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Buddha and Jesus Some people religious leadership make comparisons of their day treated between Buddhism the poor and the and Christian- way the leaders of ity. Buddha was their day misused Buddhist Prayer for Peace born into a Hindu their religious pow- family. Jesus was er. Both Buddha and born into a Jewish Jesus have amazing family. Both rebelled and miraculous birth May all beings everywhere plagued against the way the stories with spec- with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. A Story of Buddhism

May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. he beginning of Buddhism is Twoven with beautiful stories. King May the powerless find power, Suddhodana and, Hindus living in In- and may people think of befriending dia, prayed for a child for years. Finally, one another. with a revelation through a miraculous and sacred dream, the queen became May those who find themselves in trackless, pregnant. In 563 BCE, beneath the sal fearful wilderness – tree, Queen Maha-Maya gave birth the children, the aged, the unprotected – to her son, a child so radiant that the be guarded by beneficial celestials, world held its breath. Peace surround- and may they swiftly attain . ed the planet, birds burst into song. They named him Siddhartha Gautama From: http://www.indianchild.com/hindu_prayers.htm of the Shakyas.

Thumbnail Sketch Who is the founder? Are there any founda- In what places do people Siddhartha Gautama, tional sacred texts? Su- practise? In temples, known as the Buddha. tra (Buddha’s teachings), monasteries, at shrines in (Rules of Disci- homes, workplaces and When did it start? pline) and on roadsides. 600 BCE. (commentary).

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tacular supernatural ences are striking, very old religions. Heart: A Buddhist events and even the too. Jesus was killed For people inter- Perspective on the cosmos celebrating after three years ested in comparative Teachings of Jesus their births. Both of teaching. The religions (the study by His Holiness The became leaders who Buddha lived to 80.) of two or more Dalai are two wandered the coun- Today, the followers religions), Christian- examples of this tryside with their of both Jesus and of ity and Buddhism exploration. disciples, teach- Buddha live every- have lots to offer. ing, confronting, where in the world The books Living encouraging and and the cultures of Buddha, Living breaking the rules of different countries Christ by Thich Nhat the day. (The differ- add flavour to these Hanh and The Good

A Story of Buddhism

The king wanted only the very best and had a son. But in all the luxury of for his son. Besides the best clothes, the palace, he felt restless. One fateful food and care that money could night, he left the palace and went out provide, he also called for soothsay- to see the city. And there he saw four ers to learn how to best protect his things that changed his life: an old son. The story tells us that a wise man man, a diseased man, a dead man, and said that if the boy could be kept from a monk. Siddhartha had come across seeing the sorrows of the world, then suffering for the first time in his life. he would grow up to become a great He wanted to learn more. He wanted king. Otherwise, he would lead a to find out how to eliminate suffering religious life. The father did his best to from the world. This desire led him keep the sorrows of the world from his to leave his family, his luxury, and to son’s sight. The boy grew up, married, give up everything. He cut off his hair,

What are spiritual lead- What are the main Japan) and Are there special holy of the Buddha; is ers are called?, branches of the tradi- (begun in Tibet) are days? Spring and fall rainy season retreat; and monks, nuns, , tion? , which forms of Mahayana Bud- equinox; Wesak Day Kathina is when monks thay, sensai. is mainly practised in dhism. (which happens at the and nuns are offered Tibet and China; and full moon of the fourth robes, food or monastic Where is the tradition , which is month between May necessities. The Buddhist practised? Mainly in Asia practised in Viet Nam, and June) celebrates the calendar is lunar. and the Far East; around Myanmar, Ceylon and birth, enlightenment, the world. Thailand. (begun in and entry into

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The Three Baskets of Wisdom

The following items are 1) Pitaka 2) Vinaya Pitaka 3) Abhidharma Pitaka the foundational sacred (the Teaching Basket) (the Discipline Basket) (the Higher Doctrine Bas- texts for Buddhism. – Records of the actual – A rule book for monks ket) – An explanation on the experiences of Buddha. and nuns. teachings of Buddha. Most of these are called .

put on a monk’s robe, and joined the to the mystery he longed to solve. For Hindu holy people in the forest. 48 more days, he sat beneath the tree, He lived with them for years of blissfully preparing his mind and heart study, meditation, and deprivation. He for the work ahead. was so enthusiastic about this life that From a life of luxury to a life of he almost starved himself to death. In poverty and hunger, Siddhartha now the end, he decided that neither a life turned to his life’s work. For 45 years, of luxury nor a life of deprivation were he walked throughout the land, teach- good. He chose the . After ing, establishing monasteries, giving six more years of thinking, Siddhartha counsel and advice, and showing by sat under a Bo tree to meditate. There, example that returning to the sacred he repeatedly felt tempted to give source every day, through up his quest, but he did not. meditation, is essential. Just as dawn was breaking, Like other charismatic Siddhartha’s mind opened spiritual leaders, Sid-

Words to Know

Buddha: one who has Karma: the law of cause : com- Three Refuges: Buddha, developed all positive and effect. are symbols plete, and ; these qualities and eliminated of the universe. they are make up the basic orienta- all negative qualities. An Mala: prayer beads. (They can also rep- swept into tion for Buddhist life enlightened being; one Many Buddhists wear resent the palaces of dif- a urn then offered to who is “awake.” these wrapped around ferent Buddhas.) rivers or lakes as purifica- : a short chant their wrists. Mandalas are tion and blessing with (usually the name of a Dharma: the practice of sometimes ritual prayers. This action Buddha) recited over and the truth; the Buddha’s made with reminds people that over to clear, protect and teachings. coloured nothing is permanent. purify the mind and gain sand; when spiritual realizations.

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The Three Poisons

Greed Hate Ignorance

dhartha was asked who or what he tame and train your own mind. This was. His famous answer was, “I am means abstaining from ten non-virtu- awake.” The translation of this answer ous actions of body (killing, stealing, is how the word Buddhism came to be. sexual misconduct), speech (lying, Budh is a root word mean- causing dissention, harmful words, ing “to know” or “to wake up.” In his idle chatter), and mind (ill will, greedi- 80th year, the Buddha died peacefully, ness). Being compassionate is more leaving his teaching and a tradition that important than what people say they went on to spread around the world. believe. Dharma is more a way of life One characteristic of Buddhism than religion. It can be followed by is that most Buddhists do not mind anyone without converting to joining in other people’s religious the faith. Buddha did not want ceremonies. The Buddha taught not anyone to worship him, but to commit any unwholesome actions, to experience his teach- but to accumulate virtuous deeds, to ing, realize the truth, and

Nirvana: a state of peace. Samsara: rounds of Thay: a Vietnamese term Wheel of Life: represents Zen Buddhism: a branch rebirths that never free that means “teacher”; Buddha’s teaching. It of Mahayana Buddhism Precept: guideline. There one from suffering. a name for a spiritual shows six realms of sam- that focuses on medita- are five basic precepts for leader. sara, caused by desire, tion. following dharma. Sangha: virtuous com- hatred and ignorance, munity. and the twelve links : a Tibetan Bud- representing freedom. A dhist title of honour for a Sensai: a Japanese term painting of the Wheel of spiritual leader. that means “teacher”; Life was given by Buddha a name for a spiritual to royalty. When the king leader. studied the picture, he attained wisdom.

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The Three Universal Truths 1. Everything in a constant state 2. Nothing is lost destroy ourselves. 3. The law of Changes. There is of change. Our in the universe. If we cheat another, cause and effect only one thing for ideas about life also Everyone and every- we cheat ourselves. rules. Our thoughts sure in life: ev- change. People once thing is intercon- Understanding this and actions deter- erything changes. believed that the nected. We depend truth, the Buddha mine the kind of life People are world was flat, but on and react to one and his disciples we can have. No one born, grow up, grow now we know that it another constantly. never killed any can avoid dukkha old and die. Plants, is round. If we destroy some- animal. (“disappointment rocks, everything is thing around us, we and suffering”). But

become a Buddha themselves. He said acknowledgement of women was a his teaching was like a raft to be used controversial idea, because so many to cross the river of samsara (which people believe that only men should be means “suffering”). Only a fool will religious leaders. carry the raft on his back and walk up There are many versions of the Bud- and down the riverbank without using dha shown in statues and paintings, but the opportunity to cross the river. Buddhists do not worship these statues. Another distinguishing characteristic Buddhists pay respect to the Bud- of Buddhism is that there is no creator dha’s statues and teachings by bowing God. Since the first Buddha, there have low, lighting incense, and walking round also been other men – and women too and round to purify negative karma. – who have attained enlightenment About 200 years after the death and become Buddhas. The Buddha of the Buddha, Emperor Asoka of the taught that both men and women Magadhan Empire was busy expanding can attain enlightenment. his empire. One story is told that there The Tibetan titles Lama and were Buddhists among his subjects and Rinpoche are used for both that he was mildly interested in what male and female masters. they had to say. After a particularly In the Buddha’s time, gruesome campaign on the battlefield, and even now in he went home to seriously explore this some religions, this peaceful way of life. Eventually he con-

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every moment we good seed, you will create new karma joyfully gather good by what we say, do fruit.” and think. Karma teaches us to create a good future. The Buddha said, “If you carefully plant a

verted to Buddhism and encouraged differences came up. People separated his subjects to do the same. Buddhism into two different streams of Buddhism: became the state religion and he even Mahayana (meaning “Large Vehicle,” banned hunting. He was so enthusias- which includes Tibetan, Japanese and tic about his new religion, in fact, that ) and Theravada he sent his son Mahinda to Sri Lanka (meaning “The Teaching of the Elders,” to tell the king about it. Sri Lanka, which is practised mainly in southeast too, adopted Buddhism as the state Asia). Mahayana developed distinc- religion, and so the new movement tive characteristics and rituals, such as spread. chanting and prayer wheels. Devotees The teachings of the Buddha were follow reincarnated lamas. memorized and passed down orally From 100 CE until the Communist for about 400 years. Around 100 BCE, era (mid 1900s), Buddhism flourished the followers gathered in Sri Lanka in China, along with Taoism and Con- and decided it was time to write the fucianism. Since then, religions have teachings. And so they began writing been discouraged in China and there on palm leaves and eventually filled have been periods of great oppression three baskets. The Buddha’s teachings and persecution. In the 1950s, many are called Tipitaka, meaning “three monasteries were destroyed both in baskets,” because of this fact. It was China and Tibet. around this time that philosophical

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The 1. Suffering and 2. Disappointment 3. We can enjoy 4. By following the disappointment are occurs because we life although it isn’t Noble Eightfold part of life. crave things or are perfect. Path, we can gain ignorant. wisdom for living a fulfilling life.

Buddhism spread to thousands of others were forced to Korea by 400 CE. In the flee. They live in exile still, in the town sixth century, Buddhist of Dharamsala, India. Dharamsala temples were appearing in has become a centre for Buddhists Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Cam- and for others from around the world bodia, and Japan. Buddhism who want to learn about Buddhism became the state religion in Japan. In and receive teachings from the Dalai the 12th century, Zen Buddhism was Lama. The travels around developed, which is practised today the world speaking about peace, Bud- worldwide. The movement remained dhism, and freedom for his native land. strong there until the 1850s, when He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace the cult of the emperor emerged (the Prize and many other honours for his emperor was seen as a deity). message of peace in the world. He is Buddhism travelled to Tibet around particularly interested in speaking with 800 CE, taken there by an Indian young people. master who, it is said, chased all the In September 2006, he joined 11 demons from the country! The move- other Nobel Peace Prize laureates at ment thrived in Tibet under the leader- the University of Denver in Colorado, ship of successive Dalai Lamas, who at PeaceJam. (The other laureates serve as spiritual leaders and advisors. were Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Men- In 1959, the Chinese government chuTum, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, invaded Tibet. The Dalai Lama and Jody Williams, Wangari Maathai, Betty

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The

1. Practise loving 2. Practise generosity; 3. Abstain from 4. Practise honesty 5. Keep your mind kindness to all do not steal. sexual misconduct with yourself and clear; do not abuse creatures; do not and sensual others; do not lie. yourself with drugs kill. overindulgence. or alcohol.

Williams, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of Hungary, who saved the lives of Joseph Rotblat, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Jews during World War II. Bishop Carlos Belo, and Oscar Arias.) Although Buddhism has been Peace Jam is an international educa- practised in North America by small tion program to bring youth and Nobel groups since the 1850s, it became Laureates together to inspire a new more visible in the 1960s, particularly generation of peacemakers who want to Zen Buddhism and . transform themselves, their communi- This was partly because in the 1960s ties, and the world. (www.peacejam.org) young people were turning on to peace On June 22, 2006, the Canadian and looking for ways to achieve it both Parliament voted unanimously to offer politically and spiritually. When stars His Holiness the Dalai Lama Canadian like Yoko Ono and John Lennon of the citizenship. This honour was meant Beatles explored Buddhism, it became to show how much Canadians value an interesting path to millions of oth- the Dalai Lama’s work for peace and ers. Today, Buddhist temples are seen non-violence in the world. This unusual in many Western cities and Buddhists honour has only been granted to two are very active in peace and interfaith other people in the world – Nelson organizations. Popular writers such as Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, and the first black prime minister of have also helped to make the practice South Africa; and Raouel Wallenberg of Buddhism accessible to everyone.

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