Module 3 Flashcards
(23 cards)
Prince born around 563 BCE
- Belonged to the warrior caste
- Subject of a prophecy which stated “He was going to be a great political leader or a homeless monk.”
- To avoid fulfillment of the prophecy, his father raised him in luxury.
- Founder of Buddhism
Siddharta Gautama
Married to a princess named _______ and had a son named ___________
Yashodhara and Rahula
He encountered four passing sights:
(1) Distressed old man
(2) Man afflicted by illness
(3) Dead man carried on a funeral
(4) Monk walking alone in a yellow robe
- “Life is not all about happiness and pleasure, but is also includes misery,
problems, and death” - No matter how wealthy one is, one is also destined to become old and ill and
will eventually die. - Material comforts will not protect him from experiencing harsh realities such
as suffering.
Realizations of Siddharta
- Siddharta decided to search for the origin of suffering and end it.
- He shaved his hair, wore a robe of the monk and left the palace.
- He began to master a meditative approach prescribed by the Upanishads.
He also tried self - denial or severe asceticism for five years and was joined
by five other ascetics - did not help. - It came to a point where he only ate a single grain of rice which caused him
to faint.
The Great
Renunciation
a place where Siddharta sat down and meditated until he reached spiritual enlightenment.
Bodhi tree
god of desire and death tempted him to go back to the palace and live a luxurious life.
Mara
lack of craving which means blowing out in Sanskrit. It is the extinguishment of desire and the end of suffering.
Nirvana
a title meaning “the enlightened one.”
Buddha
- Buddha preached the Middle way for 45 years
- He died at the age of 80
- He overcame the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and entered parinirvana
The Death of
Siddharta Gautama
renounced his violents ways and accepted the teachings of the Buddha. He stayed in power for 35 years and commanded his subjects to follow Buddha’s teachings.
Spread of Buddhism
King Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire
- Follows the purest form of the true message of the Buddha
- “The way of the elders”
- Conservative school of thought.
Theravada Buddhism
- Means “large vehicle”
- To carry the human person towards liberation of the human soul.
Mahayana Buddhism
- Means “thunderbolt” or diamond vehicle
- Known today as Tibetan or Zen Buddhism
- Considered as an esoteric school because only few people with specialized knowledge would understand it.
Vajrayana
- Does not recognize the centrality of the role of a personal god or gods.
- Focuses on how to overcome suffering.
Non - god
- Suffering
- Buddha identified that suffering is the most fundamental problem inherent to
human existence. - Inevitable
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
Dukkha
- Desire
- The cause of suffering
- The key is to stop trying too hard and let things happen
Tahana
- The end of desire and suffering
- A phenomenon experienced by someone who has freed himself from any form of desire and suffering
- State of calm, peace, joy, bliss, and perfection
Nirvana
a person who overcame all desires and attachments
Arhant
- Means to attain liberation from attachments, from desires, from suffering and from the cycle of rebirth. Can be summarized into the three instructions of Theravada Buddhist tradition.
The Eightfold Path
● Right speech - truthful, modesty, and avoiding spreading
untrue stories
● Right conduct - preservation of life, honesty, refrain from
stealing.
● Right livelihood - living in accordance with Buddhist’s way of
life.
(1) Morality/ “sila”/ Virtue
● Right endeavor - conscious, positive in thinking, optimistic
● Right mindfulness - to be fully aware and focus on the “now”
● Right meditation - proper focusing of one’s mind to be able
(2) Concentration/ “Samadhi”
● Right belief - identify the cause and effect of suffering.
● Right aspiration - “right commitment” intention to follow the
path.
(3) Wisdom/ “Prajna”
