensory world and is completely detached from it. One step away from Nirvana.

• The Bodhisattva is of the Mahayana and is an arhat that has decided to stay in the earthly realm for one more existence to teach what they have learned.