JainismJainism and and Buddhism Buddhism
DuringDuring thethe VedicVedic period,period, peoplepeople whowho reactedreacted againstagainst thethe rigidrigid socialsocial hierarchyhierarchy andand againstagainst thethe religiousreligious monopolymonopoly ofof thethe BrahminsBrahmins wouldwould withdrawwithdraw intointo thethe forestsforests wherewhere theythey pursuedpursued salvationsalvation throughthrough yogayoga (spiritual(spiritual andand mentalmental discipline),discipline), specialspecial diets,diets, oror meditationmeditation TheirTheir goalgoal waswas toto achieveachieve mokshamoksha —— liberationliberation fromfrom thethe cyclecycle ofof birth,birth, death,death, andand rebirthrebirth oror reachingreaching thethe bestbest karmakarma thatthat youyou couldcould actuallyactually reach.reach. TheThe ideasideas ofof thesethese religiousreligious dissidentsdissidents areare reflectedreflected inin thethe UpanishadsUpanishads.. JainismJainism
FoundedFounded byby MahaviraMahavira -- livedlived betweenbetween 599599 andand 527527 B.C.E.B.C.E. BeliefBelief thatthat everythingeverything inin thethe universeuniverse hashas aa soulsoul andand becausebecause ofof thisthis shouldshould notnot bebe harmedharmed HadHad toto taketake occupationsoccupations thatthat wouldwould notnot harmharm anyany creaturecreature ––TraditionTradition ofof workingworking inin tradetrade andand commercecommerce ––ExtremelyExtremely wealthywealthy communitycommunity JainismJainism
JainsJains practicedpracticed nonviolencenonviolence andand wentwent toto extremesextremes inin theirtheir attemptsattempts notnot toto killkill anyany livingliving thingthing TheThe mostmost extremeextreme wentwent nakednaked andand starvedstarved themselvesthemselves toto death.death. BrushBrush antsants fromfrom theirtheir pathpath WearWear masksmasks toto notnot accidentallyaccidentally sucksuck inin bugsbugs BuddhismBuddhism Basics Basics •• AttemptsAttempts toto givegive answersanswers toto lifelife’’ss questionsquestions
•• EmphasisEmphasis onon ““thingsthings toto dodo”” ratherrather thanthan ““thingsthings toto believebelieve””
•• AvoidAvoid speculativespeculative questionsquestions (creation,(creation, SupremeSupreme power,power, afterlife)afterlife) sincesince therethere waswas littlelittle possibilitypossibility ofof definitivedefinitive answanswersers insteadinstead spendspend timetime attemptingattempting toto dealdeal withwith thethe harshharsh realitiesrealities presentedpresented byby lifelife herehere andand nownow
•• TolerantTolerant toto anyany religionreligion thatthat allowsallows aa personperson toto findfind ““truthtruth”” ofof himself/himself/ herself.herself. BelieveBelieve thatthat settingsetting anan exampleexample whichwhich othersothers maymay emulate.emulate.
•• ULTIMATEULTIMATE GOALGOAL endend sufferingsuffering andand attainattain absoluteabsolute peacepeace andand joyjoy SIDDHARTHASIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA GAUTAMA
SiddharthaSiddhartha GautamaGautama bornborn 563563 BCEBCE intointo KshatriyaKshatriya castecaste inin presentpresent dayday NepalNepal
KingdomKingdom ofof GautamaGautama BUDDHA= ENLIGHTENED ONE SiddharthaSiddhartha hadhad aa legendarylegendary birth,birth, lifelife andand deathdeath
ProphecyProphecy givengiven toto hishis fatherfather…… Miracles,Miracles, miracles, miracles, miracles miracles…… ImmaculateImmaculate conceptionconception -- SiddharthaSiddhartha descendeddescended fromfrom HeavenHeaven andand enteredentered mothermother’’ss (Queen(Queen Maya)Maya) wombwomb inin formform ofof babybaby whitewhite elephantelephant (purity)(purity)
QueenQueen MayaMaya carriedcarried SiddharthaSiddhartha forfor 1010 monthsmonths andand couldcould seesee himhim inin thethe wombwomb
GaveGave birthbirth fromfrom herher sideside withwith assistanceassistance fromfrom treetree branchesbranches
WaterWater pouredpoured fromfrom thethe skysky
AtAt birthbirth SiddharthaSiddhartha tooktook 77 stepssteps andand saidsaid ““thisthis isis mymy lastlast birthbirth”” FourFour Sights Sights
KingKing wantedwanted toto sheltershelter SiddharthaSiddhartha fromfrom unpleasantnessunpleasantness ofof lifelife
AtAt 29,29, SiddharthaSiddhartha visitedvisited thethe citycity andand sawsaw fourfour sights:sights:
1) OldOld manman 2) SickSick manman 3) DeadDead manman 4) AsceticAscetic monkmonk FOURFOUR SIGHTSSIGHTS
TheseThese sightssights compelledcompelled himhim toto reflectreflect upon:upon:
•• sufferingsuffering •• deathdeath •• meaningmeaning ofof lifelife •• ultimateultimate fatefate ofof manman and inspired him to find a spiritual solution to problems of human life He left his palace and for 7 years searched for the ultimate truth of life Studied Hindu scriptures but found them lacking Tried raja yoga (meditation) but sensed his sacrifices were not great enough turned to asceticism and scourged and starved himself (1 grain of rice a day) = but no deep insight came Determined best course was the MIDDLE WAY (path between both extremes; a lifestyle of moderation) ENLIGHTENMENTENLIGHTENMENT OF OF BUDDHA BUDDHA Under a Bodhi tree (tree of Wisdom) he meditated Remembered all of his previous lives Resisted the combats of Mara (Evil One), who tried many temptations Removed craving and ignorance for himself
At dawn of his 35th birthday, his mind “pierced the bubble” of the universe, enabling him to realize the essential truth about life and NIRVANA the path to salvation = state of supreme realization and enlightenment Achieved NIRVANA and was = understand truth of life and released from samsara (endless freedom from ignorance cycle) = state of total liberation, truth, Stayed in this state for 7 days tranquility, peace ENLIGHTENMENTENLIGHTENMENT NEWNEW RELIGIONRELIGION
AfterAfter achievingachieving enlightenment,enlightenment, BuddhaBuddha wantedwanted toto shareshare hishis experiencesexperiences andand insightsinsights withwith othersothers andand traveledtraveled toto BenaresBenares andand encounteredencountered fivefive ascetics.ascetics.
ArguedArgued thatthat nono rituals,rituals, godsgods oror anyany typetype ofof outsideoutside powerpower couldcould savesave man.man. TheThe onlyonly salvationsalvation lieslies inin thethe realizationrealization ofof thethe FourFour NobleNoble TruthsTruths andand thethe diligentdiligent pursuitpursuit ofof thethe EightEight FoldFold PathPath
WithinWithin years,years, BuddhistBuddhist monasteriesmonasteries werewere emergingemerging throughoutthroughout India,India, establishingestablishing BuddhismBuddhism asas aa religionreligion
TheThe BuddhaBuddha dieddied inin 486486 BCEBCE andand achievedachieved paranirvanaparanirvana (complete(complete nirvana)nirvana)
WhatWhat do do Buddhists Buddhists believe? believe?
RebirthRebirth (reincarnation)(reincarnation) resultsresults fromfrom attachmentsattachments (karma)(karma) NirvanaNirvana isis aa peaceful,peaceful, detacheddetached statestate ofof mindmind AchievingAchieving NirvanaNirvana meansmeans escapeescape fromfrom thethe cyclecycle ofof rebirthrebirth ((samsarasamsara))
OnceOnce GautamaGautama BuddhaBuddha died,died, afterafter 8080 yearsyears ofof lifelife inin thisthis world,world, havinghaving achievedachieved NirvanaNirvana andand teachingteaching multitudesmultitudes hishis wayway ofof life,life, hehe ceasedceased toto existexist asas aa distinctdistinct beingbeing
BuddhismBuddhism isis nonnon--theistic:theistic: BuddhaBuddha isis notnot thethe BuddhistBuddhist GodGod –– hehe isis justjust aa reveredrevered teacherteacher 33 Characteristics Characteristics of of Existence Existence
AnnicaAnnica == impermanenceimpermanence (world(world inin constantconstant flux)flux) ANNICA DUKKHA DukkhaDukkha == dissatisfactiondissatisfaction (all(all humanshumans andand animalsanimals experienceexperience suffering)suffering)
AnattaAnatta == nono selfself (no(no separate,separate, eternaleternal ANATTA unchangingunchanging self)self) FOURFOUR NOBLE NOBLE TRUTHS TRUTHS WhatWhat is is the the fundamental fundamental causecause of of all all suffering? suffering?
Therefore,Therefore, extinguishextinguish thethe self,self, dondon’’tt obsessobsess aboutabout oneself.oneself. Fundamental Ethics of Buddhism is the Eightfold Path.
Buddhist scriptures are filled with stories illustrating compassion, charity and non-violence WhatWhat is is the the Eight Eight--FoldFold Path? Path?
Wisdom: •Right understanding Moral discipline: •Right motivation •Right speech Mental discipline: •Right action •Right effort •Right livelihood •Right mindfulness •Right meditation EightfoldEightfold Path Path
TheThe unionunion withwith thethe ultimateultimate spiritualspiritual reality.reality.
EscapeEscape fromfrom thethe cyclecycle ofof rebirth.rebirth. FIVEFIVE PRECEPTS PRECEPTS
1)1) AbstainAbstain fromfrom killingkilling oror harmingharming livingliving beingsbeings 2)2) AbstainAbstain fromfrom stealingstealing 3)3) AbstainAbstain fromfrom improperimproper sexualsexual conductconduct 4)4) AbstainAbstain fromfrom falsefalse speechspeech 5)5) AbstainAbstain fromfrom takingtaking alcoholalcohol andand harmfulharmful drugsdrugs MoreMore Numbers Numbers and and Concepts Concepts……
TripleTriple JewelJewel oror ThreeThree RefugesRefuges:: BuddhaBuddha (guide),(guide), DharmaDharma (path),(path), SanghaSangha (teachers)(teachers)
SixSix PerfectionsPerfections:: giving,giving, morality,morality, patience,patience, vigor,vigor, meditationmeditation andand wisdomwisdom
BodhisattvaBodhisattva:: personperson whowho hashas attainedattained nirvananirvana butbut chooseschooses toto bebe rebornreborn withinwithin samsarasamsara inin orderorder toto helphelp othersothers onon pathpath ofof enlightenmentenlightenment
NirvanaNirvana:: escapeescape fromfrom cyclecycle ofof rebirthrebirth (based(based onon karma,karma, 88--foldfold path,path, enlightenment)enlightenment) toto attainattain perfectperfect freedomfreedom andand blissbliss PracticesPractices
MeditationMeditation-- lotuslotus postureposture BowingBowing (three(three times)times) OfferingsOfferings && ChantingChanting Mantras:Mantras: ““OmOm ManiMani PadmePadme HumHum”” whichwhich meansmeans ““Hail,Hail, thethe jeweljewel inin thethe lotuslotus”” KarmaKarma PujaPuja DanaDana (donations)(donations) MudrasMudras MonasticMonastic IdealIdeal SymbolsSymbols
WheelWheel ofof LifeLife MandalaMandala LotusLotus FlowerFlower StupaStupa TemplesTemples SwastikaSwastika BuddhapadaBuddhapada HinduismHinduism vsvs BuddhismBuddhism
Buddha rejected Hindu belief that human inequality was based on hereditary distinctions and that salvation can only be achieved by elite few
Same concepts: reincarnation, samsara, karma, dharma, nirvana, raja yoga (meditation which held the key to enlightenment and the salvation of nirvana)
Rejected concepts: caste system, Hindu rituals and offerings to gods, theories, language of Sanskrit (he used Pali), nirvana only if Brahmin caste, refusal to accept authority of Vedas and Upanishads
Buddhism view of Women: more equal in stance compared to Hinduism; women may endure more “suffering” (ie. childbirth). Buddha allowed either men or women from any caste to become monks or nuns and join the Sangha (brotherhood) HowHow does does Buddhism Buddhism differ differ from from Hinduism?Hinduism?
BuddhismBuddhism rejects rejects…… AuthorityAuthority of of the the ancient ancient Vedic Vedic texts texts TheThe Vedic Vedic caste caste system system TheThe Vedic Vedic and and Hindu Hindu deities deities TheThe efficacy efficacy of of Vedic Vedic worship worship and and ritual ritual TheThe concept concept of of Brahman Brahman HowHow does does Buddhism Buddhism differ differ from from Jainism?Jainism?
BuddhismBuddhism rejects rejects…… TheThe concept concept of of Atman Atman (eternal (eternal spirit spirit / / soul) soul) TheThe practice practice of of strict strict asceticism asceticism and and withdrawalwithdrawal from from the the world world (preferring (preferring the the ““middlemiddle way way””)) VegetarianismVegetarianism as as required required BuddhismBuddhism 101 101 FoundedFounded:: Number of Adherents: th 66 centurycentury BCEBCE approximately 200 million close adherents, although some FounderFounder:: estimates surpass the 600 million mark. Precision is impossible… SiddharthaSiddhartha Gautama,Gautama, otherwiseotherwise knownknown asas thethe BuddhaBuddha ““EnlightenedEnlightened Distribution: OneOne”” predominant faith in Burma, Ceylon, Thailand and Indo-China. It also has followers in China, PlacePlace ofof OriginOrigin:: Korea, Mongolia and Japan. IndiaIndia Sects: SacredSacred BooksBooks:: two principal schools are oldestoldest andand mostmost Mahayana and Theravadin (or importantimportant scripturesscriptures areare Hinayana) Buddhism thethe TripitakaTripitaka,, (The(The ThreeThree BasketsBaskets ofof Wisdom)Wisdom) ReligionReligion or or Philosophy? Philosophy?
Religion Philosophy Attempts to examine the No sacrifices, worship, prayers, meaning of life and universse rituals Provides an ethical standard Rejected the principle of and an overall goald beyond authority in religious matters this life No god personified father Despite Buddha’s wishes, he figure who created and was defied after his death by presided over the universe some of his followers Buddha- not proclaimed as a Buddhism has taken on rituals, god but stated that he was sacrifices, temple worship, “awake” and could point the elaborate scriptures and way for an individual towards complex doctrines salvation ImpactImpact of of Buddhism Buddhism
BuddhismBuddhism elevatedelevated thethe levellevel ofof religiousreligious lifelife andand thoughtthought inin mostmost AsiaAsia ForcedForced HinduismHinduism toto remedyremedy somesome ofof itsits abusesabuses andand revitalizerevitalize itsits teachingsteachings MajorMajor effecteffect uponupon philosophy,philosophy, education,education, literatureliterature andand artart ofof southsouth Asia,Asia, IndiaIndia (Gupta(Gupta period),period), ChinaChina ((TT’’angang Dynasty)Dynasty) andand JapanJapan (Zen(Zen Buddhism)Buddhism) However,However, manymany argueargue BuddhismBuddhism hashas discourageddiscouraged socialsocial progressprogress (since(since itit acceptsaccepts lifelife asas fullfull ofof sufferingsuffering andand doesdoes notnot produceproduce aa greatgreat concernconcern oror solutionssolutions regardingregarding poverty,poverty, illiteracy,illiteracy, illness,illness, pollutionpollution etc.)etc.) SpreadSpread ofof CommunismCommunism (Communist(Communist takeovertakeover ofof ChinaChina inin 1949)1949) ledled toto nationalizationnationalization ofof monasteriesmonasteries andand allall revenues)revenues) governmentgovernment inin exileexile inin TibetTibet