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7 BUDDHISM HISTORY Buddhism was founded by a young man named Siddhartha Gautama (ca B.C.E.), who later became known as the Buddha. Siddhartha lived in northern India (present-day Nepal) in the sixth century B.C.E. He was born into a wealthy family in a town called Lumbini Grove. He was raised in luxury. His father wanted him to become a great king. A story says that fortune tellers told Siddhartha's father that when the boy saw four people - a poor man, an old man, a corpse, and a beggar - he would leave his family and not become king. His father tried to protect him from these sights. Siddhartha saw the four men, however, as predicted. He was overcome by the amount of suffering in the world, of which these men were only an example. At the age of 29, he left his family and set out to seek an answer as to why there was so much suffering in the world. For six years he traveled, studying with various spiritual teachers, without finding his answers. Finally, while meditating under a bodhi (fig) tree in a place called Bodh Gaya (in present-day India), he became aware of the answers he was seeking, which he called the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. He began to travel again, this time teaching and preaching his newfound wisdom. He became known as the Buddha (The Enlightened One). In the third century B.C.E., an Indian emperor named Asoka adopted Buddhism as the state religion of India, causing Buddha's teachings to become popular throughout India. Buddhism spread to many other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar (Burma). As it spread, Buddhism took on different characteristics in different places. Buddhism began to spread to America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, partly because of the immigration of Asians to other parts of the world, and partly because of the attraction of Buddhist ideas to people from other cultures. BEUEFS All Buddhist teachings trace their beginnings to the teachings of the Buddha, and particularly his Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are: 1) There is suffering in the world. 2) Suffering is caused by human desires or greed. 3) Suffering can be stopped by stopping human desires. 4) This can be done by following the Eightfold Path. The Eighfold Path involves development of both thoughts and actions. A Buddhist practices achieving these steps in his or her life, often with the help of an experienced teacher. The Buddhist strives for: Religions of the World._,... Card 3

8 1) Right understanding - understanding the teachings of the Buddha, especially the Four Noble Truths. 2) Right thoughts - thinking about the Four Noble Truths and how to put them into practice by being kind to others. 3) Right speech - speaking kindly toward and about others. 4) Right action- acting in ways that are kind and helpful. 5) Right livelihood - choosing a job that is not harmful to others. 6) Right effort - concentrating on becoming a better person. 7) Right mindfulness - being aware of thoughts in order to think kindly towards others. 8) Right concentration - practicing meditation, which helps to enlighten the mind. A person completing the Eightfold Path is said to have reached freedom from all suffering, which Buddhists call nirvana. Buddhists believe that when a person dies, he or she returns in another form to continue to attempt to reach nirvana. If a person did good deeds in one life, they might return as a wealthy or important person in the next. If they did bad deeds, in their next life they might be poor or sickly. This law of cause and effect is known as karma. Buddhists believe that it takes many lifetimes, or reincarnations, to reach nirvana. This cycle of death and rebirth is called the dharma. CONCEPT OF GOD Buddha is not thought of as a god, but merely a person who is enlightened, or fully aware. Any person can become a buddha by becoming enlightened. The concept of a god or gods, as seen in many other religions, is not important in Buddhism. SACRED WRITINGS For many centuries, the teachings of the Buddha were passed on by word of mouth by the Sangha, the community of monks and nuns who followed the Buddha. In the first century, C.E., they were written down on palm leaves in the Indian language that the Buddha spoke, called Pafi. They are called the Pali Canon. The leaves were kept in three baskets, called the Tripitaka. The Sutta basket held the teachings of the Buddha. The Vinaya basket contained the rules of life that were to be followed. Additional information was contained in the Abhidhamma basket. These documents, especially the rules of the Vinaya, are followed most closely by the Theravada Buddhists. The Mahayana Buddhists have written down their own versions of Buddha's teachings and related writings by other people. Every Buddhist country seems to have a unique set of holy writings. Some of them, such as the Chinese Ta-ts'ang-ching {Great Scripture Store), include parts of the Tripitaka as well as commentaries, poetry, and other materials. SYMBOLS The most commonly used Buddhist symbol is the Buddha himself. Statues of the Buddha can be found in all sizes, ranging from small ones that are made to sit on a shelf at a small shrine in a home or a business, to larger-than life versions, such as the 42-foot high Great Buddha in Kamakura, Japan; the 70-foot high stone Buddha in Buddh Gaya, India; or the 229- foot-long reclining Buddha at the Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma. The position of the Buddha's body and hands represent different aspects of Buddhist teachings. For example, his hand touching the ground symbolizes his enlightenment. The reclining position shows the Buddha in a stage near to nirvana. The wheel of life, also called the wheel of the law, is another popular Buddhist symbol. It depicts the circular nature of life, with its outer edge representing links in the cycle of life and rebirth. Some wheels show three. animals representing the evils that cause suffering. A cock represents Just, a pig stands for either greed or stupidity, and a snake depicts hatred and wrong actions. Card Toucan Valley Publications, Inc.

9 BUDDHISM (Continued) Today, there are two main types of Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is practiced mostly in Sri Lanka, Burma, and southeastern Asia, and is the most traditional form of Buddhism. The Sanskrit word Thera means elder. Theravada means School of the Elders. This group closely follows the rules and regulations established by Buddha, which were later written down by his followers. Theravada Buddhists believe that the individual is responsible for his or her own path towards nirvana. Many Theravada Buddhists become monks or nuns to have more time to seek personal enlightenment. They shave their heads and wear saffron (orangered) robes, as Buddha did, and live in poverty and simplicity, spending time in meditation. / Many boys, often as young as four or five years old, will be sent by their parents to a monastery to spend some time living the life of a monk. These boys spend several hours a day in meditation and many hours studying the Buddhist holy writings. Some boys spend only about a month in the monastery, while others may stay a few years, and still others remain until they are young adults and may even choose to live the rest of their lives as monks. Mahayana Buddhism emerged between the second century B.C.E. and the second century C.E. in India, and later spread to Tibet, China and Japan. Mahayana means Great Vehicle, because Mahayana Buddhists believe that this branch of Buddhism will carry many people to enlightenment, becoming Buddhas themselves. Mahayana Buddhists believe that there are people, called bodhisattvas, who are ready to Buddhist prayer wheel reach nirvana themselves but choose instead to delay their final rebirth so that they can help others along the path to enlightenment This sense of compassion and community is characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism. The form of Mahayana Buddhism practiced in Japan is called Pure Land Buddhism. These Japanese Buddhists believe that if they worship Amida Buddha (the Buddha of Boundless Light) they will be reborn into a paradise called Pure Land. Zen Buddhism, a type of Mahayana Buddhism which centers on meditation, developed in China as Ch'an. It was taken to Japan in the twelfth century C.E. by a man named Eisai, and also in the thirteenth century C.E. by a man named Oogen. The Buddhism taught by these two men thrived in Japan. Today, the majority of Zen Buddhists live in Japan. Zen Buddhists believe in a special kind of enlightenment, called satori. They try to reach satori by physical labor or by a special kind of meditation. In this kind of meditation, they sit cross-legged in what is called the lotus posftion and meditate on a kind of riddle called a koan. A well-known koan is: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" These koans do not usually have clear answers, but cause a. person to think in a new way. Zen Buddhism has become a popular form of meditation for people in western countries such as the United States who do not necessarily consider themselves to be Buddhists. Some people practice meditation that is a mixture of Zen Buddhism and Christian prayer. Re~igions of the World. Card 4

10 Vajrayana Buddhism, or Tantric Buddhism, also a type of Mahayana Buddhism, developed in Tibet and became the main form of Buddhism practiced there. It is characterized by many rituals, which can only be practiced under the direction of a master, or lama. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists and known throughout. the world as ' a spiritual teacher, is one of these masters. It is believed that when the Dalai Lama dies, his soul enters the body of a newborn boy, who becomes the next Dalai Lama. WORSHIP/SACRED SPACE Buddhists are expected to practice their beliefs in all aspects of their lives. The essential form of Buddhist devotion is meditation, which can take place anywhere. In countries which are largely Buddhist, temples and monasteries can be found everywhere providing special places for meditation and devotion. One special kind of shrine is called a stupa. The first stupas were built to house relics of Buddha, such as his bones and teeth. Others contain sacred writings or images. Buddhist temples and centers are also springing up in countries with smaller Buddhist populations, such as the United State.s. When visiting a temple or shrine, Buddhists might show their devotion by removing their shoes, sitting before a statue of the Buddha, reciting the three refuges (a short verse), then bowing three times and leaving an offering (a candle, incense, water, flowers, or food). A Buddhist may also meditate in front of a small home shrine that contains a statue of Buddha. Buddhist meditation is a way of clearing the mind, to free it from all evil thoughts and distractions. The Buddhist sits on the floor or a pillow and relaxes the body, sitting very still. Thoughts might be focused by concentrating on a single object, such as a candle flame. Often, a phrase is quietly chanted to help avoid distractions. HOLIDAYS/FESTIVALS Each Buddhist country has developed its own local festivals. Many of these celebrate events in the life of Buddha. Some are: New Year (new moon of February) - Bad deeds of the past year are symbolically swept away by cleaning the house or by erecting a sand stupa (temple) which is then washed away. Monks may perform rituals while people light firecrackers and shout. Vaishakha Festival (eighth day of the second lunar month) remembers Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into nirvana at his death. It includes a procession, music, and lamps or candles. Hana Matsuri (April 8) - Japanese celebration of Buddha's birth. Images of the Buddha as a child are bathed in scented water or tea. Pirit - a Sri Lankan ceremony conducted at any time to ward off evil spirits or cure the sick. Passages from a special book are read for a period of seven days. MEMBERSHIP/WORLD DISTRIBUTION It is difficult to count the exact number of Buddhists, since many Asian people consider themselves to be Buddhist but may also practice Shinto, Taoism, or some other religion. Estimates say there are between three and four million Buddhists in the world. They can be found throughout Asia, especially in Sri Lanka and Japan, and also in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and parts of Africa. ORGANIZA TIONIHEADQUARTERS Buddhists do not have complex organizational structures or a main headquarters, as many other religions do. Each local Buddhist temple or center functions more or less independently. They do sometimes form associations with one another, such as this one: Buddhist Churches of America Octavia Street San Francisco, CA phone: (415) wv..rw. fogbank.comlbca/ Card Toucan Valley Publications, Inc.

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17 Christian Denominations Over the centuries, Christianity has divided into numerous denominations. Each denomination has its own distinctive beliefs or practices, but they are generally considered a branch of mainstream Christianity if they agree on core doctrines like the divinity of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible. Relationships between denominations range from mutual respect and cooperation to denial that the other group is really "Christian." The three main branches of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant. Some regard Anglicanism as a fourth branch that fits in none of these categories, while others categorize it as Protestant. Roman Catholicism represents the continuation of the historical organized church as it developed in Western Europe, and is headed by the Pope. Distinctive beliefs of Catholics include the doctrines of Transubstantiation and Purgatory, and distinctive practices include devotion to the saints and Mary and use of the rosary. Eastern Orthodoxy (which includes the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches and several others) is the continuation of the historical organized church as it developed in Eastern Europe. It differs from Catholicism in its refusal of allegiance to the Pope, its emphasis on the use of icons in worship, and the date it celebrates Easter. Other cultural, political, and religious differences exist as well. Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism separated in 1054 AD, when the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope excommunicated each other. Protestantism arose in the 16th century during the Reformation, which took place mainly in Germany, Switzerland, and Britain. Protestants do not acknowledge the authority of the Pope, reject many traditions and beliefs of the Catholic Church, emphasize the importance of reading the Bible and hold to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Protestantism encompasses numerous denominational groups, including Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians (or Anglicanism), Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Evangelicals. Most of the denominations that exist today developed in the 500 years since the Protestant Reformation and fall under the "Protestant" branch. This section provides information on some of the major denominations that exist today, along with a brief history of how there came to be so many. History of Christian Denominations For the first thousand years of Christianity, there were no "denominations" within the Christian church as there are today. Various offshoot groups certainly existed, but they were considered "heresies" and not part of the Christian church. Most were small and, until the 16th century, were never very influential. From the beginnings of Christianity through the Middle Ages, there was only one the catholic ("universal") church. Basically, if you did not belong to the Church, you were not considered a Christian. The first division within Christendom came in 1054 with the "Great Schism" between the Western Church and the Eastern Church. From that point forward, there were two large branches of Christianity, which came to be known as the Catholic Church (in the West) and the Orthodox Church (in the East). The next major division occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was famously sparked when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517, but "Protestantism" as a movement officially began in That year marked the publication of the Protestation, directed at the imperial government. The authors, German princes who wanted the freedom to choose the faith of their territory,

18 protested that "in matters which concern God's honor and salvation and the eternal life of our souls, everyone must stand and give account before God for himself." {1} With its emphasis on individual interpretation of scripture and a measure of religious freedom, the Reformation marked not only a break between Protestantism and Catholicism, but the beginning of denominationalism as we know it today. This historical perspective is perhaps the best way to make sense of the initially astounding variety of Christian denominations. Those who remained within the fold of Roman Catholicism argued that central regulation of doctrine is necessary to prevent confusion and division within the church and corruption of its beliefs. Those who broke from the church, on the other hand, insisted that it was precisely this policy of control that had already led to corruption of the true faith. They demanded that believers be allowed to read the Scriptures for themselves (it was previously available only in Latin) and act in accordance with their conscience. This issue of religious authority continues to be a fundamental difference in perspective between Catholic and Orthodox Christians on one hand, and Protestant Christians on the other. As the Reformation developed in Germany, various groups in other parts of Europe also began to break away from the Catholic Church. Reformed Christianity developed in Switzerland based on the teachings of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin. When it spread to Scotland under John Knox, the Reformed faith became Presbyterianism. Switzerland was also the birthplace of the Anabaptists, spiritual ancestors of today's Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, and Baptists. Anglicanism was established in 1534 when England's King Henry VIII broke from the authority of the Pope, and became Episcopalianism in America. Methodism, based on the teachings of John Wesley, also has its roots in Anglicanism.

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