Lecture19 Buddhism Nov 10 Chinese Philosophy Lectures杜兰大学中国哲学课堂教学PPT.ppt

* Buddhism * The Buddha (Siddhārtha Gautama) Accounts of the Buddha’s life were not written down until about three hundred years after his death Before that, stories were preserved orally, through communal chanting Traditional dates: 563—483 BCE (Confucius 551-479 BC) However… Not all Buddhist sects accept these dates Some recent scholarship suggests a date roughly 100 years later * Buddha Often called Shakyamuni Buddha Not claimed to be the only Buddha Four previous Buddhas (some traditions assume many more) Not claimed to be the last Buddha Some traditions say: another, final Buddha will come when this Buddha’s teachings have been forgotten * The Four Noble Truths Life is suffering – dukkha The cause of suffering is desire, grapsing, craving – tanha There is an end to suffering The end is to follow the noble Eightfold Path * The Eightfold Path Wisdom: Right Understanding Right Resolve Morality Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Meditation Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Meditation * Karma Like Hinduism, Buddhism included the idea that we are caught in samsara – the cycle of birth, death and rebirth Since life is suffering, the goal is to escape samsara and – for Buddhists – to attain Nirvana Rebirth is determined by karma – “action,” or (more helpfully) the consequences of action * Realms of Rebirth There are six realms of rebirth, determined by karmic merit Lowest: Hell; place of torment Second, animals Third, ghosts – unhappy spirits filled with insatiable desires Fourth, titans – demonic, violent beings Fifth, humans Sixth, gods * Humans and Gods Gods are reborn in various kinds of paradise. There are 26 levels of heaven Being reborn as a god is desirable, but paradise can bring complacency Gods, like humans, are striving for Nirvana In some ways, humans have advantages over gods They are constantly reminded of what is undesirable, which can spur them to seek enlightenment Release from the Wheel? Realizing the twelve conditions of interdepen