BUDDHISM

What is Buddhism?
- 500 million people or about 7% to 8% of
the world’s population.
- China – largest population at around 244
million or 18% of its total population.
- Cambodia (97%) - Bhutan (75%)
- Thailand (93%) - Sri Lanka (69%)
- Myanmar ( 80%) - Laos (66%)

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 “
“Buddhism is one of the most
practical among the world’s great
religions because its belief system
intends to meet basic human needs
and solve humankind's spiritual
problem without depending on
supernatural forces. (Brown 1975)”
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What is Buddhism?
- Two main divisions of the religion:
- Mahayana Buddhism
-360 million followers
- China, Japan, and Mongolia
- Theravada Buddhism
-150 million followers
- Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka

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THERAVADA
BUDDHISM
THERAVADA
- From Pali words thera,
meaning elders and
vada, meaning ‘word’ or
‘doctrines’

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FOUNDER: Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C)

✘ Was born into the Sakya tribe in Lumbini (in present-day

Nepal).
✘ Is the son of an aristocratic Hindu chieftain (Suddhodana)
and a Koliyan princess (Mahamaya)
✘ When Siddhartha was first conceived, Queen Mahamaya
dreamt of a brilliant white light shining down at her from
the sky. In the rays of the light was a white elephant with
six tusks. It moved closer to the queen and melted into her
body.
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 “
“I have been born to achieve
awakening (bodhi) for the
good of the world: this is my
last birth (Coogan 2005).”

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 Con.t

- Siddhartha married at the age of 16 to a

girl named Yasodhara, a cousin of his.
- She eventually gave birth to their son
Rahula.

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 Con.t

One day, Siddhartha ventured out into the

world and witnessed the reality of the
suffering of life.

At the age of 29, he left his kingdom and

newborn son to lead an ascetic life and
began to search for truth and liberation.
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The Four Signs

Siddhartha’s venture outside the palace for the first time

led him to encounter a series of human suffering that
transformed his out look in life:
1. An old man
2. A crippled
3. A decaying corpse
4. A journeying monk

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 Con.t

The renounced prince then led a life of

asceticism, practicing different forms of
meditation; unsatisfied, he started
subjecting himself to severe starvation,
going as far as to eating a single grain of
rice per day.

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 Con.t

These actions made him realize the

absurdity of excessive asceticism, and that
a life of deprivation is no different than a
life of pleasure.
From then on, he encouraged people to
follow a path of balance instead of
extremism (“The Middle Way”).
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 Con.t

• Seated beneath a pipal tree (now known

as the bo or bodhi tree), Siddhartha
meditated and finally obtained
enlightenment at the age of 35, earning
him the title “Buddha”, or “Enlightened
One”.

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ELEMENTS OF THERAVADA
BUDDHISM

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 1.

SACRED SCRIPTURES

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 Pali Canon
Also known as the Tipitaka /Tripitaka, it is the first
known, most conservative and most complete
extant early canon of Buddhist writings.

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 The Tipitaka/Tripitaka (“Three Baskets”)
Sutta Pitaka (Discourse) Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline) Abhidhamma Pitaka
The largest basket, it The earliest and smallest (Ultimate Doctrine)
contains the Buddha’s basket, it provides for the It is a collection of
teachings on doctrine and rules and regulations for miscellaneous writings,
behavior, focusing the monastic community including songs, poetry,
especially on meditation (the sangha). These were and stories of the Buddha
techniques. It taken from the Buddha’s and his past lives. There is
encompasses doctrinal responses to particular also the Dhammapada, a
sermons and ethical situations in the popular Buddhist text
discourses attributed to community. It was recalled consisting of the Buddha’s
the Buddha or, in a few by a monk named Upali. sayings and simple
cases, his disciples. It was discussions of his doctrine.
recited by Ananda, It was recited by his
Buddha’s cousin and successor Mahakashyapa.
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Sutta Pitaka

The first basket contains the conventional teaching

delivered by the Buddha on different occasions. It is divided
into 5 collections:
1. Digha Nikaya (Collection of Long Discourses)
2. Majjhima Nikaya (Collection of Middle-length Discourses)
3. Samyutta Nikaya (Collection of Kindred Sayings)
4. Anguttara Nikaya (Collection of Discourses arranged in
accordance with number), and
5. Khudakka Nikaya (Smaller Collection)
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Vinaya Pitaka

The second basket contains the disciplinary code required

of Buddhist monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis). It is
consists of 5 books:
1. Parajika Pali (Major Offences)
2. Pacittiya Pali (Minor Offences)
3. Mahavagga Pali (Greater Section)
4. Cullavagga Pali (Smaller Section), and
5. Parivara Pali (Epitome of the Vinaya)

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Abhidhamma Pitaka

The third basket is a work on moral psychology. It is consists

of 7 works:
1. Dhamma-Sangani (Enumeration of Phenomena)
2. Vibhanga (The Book of the Treatises)
3. Katha Vatthu (Point of Controversy)
4. Puggala Pannatti (Description of Individuals)
5. Dhatu Katha (Discussion with reference to Elements)
6. Yamaka (The Book of Pairs)
7. Patthana (The Book of Relations)

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 2.
BELIEFS AND
DOCTRINES

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The Four Noble Truths
Siddhartha’s pursuit for enlightenment was due to
his dissatisfaction he continually experienced
despite living an opulent life in the palace.
The Four Noble Truths comprise the crux of
Buddha’s teachings. The emphasis on suffering is
a practical and realistic outlook that deals with
the world as it is, and an attempt to remedy it.
The concepts of pleasure and happiness are not
denied, but recognized as transitory.
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 THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
THE FIRST TRUTH
Recognizes the presence of suffering.
The reality of Dukkha (which literally
means “that which is difficult to
bear”) is acknowledged as part of
conditioned existence.
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THE SECOND TRUTH
Aims to identify the cause of
suffering. In Buddhism, there are 2
major causes of suffering: desire
(craving things that are
impermanent) and ignorance (not
perceiving the world as it actually is).
 THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
THE THIRD TRUTH
The truth of the end of suffering,
takes dual meaning. It connotes
either the ends of suffering in this
life on earth, or in the spiritual life
through Nirvana ( a transcendent
state free from suffering and worldly
cycle of birth and rebirth)
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THE FOURTH TRUTH
The Noble Truth of the Path that
leads to Awakening. It is explained
that Awakening is not “made” by
anything: it is not a product of
anything including the Buddha’s
teachings.
 THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
Right Vision of the nature of reality and the path of
Understanding transformation. Also known as Samma-Ditthi.

Free one’s self from ill-will, cruelty, and untruthfulness.

Right Thought Also known as Samma-Sankappa.

Clear, truthful, uplifting and non-harmful communication.

Right Speech Also known as Samma-Vaca.

An ethical foundation for life based on the principle of non-

Right Action exploitation of oneself and others. Also called Samma-
Kammanta.

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 THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
Earn a living in a way not harmful to any living being. Also
Right Livelihood known as Samma-Ajiva.

Avoid evil thoughts and overcome them, arouse good

Right Effort thoughts and maintain them. Also called Samma-
Vayama.

Developing awareness and mindfulness of things, oneself,

Right Mindfulness feelings, thoughts, people and reality. Also called Samma-
Sati.

Right Concentrate on a single object so as to induce certain

special states of consciousness and in deep meditation.
Concentration Also called Samma-Samadhi.

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Law of Dependent
Origination
The Law of Origination
or Paticca-samuppada is
one of the most
insightful teaching of
Siddhartha.
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✘ With everything built upon a set of relations, it follow that
every effect has definite cause and every cause has a
definite effect (Mizuno 1987).
✘ When this is, that is ; This arising , that arises; When this is
not, that is not; This ceasing, that ceases. In Buddhism,
dependent origination is twelve-linked chain that
explicates how all things are inter-connected, how error
and attachment to error occur , and how, if the chain is
untangled, nirvana can be achieved (Mizuno 1987; Bowker
1997) .
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✘ Another principle involved in the law is that things are the
way they are because they are conditioned by other
things. A person is conditioned by other people and
phenomena. Other people and phenomena are conditioned
by him or her.
✘ The Law of Dependent Origination also avows that nothing
is permanent. In this sense, Dependent Origination relates
to the doctrine of Anatman, a doctrine which states that
there is no ‘Self’ in the sense of a permanent, integral,
autonomous being within an individual existence. What we
consider as our self, personality, and ego are mere
impermanent creations of the skandhas, that is, form,
sensation, perception, mental formation, and
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✘ The twelve links are:
(1) Ignorance ; Through ignorance are conditioned volitional
actions or kamma-formation.
(2) Volitional formation; Through volitional actions is
conditioned consciousness.
(3) Consciousness; Through consciousness are conditioned
mental and physical phenomena.
(4) Mind/Body; Through mental and physical phenomena are
conditioned the six faculties ( i.e., five physical sense-
organs and mind).
(5) Senses and sense objects; Through the six faculties is
conditioned ( sensorial and mental) contact.

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(6) The contact between sense organs, sense objects, and
consciousness; Through (sensorial and mental) contact is
conditioned sensation.
(7) Feelings; Through sensation is conditioned desire. ‘thirst” .
(8) Craving; Through desire (‘thirst’) is conditioned clinging.
(9) Attachment; Through clinging is conditioned the process
of becoming.
(10) Coming to be ; Through the process of becoming is
conditioned birth.
(11) Birth; Through birth are conditioned decay, death,
sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair.
(12) Old age and death.

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✘ In this law, the first in the chain is the factor of ignorance
gives rise to volitional activities (or kamma) and
ultimately, through continuous linking between factors, to
Decay and Death, usually accompanied by Sorrow,
Lamentation, Pain, Grief and Despair.
✘ Thus, the process can be stopped if the formula is taken in
the revers order: Through the complete cessation of
ignorance ( through the cultivation of insight), volitional
activities or kamma-formations cease, and soon, and so
forth, until the other factors of decay, death, sorrow, etc.,
cease. Therefore, a person can be freed from the rounds of
rebirth through the abolition of ignorance.

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 Impermanence of things
✘ Impermanence is an unavoidable fact of human existence.
Buddhism affirm five processes deemed uncontrollable by
any individuals: old age, sickness, dying, decay, and death.
However, when one is released from samsara, a being
escapes all these phenomena. That being has then
reached a state called nirvana wherein desire has been
extinguished from one’s self.
✘ When one achieves nirvana, a person’s mind is at perfect
peace. Every is capable of attaining nirvana in this life just
as the saints of Buddhism did in their lives. Those who
have achieved nirvana are called arhat or one who is
“worthy of honor”.
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✘ Unlike Hindus, Buddhists technically do not believe in the
existence of a permanent and fixed reality which could be
referred to as either God or soul. Buddhism holds that
what was ostensible and confirmable about our existence
is the continuous changes it goes through.
✘ The doctrine of impermanence (and continuous becoming)
is principal to Buddhism. It is by becoming conscious of it,
by observing it, and by comprehending it, that a person
can find an appropriate cure for the sorrow of human life
and realize liberation from the process of anicca or
impermanence.
✘ Buddhism teaches that suffering is not inherent in the
world of impermanence; suffering arises when people
cling. So when clinging disappears, impermanence no
longer gives rise to suffering
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. The answer to suffering,
 The sangha
✘ The Pali word sangha literally means “sharer” that refer to
monks who share in the general fund of alms provides by
community.
✘ Sangha pertains to the Buddhist order and monastic
community as founded by Siddhartha during the year that
he attained his enlightenment. Kondanna, Siddhartha’s
follower and one of the so called “Five Ascetics,” was the
first disciple ordained to the sangha. Later on, the other
four ascetics became part of the order namely, Bhaddiya,
Vappa, Mahanama, and Assajii.
✘ Siddhartha preached and accepted members to the
sangha regardless of their rank in society in stark contrast
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 “
During the time of Siddhartha,
bhikkhus were dressed in rags, lived
at the foot of the tree, and begged
for alms. They likewise abstained
from sexual pleasures, stealing, and
killing. They constantly meditate and
study the teachings of Siddhartha.
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✘ Lay people also have duties to perform to the sangha.
They must provide the monastic community with food and
robes, and maintain monasteries and nunneries as
needed. In turn, monks provide valuable services to the
community, such as giving education to young boys and
girls in villages. Finally, members of the sangha must
ensure that Buddhist teachings are to be preserved and
transmitted, whether orally or in written form.

✘ The so-called “Three Jewels” or triratna summarize the

Buddhist faith:

“I take refuge in the Buddha, in the teaching, and in the

sangha.”
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 3.
WORSHIPS AND
OBSERVANCES

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WORSHIP AND
OBSERVANCES

- Attainment of salvation for

any Buddhist is by way of
one’s own action without the
assistance of any supreme or
supernatural being.
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STUPA (Sanskrit: “Heap”)
✘ Stupas are commemorative
monuments that contained
sacred relics associated with
Siddhartha himself, and the
venerable monks and nuns.
✘ With the death of Siddhartha,
his body was cremated and his
ashes were divided among
eight followers and preserved
in eight stupas.

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 Con.t

These burial mounds predate

Buddhism as ancient Indian kings
and heroes were housed in
stupas.

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 Con.t

- With a million stupas located all over

Asia, not all of them house Siddhartha’s
relics.
- Others contained artefacts of his
revered disciples, or his image, writings,
or teachings.
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ENLIGHTENMENT
In time, stupas became pilgrimage sites as they
were covered in earth and are decorated with
Siddhartha’s life. In Tibet, it was transformed into
a chorten. On the other hand, it became a pagoda
in East and Southeast
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Asia.
 Con.t

- Most Buddhists aspire to visit many holy

shrines as possible during their lifetime
for this is an admirable deed.
Siddhartha himself pronounced four
places that every Buddhist must give
high regard:
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1. His birthplace (Lumbini, Nepal) 2. The place of his enlightenment
(Bodh Gaya, Bihar)

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3. The place of his first sermon 4. The place of his
(Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh) parinirvana /“nirvana-after-death”
(Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh)

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 4.
Festivals/Holy
Celebrations

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Vesakha/Vesak
✘ Also known as “Buddha Purnima” or
“Buddha Day”.
✘ Occurs every May on a full moon as
Buddhist followers around the world
commemorate the birth, death and
enlightenment of Siddhartha about
2,500 years ago.
✘ Celebrated with immense festivity,
Budddhists send out thoughts of
affectionate benevolence to the
living and the dead.

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Magha Puja Day

✘ Also known as “Sangha Day”,

✘ Occurs during the full moon of the
third lunar month.
✘ Commemorates the event where
Siddhartha went to Rajgir to meet
and ordain the 1250 arhats in
Venuvana Monastery.

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Asalha Puja Day

✘ Also known as “Dhamma Day”,

✘ Commemorates Siddhartha’s first
teaching (or the turning of the
wheel of the dharmma) held near
Benares.
✘ During this time, the monk
Kondanna reached the first level of
enlightenment.

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 5.

SUBDIVISIONS

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THERAVADA
✘ Is the more conservative
subdivision of Buddhism.
✘ Thus, it is closer to the
fundamental teachings of
Siddhartha.
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 Con.t

• During the 3rd century B.C.E., the Indian

emperor Ashoka Maurya – who ruled between
269 B.C.E. to 232 B.C.E – propagated
Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

• His son (Mahinda) and daughter (Sanghamitra)

established Buddhism in then-Ceylon.

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The subdivisions of theravada that existed during the
early history of Sri Lanka can be traced from the
three monasteries of:
MAHAVIHARA ABHAYAGIRI VIHARA JETAVANA
The Mahavihara or “Great Another major monastery in Sri It is another popular monastery
Monastery” of Anuradhapura Lanka where an ancient stupa founded by King Mahasena who
was founded by King still stands today, the ruled between 277 B.C.E to 304
Devanampiya Tissa who ruled Abhayagiri Degaba. It was C.E. The layout of the Jetavana
between 307 B.C.E to 267 established by King Valagamba monastery is similar to the
B.C.E. between 89 B.C.E to 77 B.C.E Abhayagiri vihara though
smaller in dimensions.

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 6.

Selected Issues

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War and Violence

 In Buddhism, war is evil or akusala. However, there are

instances in its existence wherein Buddhist monks
engaged themselves in open conflict, such as those that
occurred in China and Japan.
 When Buddhists defend their nation, home, and family,
this may not be necessarily wrong as the religion’s
morality is based upon principles, not rules. It is not
righteous to ignore a circumstance where innocent
civilians are killed and slaughtered. They may defend
and protect their country’s sovereignty and have the
duty to join in the struggle 57
for amity and liberty.
Women in Buddhism

 Siddhartha’s outlook is very different when one considers

the status of women in ancient India as being viewed as
inferior to men. Considered at times belonging to the
lowest caste, women’s principal role was to become
faithful and devoted housewives subjected to their
husband’s whims.
 In Buddhism, however, both sexes are seen as equally
relevant in the society as they share equal
responsibilities in their family duties. Siddhartha
acknowledged that man is not always as wise as woman
is also wise. 58
 धन्यववाद!
(Thank you!)
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