Buddism World View Chart

Buddhism – Week 3

World View Chart

Origin of All Things

One of the first views on the origins of the Universe came from the Buddhist sūtras, and was formulated in the Abhidharma texts. In the sutras it states that the world was created from the collective karma or actions of living beings in the form of a primordial wind.   From the Book of Dzyan the account of the origin of the universe describes it as a light or luminosity,” the actual moment of manifestation is described with the words, “darkness radiates light.” The book goes into more detail explaining that the whole world is dependent on a cause [for creation] because something cannot rise by itself, the cause here is light. From the light comes knowledge, from knowledge comes air, from air the fire, from fire the water and from the water the earth is born. If quoted in reverse this tantra also explains the dissolution of the world.  

(Reigle, 2013)

The origins of the religion itself explain the if we can understand where our suffering comes from we can become free. This means that a person must take responsibility for their own lives, and dutifully practice the religious teachings of Buddha in order to achieve the ultimate goal of liberation from suffering or Nirvana.

(Fisher, 2011 p. 135)

Nature of God/Creator

Buddhism is a nontheistic religion, which means they do not believe in any supreme being or God. Many People believe that Buddhists worship Buddha; this however is not the case. The Buddha was a human being, he is revered by Buddhist because he achieved what all Buddhists wish to someday achieve, enlightenment.

Buddha’s name was Siddhartha Gautama and he was born to wealthy land owners sometime in the fifth century BCE. At the age of 25 Siddhartha renounced his wealth and went on a search to find liberation from suffering. Siddhartha spent many years searching, learning and wandering on his journey and one night while meditating under a tree, it is said that he achieved enlightenment. He spend the rest of his life teaching his new found knowledge to an ever growing number of followers, all wishing to achieve liberation from suffering.

In his main teachings Buddha taught followers about the Four Noble Truths and The Noble eightfold Path.

(Fisher, 2011 pp. 136-139, 141)

View of Human Nature

Buddha taught that one should not focus on things that did not matter. When followers would question things like the nature of the soul, life after death, the origin of the universe, or the reality of things unseen, Buddha would explain to them that it was like a man who had been shot with a poisonous arrow and would not allow the arrow to be removed until he knew the name, origin, height and skin color of the person who shot it and in the meantime he would die. These things simply did not matter.

( Fisher, 2011, p. 141)

A Buddhists ultimate goal is to live a life without suffering, in order to achieve this they must follow the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path laid out in Buddha’s teachings:

The Four Noble Truths are:

1. Life inevitably involves suffering, dissatisfaction and distress. Buddha teaches about dukkah, (suffering and dissatisfaction) stating that at one point in time everyone experiences it.

2. Suffering is caused my craving rooted in ignorance. This is the origin of dukkah. Buddha teaches that all humans fail to see the ever changing state of the things we crave. We grasp to things as the way we wish they were, and don’t see them as they are.

3. Suffering will cease when craving ceases. When we learn to see things as they are, and gain acceptance on the fact that friends die, flowers wilt and even our own bodies will decay only then will be able to live happily and freely in the moment.

4. There is a way to realize this state: the noble Eightfold Path. Buddha taught that this is the way to fully liberate yourself from suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path:  

1. Right understanding – Buddha taught that if you fully embrace the Four Noble Truths you can start to question old assumptions and gradually realize that things such as wealth and possessions do not bring happiness.

2. Right thought or motivation – In Buddhists teachings, if you can liberate the mind from mental defilements such as self-centeredness, you can free your mind to be free, clear and relaxed.

3. Right Speech – Refrain from lying, harsh speech and gossip, instead use communication that promotes peace and harmony.

4. Right action – Avoid destroying life, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxications.

5. Right livelihood – A Buddhist should choose an occupation that does not harm others or disrupt social harmony.

6. Right effort – One must always continue to alleviate the impurities of the mind.

7. Right mindfulness – Constant development of awareness, moment to moment.

8. Right meditation – employs mental disciple to quiet the mind and develop a concentration level which allows you to focus on one thing.

(Fisher, 2011 pp. 142-144)

View of Good and Evil

The Buddhists believe that everyone suffers in their lives. The whole idea behind Buddhism is liberation from that suffering, therefore the battle between good and evil in Buddhism is an internal one. To live a life without suffering one must follow the path to liberation that Buddha laid out in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

(Fisher, 2011 pp. 141-143)

View of “Salvation”

Buddhists believe in the birth, life, death, rebirth cycle know as samsara. Only by purifying one’s mind may a Buddhist release themselves from this cycle and achieve nirvana. All of Buddha’s teachings are about the kind of life one must lead in order to achieve nirvana. These teachings include the Four Noble Truths, The Noble eightfold Path and The Three Marks of Existence. 

(Fisher, 2011, p. 147)

View of after life

The ultimate goal of any Buddhist is to achieve nirvana. Nirvana is the only way to end the suffering of a human. Buddha describes Nirvana as“quietude of heart”. A place that is beyond grasping, aging and dying. Nirvana is something that is achieved in this life; Buddha never spoke of what laid beyond nirvana, because it did not matter.  

(Fisher, 2011, pp. 147-148)

Practices and Rituals

Meditation is a large part of the Buddhists religion. The two types of mediation are samatha and vipassana. Samatha, or clam abiding is used to increase one’s awareness and vipassana is used to gain insight into dukka, anicca and anatta.

(Fisher, 2011, p. 152)

During the rainy seasons many monks and nuns with retreat to their Sanghas, for it is difficult to walk through the countryside. During this time many young laymen may enter the Sanghas temporarily and live as the monks do, they use this as a way to consecrate the journey to adulthood.

( Fisher, 2011 p. 170)

Many Buddhists have come to idolize the images of Buddha, they do not worship him however they do take comfort in his protective presence and power. Many temples, shrines and halls are used in the practice of such. Followers will come and burn candles, incense and offer flowers while praying.

(Fisher, 2011, p.153)

Celebrations and Festivals

One of the most important festivals celebrated in Buddhism is the Vesak. Buddha is said to have been born on the full moon in the month of Vaisakha, which would occur in April or May of our calendar year. Theravadins use Vesak as a day to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, which they believe happened all on the same day. Mahayana Buddhists celebrate Vesak as the day that Buddha achieved enlightenment. Vajrayana Buddhists celebrate four days of Vesak, to celebrate the conception, birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. To celebrate the birth of Buddha, most Buddhists would gather in temples to listen to stories of the Buddha’s life. Buddhists will wash images of Buddha, while burning candles and incenses and adhearing to the Five Precepts.

Festival of the Tooth – This festival is mainly celebrated in Sri Lanka where the relic of Buddha’s tooth, which is normally hidden from the people, is paraded through the streets on a highly decorated elephant.

Festival of floating bowls – Celebrated in Thailand, this festival takes place on the night of the full moon in the 12th lunar month. Bowls are fashioned out of flowers and leaves and are set to float down rivers and canals. Buddhists believe this represents their bad luck floating away.

( Fisher, 2011, pp 170-171)