Buddhism

Annotations:

• Buddhism is an old religion, coming frome the continent of asia. There are 2 main types of buddhism. These are:
• "Mahayana" - Meaning the great vehicle, which is found in China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Nepal & Vietnam. This is also called "Nothern Buddhism". There are 250 million Followers.
• "Hinyana" - means "The small vehicle" which is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Loas. This is also called "Southern Buddhism" and has 88 million followers.

1. Religions in India

   Annotations:

   • India is a land of many peoples, languages and customs, and it is in India that we learn much of the earl civilications, and see how they have influenced the modern world.
2. Mahayana

   Annotations:

   • Teaches that: * The Buddha is a God *The should help others to get to Nirvana *The Mahayana (Great Raft) will get you to Nirvana and they take all (Including Hinyana)
3. Hinyana

   Annotations:

   • Teaches that: *Buddha was an ordinary man who found his way to Nirvana. Not a God. *They get to nirvana by their own actions. *Get to Nirvana via Hinyana (Small Raft)
4. The Buddha (Palace and 4 Passing Sights)
5. The Buddha (The Forest)
6. The Buddha (The Religion)

   Annotations:

   • Siddhartha travelled many miles to teach the middle way and Buddhism. He was constantly teaching, and when he died, his deciples carried his teachings further afield.
7. Buddha's Teachings
   1. Background
      1. 1) No Gods (Agnostic)

         Annotations:

         • Buddha could not believe in the many Hindu gods the people in India believed in at that time. So Buddhism became a religion with no Gods.
      2. 2) Reincarnation

         Annotations:

         • Reincarnation = Reborn into new body If good = Better life If bad = Worse life Get what deserve Ever spinning wheel Only way to escape = Enlightenment All interlinked/related at some point
      3. 3) Life + Suffering

         Annotations:

         • Buddha taught that everyone has a desire/thirst to live. If people want no suffering, give up money, power and possesions. Not to desire anything.
      4. 4) Nirvana

         Annotations:

         • When people give up desire for things then cycle stops and they no longer need to be reborn. This is enlightenment/Nirvana. Nirvana is a place of freedom, outside + beyond this world. There is no suffering in Nirvana.
   2. Four Noble truths

      Annotations:

      • 1. Noble Truth of Suffering Chasing after the delights of the world, expecting them to bring lasting pleasure, always leads to disappointment. These things are all subject to the miseries of birth, old age, sickness and death. Even when you do find something pleasant how soon do you grow tired of it? None of these 'things' offer any real satisfaction or peace.
      • 2 Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering Not being able to be content with what we have or who we are, our mind is filled with a greed or desire and suffering of all types automatically follows. This attitude of selfishness and greediness is the cause of our dissatisfaction, robbing us of our peace of mind.
      • 3. Noble Truth of the End of Suffering Seeing the suffering that comes from these attitudes we are liberated from our heart and all our suffering and dissatisfaction will come to an end. We shall experience a happiness that is far greater then our ordinary pleasures and a peace that is beyond words.
      • 4. Noble Truth of the Middle Path or the Nobel Eightfold Path This path leads to the end of all suffering, If we avoid harming all other living beings, if we sharpen and focus our mind, and if we gain wisdom, each of us can reach perfect happiness, the end of all misery. The way to end suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path namely:
      1. Eightfold path

         Annotations:

         • Right Understanding Right Thought Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration
8. Dalai Lama

   Annotations:

   • Spirit of Buddha in Dalai Lama 49 days after his death, they look for the child with Buddha's spirit. Child must-         - Recognise old dalai lama's possesions.         - Long ears + eyes         - Birthmark of conch shell on palm Once child passes test, become cheif monk + king He teaches about buddhism around world