Siddhartha Gotama – Quote: ‘Our life is shaped by our mind: we become what we think.’

· Royal Life

· Realized how much suffering there is

· Against family’s wishes, he left home and tried to find an answer

· After 7 years he achieved enlightenment

· From his theory, he developed a knowledge of life’s ‘system’

No Soul – 3 Universal Truths & Transfer of Energy

· Anicca – nothing is permanent, always changing

· Anatta – nothing has a permanent identity i.e. a bicycle

· Dukkha – craving, unsatisfactoriness, always something more

· There is no self

· Once someone dies their energy is passed on, not their soul

Answer to Suffering – Four Noble Truths, 8 Fold Path (world- wide known symbol) & the Middle Way

· Buddha’s awakening – all beings suffer, suffering has a cause (craving), it is possible to escape suffering, there is a path to freedom from suffering (called the Middle Way).

· The middle way – eight ways of thinking: right concentration, right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness (think M.U.S.I.C.A.L.E)

· By following these and providing for you self (what you need) you will live the middle way and are closer to escape suffering.

· I believe – that providing for yourself is luxury in a way because you are not poor.

· Devised this system to guide people through different values and morals to help them achieve happiness.

Karma – 10 Negative Actions, rebirth (next life)

· Karma: every action has a consequence

· Ten negative actions – killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, saying things that hurt people, saying things that cause division between people, gossiping, harmful thoughts, envy, holding wrong views about Buddhism

· Good and bad Karma

· Doing something bad can get you born in another life into a bad situation.

Samsara – Realms, rebirth (cont.) & Yama

· Rebirth not reincarnation

· The wheel of life – travelling up and down into different realms

· In the center: pigeon (ignorance), Pig (desire), Snake (hatred)

· 12 links – different sufferings caused by ignorance

· The god realm, demi-god realm, human realm, animal realm, land of the hungry ghosts, hell realm

· The demi god realm – result of living a good life but being jealous

· The land of the hungry ghosts – constantly wants things but is never satisfied (there for 15,000 years)

· Yama – lord of death, wheel is in his mouth, cycle of death

Relation between Karma & Samsara

· If you do something bad in one realm you will move down i.e. a murderer will be born into the death realm

· You can move up realms in result of good karma

· Past lives effect your current life

Ultimate Goal – Nirvana, Gods & Enlightenment

· Suffering ceases to exist once you have reached nirvana (after god realm)

· All desires have been extinguished

· A person can achieve nirvana in their lifetime if they were born into a high realm

· In a state of pure peace and happiness

· You are free from Yama, escaping the wheel of life (Samsara) and you will never be reborn again.

The Buddhist Community

· Bhikkus start to become a monk at an early age so they can receive a good education

· Their possessions are simple orange robes and a brass bowl to receive offerings.

· When you are a monk your needs are taken care of, you have free time, you gain enlightenment and merit, you are less stressed and have a better understanding of Buddhism

· After leaving the monastery a Buddhists may use his knowledge to help his former community in developing it.

· Upasakas are Buddhists who give gifts to the monks, this benefits them as they are living the middle way – providing for themselves and helping others.

Teachings on Society

· Friends – be helpful, respectful and caring. Be good influences, give gifts, do not share their secrets, and put your self in their shoes.

· Teachers – Respect them, consider their advice, and help them to help you.

· Employees – do not over work them, pay and feed them enough, do not exploit them.

· Parents – Having been supported by them: you should support them, repay them for what they have done for you, and respect them.

· Partners – a man should look after his partner, respect and not criticize her, be faithful and loyal, give her authority in the home, bring gifts, she should do her duties: treating his family like her own, being clever and faithful, hardworking, and protecting the family’s possessions.

	Created by Grace Pulling over 11 years ago

Master of Everything RS Note on Buddhism, created by Grace Pulling on 11/05/2013.