Module 6 On Buddhism

World Religions and Belief Systems
Module 6: On Buddhism
fr. j lois Sarmiento
A. Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama—also known as “the Buddha”—more than 2,500 years
ago in India. With an estimated 500 million to one billion followers, scholars consider Buddhism one of the major
world religions. As a non-theistic faith with no god or deity to worship, some scholars describe Buddhism as a
philosophy or a moral code rather than an organized religion.
Many of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism revolve around the concept of suffering and its causes. Buddhism
has historically been most prominent in East and Southeast Asia, but its influence is growing throughout the West.
Many Buddhist ideas and philosophies overlap with those of other faiths.
B. Buddhism Beliefs and Practices

• Followers of Buddhism don’t acknowledge a supreme god or deity. They instead focus on achieving
enlightenment—a state of inner peace and wisdom. When followers reach this spiritual echelon, they’re said
to have experienced nirvana.
• The religion’s founder, Buddha, is considered an extraordinary being, but not a god. The word Buddha means
“enlightened.”
• The path to enlightenment is attained by utilizing morality, meditation and wisdom. Buddhists often meditate
because they believe it helps awaken truth.
• There are many philosophies and interpretations within Buddhism, making it a tolerant and evolving religion.
• Some scholars don’t recognize Buddhism as an organized religion, but rather, a “way of life” or a “spiritual
tradition.”
• Buddhism encourages its people to avoid self-indulgence but also self-denial.
• Buddha’s most important teachings, known as The Four Noble Truths, are essential to understanding the
religion.
• Buddhists embrace the concepts of karma (the law of cause and effect) and reincarnation (the continuous cycle
of rebirth).
• Followers of Buddhism can worship in temples or in their own homes.
• Buddhist monks, or bhikkhus, follow a strict code of conduct, which includes celibacy.
• There is no single Buddhist symbol, but a number of images have evolved that represent Buddhist beliefs,
including the lotus flower, the eight-spoked dharma wheel, the Bodhi tree and the swastika (an ancient symbol
whose name means "well-being" or "good fortune" in Sanskrit)..
C. Buddha
Siddharta Gautama is the founder of Buddhism who later became known as “the Buddha,” lived during the 5th
century B.C.
Gautama was born into a wealthy family as a prince in present-day Nepal. Although he had an easy life, Gautama
was moved by suffering in the world.
He decided to give up his lavish lifestyle and endure poverty. For nearly six years, he undertook fasting and other
austerities, but these techniques proved ineffectual and he abandoned them. He eventually promoted the idea of
the “Middle Way,” which means existing between two extremes. Thus, he sought a life without social indulgences
but also without deprivation.
After regaining his strength, he seated himself under a Bodhi tree in west-central India and promised not to rise
until he had attained the supreme enlightenment. After fighting off Mara, an evil spirit who tempted him with
worldly comforts and desires, Siddhartha reached enlightenment, becoming a Buddha at the age of 35. He spent
the rest of his life teaching others about how to achieve this spiritual state.
When Gautama passed away around 483 B.C., his followers began to organize a religious movement. Buddha’s
teachings became the foundation for what would develop into Buddhism.
• In the 3rd century B.C., Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Indian emperor, made Buddhism the state religion of
India. Buddhist monasteries were built, and missionary work was encouraged.
• Over the next few centuries, Buddhism began to spread beyond India. The thoughts and philosophies of
Buddhists became diverse, with some followers interpreting ideas differently than others.
• In the sixth century, the Huns invaded India and destroyed hundreds of Buddhist monasteries, but the
intruders were eventually driven out of the country.
• Islam began to spread quickly in the region during the Middle Ages, forcing Buddhism into the background.
Nonetheless, Buddhism eventually spread to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan and, in the 20th
century, to the West.
D. Types of Buddhism
Today, many forms of Buddhism exist around the world. The three main types that represent specific geographical
areas include:
• Theravada Buddhism: Prevalent in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and Burma
• Mahayana Buddhism: Prevalent in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam
• Tibetan Buddhism: Prevalent in Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of Russia and northern India
• Zen Buddhism is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that’s practiced in many of the same areas. It emphasizes
simplicity and meditation—the word “zen” means meditation—in lieu of religious scripture, ceremonies or
doctrines.
• Nirvana Buddhism is closely related to Theravada Buddhism, but the concept of nirvana is also central to many
paths of Buddhism. The term nirvana means “blowing out,” as a candle is blown out, thus ending all
attachment and desire to achieve a state of pure enlightenment.
E. Dharma
Buddha’s teachings are known as “dharma.” He taught that wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity and
compassion were important virtues. Specifically, all Buddhists live by five moral precepts, which prohibit:
• Killing living things
• Taking what is not given
• Sexual misconduct
• Lying
• Using drugs or alcohol
F. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Paths

The Four Noble Truths are:
• Life is suffering
• The cause of suffering is craving
• The end of suffering comes with an end to craving
• There is a path which leads one away from craving and suffering
The path alluded to in the fourth truth is The Eightfold Path which serves as both a guide on the road to non-
attachment and the road itself. The precepts both inform a traveler on how to proceed and provide the way through
spiritual discipline. The eight precepts are:
• Right View
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Mindfulness
• Right Concentration
G. The Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is the leading monk in Tibetan Buddhism. Followers of the religion believe the Dalai Lama is a
reincarnation of a past lama that has agreed to be born again to help humanity. There have been 14 Dalai Lamas
throughout history.
The Dalai Lama also governed Tibet until the Chinese took control in 1959. The current Dalai Lama, Lhamo
Thondup, was born in 1935.

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World Religions and Belief Systems

B. Buddhism Beliefs and Practices

F. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Paths

G. The Dalai Lama

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