Buddhism Concepts

1) Buddhism (general overview):
Describe what you think are the three main concepts of Buddhism outlined on pages 60 -61

The three main concepts of Buddhism are dukka, tanha and samma.
Dukka is the belief that everything in life is unsatifactory and filled with suffering. This suffering arises from the clinging and infinite desire that will never be fulfilled; this is called tanha. However, we can choose to overcome that suffering with samma, or the correct way of life as it applies to many actions. For example, right understanding, right thought, right speech, right livlihood, right action, right mindfulness and right concentration. These three "right" ways of life make up the eightfold path, or the way to achieve Nirvana.

2) The Life of Buddha
What do you think are the main / most important elements of the Buddha's life?

The Buddha began life as Siddhartha Gautama, a young man who was spoiled from birth and given all humanly pleasures possible. His father wished to hide him from all the suffering of the world. However, as he ventured out into the world he began to notice sick people, elderly people, poor people and suffering people in general. He met an ascetic one day and followed him, leaving his family to study. He studied for 40 years and achieved Enlightenment under the bodhi tree. He then began preaching Buddhism in northeast India.

The most important elements are that he began life with all human pleasures and from there was awoken to the realities of the world and the innate nature of suffering. It is also important that he demonstrated his interest and out of his own will he pursued the teachings of an ascetic and found the "right" way through life on his own.

Analyze the image and text in the center of the pages titled "The Buddha Conquers Mara" and describe three aspects of the imagery and the symbolism it represents in the life of the Buddha

Symbol of the Buddha's teaching: The wheel that the Buddha holds in his hand is composed of 8 spokes representing the eightfold path which he formed after attaining enlightenment. This teaching is called dharma.

Treasury of Desire: a vase is placed at an altar below the meditation throne representing the fact that all desires must be left behind before one can begin to attain Enlightenment.

Lotus Throne: The Buddha sits on his meditation throne of a lotus flower. The lotus flower still has its roots in the mud and water, but its petals are in the light above water. It is said that when the Buddha was born, a lotus flower sprung up after each of the first seven steps he took.

Overall, this picture is representative of the Buddhist religion because it uses symbolic images to describe certain beliefs. This temple hanging details the life of the Buddha from birth, when he was a boddhista (a future buddha) to Enlightenment. It details his conquest over Mara, the evil one who tried to prevent Shakyamuni from attaining enlightenment.

3) The Buddha Image
Using the smaller images of Buddha as a reference (on pages 64-65) explain at least two different ways the Buddha is represented.

Buddha on a Lotus Throne: This Buddha figure represents the finality of life. It depicts scenes from Buddha's life and at the top shows his inevitable death. By becoming dispassionate, one can become detached and through this one is liberated. Then there is knowledge of this liberation and one achieves Nirvana. After this goal in life has been reached, it is the inevitable way that one then passes away and one's life has been fulfilled. Overall, this Buddha statue represents the goal in life and the destined death of all humans at the end.

Gandharan Buddha: This Buddha was constructed during he 2nd to 3rd century CE because of the type of bun on the Buddha's head is typical of Greek gods. Also when Alexander the Great conquered northwest India where this statue is from. The respect for the Buddha is shown through the ascetic haristyle, the halo around the back of his head, the "mark of a superman" spot on his forehead and many more. Overall, this is the Greek influenced statue of Buddha.

Analyzing the image of the Buddha on page 65 and explain at least five elements / symbols represented in the image.

The monastic cloak is typical of Gandharan style, showing how Buddha is a normal everyday man, no more special that anyone today.

Meditation throne-symbol of the presence of the Buddha. The Buddha sits on top of it and prays

Wheel-turning posture- a position or mudra for the hands common of the "dharmacakra mudra" or wheel turning pose.

Buddha Halo- as stated earlier, there is a halo around the back of Buddha's head that suggests his religious importance.

Marks of a Superman- there is a little tuft of hair between Buddha's eyes on his forehead that is a marking of a "superman". This again shows the reverence for Buddha

4) Stupas, Temples and Relics
What role do stupas play in Buddhism and what sort of symbols are found as a part of stupas?

Stupas used to be ancient burial grounds for the Buddha and other prominent religious figures of the era. However, as they gained importance they were carved out and certain symbols were engraved into them. Stupas have become large relics that remind believers of their symbolism and Buddhist beliefs. In Tibet, the stupa is a dome centered on a five-tiered bass representing the five elements of the world along with the sun resting on the crescent moon representing wisdom and compassion.

Using the stone slab in the middle of the two pages as a reference, what are some of the main features and what do they represent within Buddhism?

The Buddha's life: there is a depiction of the Buddha as a bodhisattva (Buddha to be)

Celestial spirits: bring garlands to the Buddha in veneration

The Wheel of the Law: represents the cosmos and Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth, as these beliefs are cyclical and recurring like a wheel

5) Devotion
Describe one symbol or act of devotion in Buddhism.

At the Pure Land school the boys are taught to give up all self-serving desires, even the one for enlightenment and devote himself entirely to the power of Amitabha who saves those who have faith and trust in him. It is also ceremonial for the boys to all shave their heads.

Also, for lay Buddhists, being philanthropic and donating food, clothing and other goods are great devotional acts because through these acts, a lay Buddhist is assured a favorable future birth.

6) Cosmology
Describe the main tenets or ideas of Buddhist Cosmology.

In Buddhism, the cosmos is impermanent and was not created. All things living or otherwise must work to achieve Enlightenment, even Gods. There are different realms like castes, for Gods then humans and animals. Below these realms lay the "hungry ghosts" and "hells". The concept of Samsara plays a part because when humans are reborn, they are born into one of 6 different realms.

What are the different types of mandalas and what the main ideas presented in all mandalas?

Mandalas represent the ideal Buddha world. They are a part of Tantric Meditation practice where believers learn to visualize Buddhist realms. These visualizations may be represented through different forms of artwork. Rituals and mantras are associated with these mandalas, and they are believed to posses powerful psychic energy. They represent both the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of the believer's psychic energy. After these intricate beautiful mantras are completed from organic materials, they are destroyed representing the impermanence of life.

Interpret what you think are the three - four most important concepts in the Buddhist "wheel of life"

Clinging: the man plucking fruit from the tree represents the irresistible human yearning for possession and desire life.

Ignorance: represented by a blind man shows human ignorance to the fact that life is suffering and that we can escape this state through our own effort.

Acts of Volition: potters molding their own fate/karma in the pots they produce represent a deed such as right action, right speech and right mindfulness. This shows that by following the eightfold path and discovering one's way through life one can achieve enlightenment.