Basic Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths
- Suffering – attachment to the impermanent and unreal
- The Origins of Suffering – Karma and rebirth
- The Cessation of Suffering – Nirvana and theDoctrines of “no-soul” and no-self
- The Noble Eightfold Path (aka the Middle Path) – the means to ending Karma.
- Wisdom
- Right Understanding — the Four Noble Truths
- Right Thought — selflessness, love, non-violence
- Ethical Conduct
- Right Speech — care and non-harm.
- Right Action — ahimsa, refrain from: destroying life, stealing, cheating, illegitimate sex.
- Right Livelihood– ethical and non-harmful living.
- Mental Discipline
- Right Effort — will to prevent error in thought
- Right Mindfulness (or Attentiveness) — constant self-consciousness
- Right Concentration — Dhyanna (Ch’an; Zen) Meditation
Three Gems (or Refuges): Buddha, Dhamma(law, truth), Sangha (the community of monks)
| Five Precepts – for every believer 1. not to destroy life 2. not to steal 3. not to commit adultery 4. not to tell lies 5. not to take intoxicating drinks |
Five more for novitiate ordination: 6. not to eat after noon 7. no watching of dancing, singing and shows 8. no adorning oneself with garlands, perfumes, ointments 9. no using a high bed 10. no receiving gold and silver |
Full discipline for a monk involves: 75 rules of deportment 92 offenses requiring expiation 30 offenses requiring expiation and forfeiture 13 offenses requiring a meeting of the Sangha and probation 4 offenses warranting permanent expulsion |
Boddhisatva = Buddha of a forthcoming age; one who will be enlightened. Later, in Mahayana (“Greater Vehicle”) Buddhism, indicates enlightened beings who vow to remain in the world, rather than pass into Nirvana, until all sentient beings are saved from suffering.
Boddhisatvas: Shakyamuni; Maitreya (Mi-le; Miroku); Avalokitesvara (Kuan-she-yin, Kuan-yin; Kannon); Manjusri (Wen-shu-shi-li); Samantabhadra (P’u-shien)
Celestial Buddhas: Amitabha (A-mi-t’o fo; Amida); Bhaishajyaguru (Yao-shih ju-lai); Vairocana
Major Chinese Sects (all Mahayana): T’ien-t’ai, Pure Land, Chan
My sources include: Bentley&Ziegler; Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught; Robinson and Johnson, The Buddhist Religion, 3rd ed..; Jacques Gernet, A History of Chinese Civilization, 2nd. edition.
© 2003, 2006 – Jonathan Dresner
