B2Buddhism


 * Buddhism

** [|Types of Buddhism] [|General Buddhism Information] [|General Buddhism Information 2] [|Siddhartha Gautama] [|Meditation] [|Five Precepts]

  __**What is Buddhism?**__ Buddhism is a religion, (although most people would argue it to be a lifestyle), based on the teachings of Siddhartha Guatama. Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels:  **Buddha** – the idea or highest spiritual potential existing within all beings. **Dharma** – the teachings of Buddha. **Sangha** – The community of those who have obtained enlightenment.

__**Tipitaka**__     u Buddhism is documented in the Tipitaka. It was documented 83 BCE in Sri Lanka. The language that it is recorded in is Pali. The script that it is recorded in is Sinhala. The Tipitaka is about 11 times the size of the bible, but you don’t need to read every chapter, sutra, because Buddha has just explained the same four noble truths to his audiences under different circumstances.

__**The Four Noble Truths:**__ u There is suffering. u There is cause for suffering. u There is cessation of suffering. u There is path leading to the cessation of suffering.

__**Origin of Buddha**__ u “Buddha” is a title and not a name in itself. It means “one who is awake” (in the sense of having “woken up to reality”). Buddha was first given to a man who was Siddhartha Gautama approximately 2,500 years ago. Siddhartha did not claim to be a God and Buddhists have never regarded him as a God. He was just a human being who became Enlightened, understanding life in the deepest way possible.

__**The Eightfold Path (Attainment of Enlightenment)**__ u Aim: To attain final liberation called Nirvana.  Instruments: Your mind and body (Nama-rupa). u Procedure: Follow the Noble eight-fold path. **Wisdom** u Right View – To understand wholesome deeds, unwholesome deeds and comprehend the law of Karma. u Right Intention – The intention of non-greed, non-hatred and non-delusion. **Ethical Conduct** u Right Speech – Abstaining from false speech, malicious speech, harsh speech and idle chatter. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.73%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Right Action – Abstaining from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.52%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Right Livelihood – Abstaining from wrong and corrupt means of livelihood. **Mental Development** <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.42%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Right Effort – Awakening zeal for abandoning of unwholesome states and arising & sustaining of wholesome states. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.79%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Right Mindfulness – The four foundations of mindfulness (satipattana) namely contemplation on body, contemplation on feelings, contemplation on mind and contemplation on mind- objects. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.51%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Right Concentration – Abandoning of five hindrances namely lust, ill-will sloth-torpor, worry-agitation and doubt through jhanas.

__**Meditation**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.78%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;"> Buddhism began encouraging its practitioners to engage in mindfulness, smrti (sati). Mindfulness is developing a full consciousness of all about you and within you. If it is in a special, seated posture, or simply going about your life. This is the kind of meditation that Buddha himself engaged in under the bodhi tree, and is referred to in the seventh step of the eightfold path.

__**Five Buddhist Precepts**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.26%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u These 5 precepts are the moral code of Buddhism. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.68%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Do not kill. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.68%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Do not steal. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.57%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Do not indulge in sexual misconduct. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.68%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Do not make false speech. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.68%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Do not take intoxicants.

I__**ntroduction to Buddhism in Japan**__ Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan in 538 A.D. when a brilliant image of Buddha, along with scripture-scrolls and ornaments were introduced to Emperor きっめい. Controversy started immediately over whether a foreign cult should be accepted or not. Many orthodox clans, such as the もののべ and なかとみ clan, believed that the Shinto religion should be the only religion, as Japan already had it’s indigenous religion.

__**Further Conflict**__ The そが clan supported the idea of Buddhism, as they believed it had much to offer to their culture, and would enrich their culture. Thus, Emperor きっめい deferred the matter to the そが clan. 40 Years later, Prince しょとく declared Buddhism as the official religion. He believed that Buddhism would make Japan a cultural and unified, refined country. Because of しょとく, Buddhist temples were built in Japan, and Buddhism was finally established on Japanese soil.

__**なら Period (710-784 A.D.)**__ After the death of しょとく, Buddhism continued to blossom in Japan. Buddhist temples in this time were not just a center of prayer, they were also schools, hospitals, and orphanages. It was Japan’s new way of life. As the number of monks increased they were separated and classified into 6 schools: さんろん、ほっそ、けごん、りつ、くしゃ、と　じょじつ. It was the same way that the Chinese was divided.

__**Six Buddhist Schools**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u さんろん Teaches to refrain from choosing between opposing positions, and to tread a middle way. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.45%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u ほっそ Teaches that all things are a mind-evolution, and are neither in themselves, real or unreal. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.63%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u けごん Teaches that the center of teaching is the equality of all things, and the dependence of all things on each other. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.86%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u りつ Teaches the rules and regulations for the communial life of monks and nuns. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.71%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u くしゃ is considered to be a knock-off of the Indian school, Sautrantika. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.54%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u じょじつ is considered to be a knock-off of the Indian school, Servastivada. The last two schools mentions, くしゃ and じょじつ, teach the original texts and principle’s.

__**へいあん**__ __** Period (794-1185 A.D.) **__ In 784, the Japanese capital transferred from なら to きょうと, and apparently it became the Buddhist center of Japan. Two new schools were introduced from China: 　てんだい and しんごん. These new schools overshadowed the previous six.

__**Two New Buddhist Schools**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.16%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u しんごん Teaches that englightentment (Nirvana) is not a foreign reality that takes ages to achieve, but that it is a real possibility in this lifetime. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.38%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u てんだい Teaches that every sense phenomenon just as it is, is the expression of Dharma.

__**かまくら Period (1185-1333 A.D.)**__ This whole period had the two previous schools decline, and many more schools appear in Japan, teaching Zen Buddhism. The sect-founder of the Kamakura Period noticed that all the truthful and meaning text lay in the Lotus Sutra, but that it would be too difficult for the normal person to understand. He simply proclaimed that muttering the title Lotus Stura (Myoho-renge-kyo) would be sufficient to find oneself in the highest state of enlightenment. This, ‘Zen Buddhism’, is what’s practiced today in Japan.

__**Types of Buddhism**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.9%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u There are three types of Buddhism: Theraveda [Southern], Mahayana [Eastern], and Tibetan [Northern]. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.15%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u The Buddhism taught in Japan is Mahayana Buddhism. This sect teaches the Pali Canon, the religious text, and additional texts and beliefs. Nirvana is achieved by practicing universal compassion.

__**Karma**__ Karma is a big part of the Buddhism religion. The theory of karma is that when you do good things, good things happen to you in return. This theory also goes for the opposite; when doing bad things, bad things will happen to you in return. This is why the Japanese are mostly so very well mannered, and have respect for all people. Karma has shaped the culture of Japan.

//__**BUDDHIST INFLUENCES IN JAPANESE CULTURE**__//

__**Grace at Meals**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.62%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u いただきます ! Yes – That famous phrase said before every meal originates from Buddhism! This means “With thankfulness, I accept this meal by reflecting on my own work, to see whether I deserve it. ” <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.75%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u ごちそさま ! This is said after every meal, and means “May this offering be well received to keep my body in good health and to fulfill the good wishes of all beings. ” The original meanings of the words spoken in a prayer called “ がっしょ ” have been lost, but they are uttered and convey the teachings of Buddhism to be thankful of all beings who gave them life in the world.

__**Daily Greetings**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.63%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u “ すみません !” This word simply shows that one acknowledges that they have not properly responded to another’s kindness. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.85%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u “ ありがとう ”, literally meaning “I am obliged.” The Japanese are very serious and feel strongly about obligations, and etiquette. [Trevor wouldn’t do so well there]

__** じゃけん! **__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.63%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u はい ! This game is the most popular game that the Japanese play. We used to do this everyday last year several times, but now we barely do =(. However, in Japan they play it from when they’re young, all the way until they’re 80+. This game conveys the profound Buddhist teaching of interdependence and relativeness. __** ありがみ! **__ おりがみ follows precise and determined patterns to create beautiful shapes and objects we see in our everyday world. The idea of Buddhism in origami is creating a everlasting design out of something that is perishable.

//__**BUDDHIST RIGHTS OF PASSAGE**__//

__**Birth**__ When a child is born, a report is issued to the village office, where the name will be entered into the family register called こせき. The first feast is held seven days after the child is born, and is when they’ll take the child to a temple and have them blessed.

__**Marriage**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.72%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u To get married, both partners must come to a ward office with two witnesses to sign documents for the marriage to be legal. The wedding is held in a Buddhist Temple, and initiated with a vow to the Buddha. After offering incents to the Buddha, the couple receives ritually purified water, then drink sacred rice wine offered to the Buddha from three wine cups. They both drink three times each, symbolizing homage to the three treasures of Buddha. This is called drinking the さん - さん - くど pledge. Then the じゅず, or Buddhist Rosary containing 108 beads, is given to the couple, and the wedding rings are exchanged.

__**Death**__ The funeral is held at a Buddhist Temple and the service lasts one hour. After that, the body is taken to the crematorium. On the 49 th day after death, another service is held at the temple or at home, as it is believed that karma takes a new form on that day. A memorial day service is done on every 1 st, 3 rd , 7 th , 13 th , 17 th , 23 rd , or 33 rd year after this.

//__**BUDDHIST FESTIVALS IN JAPAN**__//

__**Festivals**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u しゅしょ　サービス New Year’s Day <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.26%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u せつぶん　サービス Heralding of Spring <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u ねはん　サービス Buddha’s Nirvana <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.42%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u ひがん　サービス Spring+Fall Equinox <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u はな　まつり Birth of the Budha <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u お - ぼん Buddhist Memorial Day <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.22%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u さげき　サービス Buddhist Thanksgiving <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.09%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u じょど　サービス Buddha’s Enlightenment <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u じょや　サービス New Year’s Eve

__**しゅしょ Service- New Year's Day**__ A spiced rice wine ( とそ ), and pounded rice cakes ( もち ), are served at breakfast for three days as a sign of prayer for longitivity and health. One usually makes a trip to a Buddhist temple and makes courtesy calls on friends or relatives.

__**せつぶん Service**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.9%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Roasted beans are thrown at the doorways and rooms saying “Out with the devil, in with good fortune! ” <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.31%; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u   This is held on February 3 rd, the day before the beginning of spring. (According to the Japanese Lunar Calendar)

__**ねはん　Service**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.32%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u This day is to celebrate the death of 　 ぐあたま Buddha, who passed away on February 15 th, 2500 years ago. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.89%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u At a temple, this is celebrated by hanging a scroll depicting Buddha’s Nirvana surrounded with many disciples, and even animals, weeping over his death.

__**はな　まつり**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.61%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u はな　まつり, is the equivalent of Christmas, for Buddhists. A little Buddha is placed on a flower bed, resembling the birth of Buddha in the Limbini garden. Buddhists bless the Buddha on this day. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.33%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u This is celebrated on April 8 th.

__**O-Bon**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.45%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u This literally translates to “hanging upside down”, the feeling that someone suffers physically and mentally when someone is hung upside down. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.47%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Legend says that a monk found his dead mother, thinned and yearning for food. He tried to feed her food, but they ignited into fire before she could consume them. That monk went to Buddha, and he said that no one had taken care of her when she had passed away. The Buddha suggested that on July 15 th, to gather up all the monks for a memorial service, and bring food, water, and clothing for her to be spiritually cleaned and refreshed. The monk was very relieved to have his mother saved from hunger and isolation in the other world. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.65%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u O-Bon service takes 4 days starting on July 13 th. The first day is called むかえ - ぼん, and the last day is called おくりーぼん. On the eve of むかえーぼん, people bring lanterns and welcome the spirits back home. Bullocks and horses are made of eggplants and cucumbers for the spirits to mount on. The people enjoy special feasts with the spirits, as a way to spend time with them on their trip back to Earth. On おくりーぼん, people send the spirits on boats called shoryobone, filled with all kinds of foods and a lit lantern. It is said that the boats reach the shore across the ocean at the time of the next O-Bon, so no spirits will be hungry or lonely again.

__**せがき Service**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.1%; text-align: left; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u This lies sometime in the summer when people want to get together and give money and food the poor. It’s a Buddhist’s Thanksgiving. Unlike us, they don’t eat gigantic feasts on this day, they just help those who are in desperate need.

__**じょど Service**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.1%; text-align: left; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u Lies on December 8 th, which is the day people believed ぐあたま Buddha achieved full enlightenment. The service celebrating his enlightenment is held at a Buddhist Temple, reminding everyone of it’s significance in the world.

__**じょや Service**__ New Year’s Eve. At the stroke of midnight, the sounds of bells ringing **//__108__//** times will be heard. This symbolizes the expulsion of the **//__108__//** human defilements believed to be accumulated in the past year. Many people wait to hear the bells, and gather around them in the hundred thousands. Most people even start their pilgrimages to a specific temple or shrine at this time.

__**One Hundred and Eight (108)**__ <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -3.48%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u - 108 has a big significance in the religion of Buddhism. At New Year’s Eve, the bell is rung 108 times to symbolize the 108 earthly temptations one must overcome to achieve Nirvana. Most temples have 108 steps leading up to them. Rosaries will have 108 beads. <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.14%; top: 0.1em; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">u - At first, this is a tricky calculation, but here’s the explanation of 108. //The Three Sense Experiences x The Six Senses = 18 Aversion or Craving to these experiences = 18x2 = 36. Past, Present, and Future incidents of Aversion or Craving= 36x3 = 108 The three sense experiences : Good, Bad, Neutral. The Six Senses : Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, Hearing,// //Consciousness.// <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.11%; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;"> <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.64%; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">  <span style="color: rgb(52, 58, 27); position: absolute; left: -4.1%; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 90%;">

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