Buddhism

Mackenzie Nalepa, Adriana LaMantia, Kayla Chapman,

and Annaistasia Jordon
 Brief History
1. Life of Buddha
2. First Buddhist Council
3. Sangha
4. Second Buddhist Council
5. Conversion of Emperor Asoka
6. Spread of Buddhism to Southeast Asia
7. Spread of Buddhism to Hellenistic World
 Historical Timeline
480 BCE: Birth of Buddha in Kapilavastu

405 BCE: Death of Buddha

405 BCE: First Buddhist Council

350 BCE: Second Buddhist Council

250 BCE: Third Buddhist Council

372 CE: Chinese monks bring Buddhism to Korea

1360: Theravada Buddhism becomes state religion in Thailand

1959: Dalai Lama goes into exile

2001: Destruction of standing Buddha statues by Taliban regime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBpGT_-5iVg
 Leaders
Ananda
Cousin of Buddha
Memorized and recited his teachings

Dalai Lama
Leader of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism

Gautama
Name given to historical Buddha

Sakyamuni
Another name given to historical Buddha

Nhat Hanh, Thich

Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet, and peace activist
 Sacred Scripture & Text
Sutras (Sanskrit) and Suttas (Pali) are believed to
be the actual words of Buddha

Zen Buddhism rejects scripture as an ineffective

path to enlightenment

Tibetan Book of the Dead

Tripitaka (Theravada Buddhists)

Mayahana Buddhism recognizes the Tripitaka as

well at Sutras
 Holy Things
General Buddhist Tibetan Buddhist
Things Things
Begging Bowl Mandala

Musical Instruments
Buddha Image
Prayer Wheel
Incense Burners
Singing Bowl
Prayer Beads
Skull Cap
Monks Robes
Thangka

Stupas and Pagodas Vajra (Diamond Thunderbolt)

Zen Art Ritual Weapons

 Buddhist Dieties
*The term Buddha refers to those who have
reached full enlightenment*

Most popular Buddha's:

Kuan Yin
Medicine Buddha
Laughing Buddha
Green and White Taras
 Ceremonies
All Buddhist turn to the Buddha in devotion
and taking refuge in his protective prescience
and power

Temples, Halls, and Roadside shrines have

been built with images of the Buddha in which
people bow, light candles, burn incense, offer
flowers, press bits of gold leaf onto Buddha
images, and make aspirations and prayer
 Ceremonies
The Buddhas Birthday is considered a holiday in
Buddhist countries. It takes place on May 25th.

Buddhist Rituals of Honoring The Dead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s6SMVc9sLc

RITUALS THAT HAPPEN IN BUDDHIST TEMPLE

VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIzrjGNMoQU
 Ceremonies Continued
All ceremonies are made to generate festive
atmosphere and joy for the whole community

In all Buddhist cultures, Buddhist temples are

important centers for community identity and
integration
 Ceremonies Continued
Monks not only teach the Dharma, but also
preside over festivals to improve the harvest,
ceremonies to assist the dead to achieve a
better rebirth, and ceremonies to invoke the
blessings of the deities.

Many consider the Buddhas power to be

present in relics from him cremated body;
therefor images of the Buddha may also be
placed in stupas pointing to the sky
Stupa
 Community
What are Buddhist holidays
Festivals and holidays follow a lunar
calendar and differ by country and tradition
A typical day of a festival begins to going to
a local temple to offer food and other items
to monks and to listen to a dharma talk
In the afternoon people distribute food to
the poor in order to earn merit
 Community Continued
Holidays and festivals (Didnt list all of them I just
listed the important ones)
Buddhist New Year
In Theravadin countries new year is celebrated for three
days from the first full moon in april
Mahayana countries celebrate the new years on the first
full moon of January
Tibetan Buddhists usually celebrate new years in March
Vesak (Buddha Day)
This is the birthday of Buddha and the most important
festival in Buddhism.
Buddhists all over the world celebrate this on the first full
moon day in May. They celebrate the birth, enlightenment
and the death of Buddha.
Community Continued
Sangha Day (Fourfold Assembly Day)
Commemorates the day Buddha visited Veruvana
Monastery in Rajagaha city
Celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month
(March)
Dhamma Day (Asalha puja day)
This day commemorates the turning of the wheel of the
Dharma which was the Buddhas first sermon which was at
Sarnath Deer Park.
Occurs on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month
(july)
Observance Day (Uposatha)
Refers to the four traditional monthly holy days that
continue to be observed in Theravada countries.
 Community Continued
Rituals and Practices
Rituals and practices are incorporated into
Buddhism through meditation, mantras, mudras,
prayer wheels, and Buddhism symbols.
These practices and rituals are intended to aid in the
journey to enlightenment and they bring blessings
on oneseld and others.
Meditation
Refers to the mental concentration and mindfulness in
Buddhism
Mantras
They are the sacred sounds made to aid concentration in
meditation.
Community Continued
Mudras
The symbolic hand gestures Abhaya Mudra
(Fearlessness) most often seen with standing
Buddhas.
Prayer Wheels
Assist in reciting mantras with the turn of a
wheel
Buddhism Symbols
Used in nearly all expressions of Buddhism.
Examples- Buddha eyes (wisdom eyes) and
Buddhist Wheel (Dharmachakra)
 Code
Five Precepts
Not killing or causing harm to other living
beings
Not taking the not-given
Avoiding sexual misconduct
Avoiding false speech
Abstaining from drink and drugs that cloud the
mind
 Creed
Eightfold Path

Right Understanding
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Meditation
 Creed Continued
4 Noble Truths
Life is suffering. Everything experiences
suffering during their life
Origin of suffering
Extinction of suffering (Nirvana)
Path leading to the extinction of suffering (8
Fold Path)
 Questions
Review Question

Explain some of the trends in Buddhism today,

addressing the application of Buddhist principles
to social issues, womens roles, and the practice
of meditation

Discussion Questions

What are the major differences and similarities

between Hinduism and Buddhism?