Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
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Spread of Early Buddhism in India Spread of Theravada & Mahayana Schools
Origin of Buddhism
• Founder – Siddharta Gautama
• Born 6th century BC (Buddhist calendar counts from 543 BC traditional birthdate)
• Born in Lumpini, Nepal into a royal Hindu family
• Mother dreamed of white elephant with lotus = child will be great warrior or religious leader
• Parents protected Siddharta in palace so not become religious leader
• Married cousin as teenager
Hinduism Buddhism
Brahman – Ultimate Reality No Ultimate Reality – No Deities or Spirits
Atman – existence of the self Anatman – no self
Caste System No Castes – Spiritual Upward Mobility
No Escape from cycle of Reincarnation Nirvana – escape from reincarnation cycle
The Four Noble Truths - the condition, cause and cure of universal suffering:
1. All is suffering.
2. The cause of suffering is desire.
3. Cessation of Desire is the key to extinguishing the ego and putting out the flame of desire.
4. There is a path which leads to the cessation of suffering (the Eight-fold Path).
Nirvana
• Nirvana is the ultimate goal of the Buddhist (in theory)
• Nirvana is the end of suffering and the lack of existence (NOT Buddhist heaven)
• Nirvana is achieved through enlightenment – the realization that nothing exists, including
yourself, therefore there is nothing to be desired.
• The enlightened man no longer desires anything and therefore no longer suffers
Buddhism Christianity
No Ultimate Reality – No Gods One Eternal Self-Existent Creator God
No Self – People do not really exist Immortal Soul
Karma – no escape from punishment for sin Mercy – God forgives sin
Theravada: no savior Historical Incarnation of Jesus the Messiah
Mahayana: perhaps bodhisattva can save but who saves people from their sin
their existence is uncertain
Attain Nirvana through self-effort, good works Attain salvation by grace through faith
Ultimate Hope: Nirvana – non-existence, death Ultimate Hope: dwell with God forever, life
The Buddha said, “I am not the way, but only one who points the way”
Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)