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Follow-up Discussion __________________________

Discuss the influences that play a major role in Buddhism. How does Buddhism relate to Hinduism? Compare and contrast the five Buddhist precepts with the Ten Commandments. Compare and contrast reincarnation in both Western and Eastern theological thought. Describe how other religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism deal with the issue of fairness in life. How do the Buddhists? Is there such a thing as fairness in reality? Buddhism is often criticized in the West as a nihilistic religion. Nothingness, emptiness and the end of the personal soul in oblivion are its goals. Discuss how this view is practiced. Reflecting on the story of Buddhas death, why do you think he ate the food, knowing it was poisoned? Can anyone be a true Buddhist regardless of their religious background? Buddhism has its largest following in Asia. Do students think that it could grow to be one of the major religions in the United States? Why or why not?

TEACHERS GUIDE
www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Promotes religious tolerance through education.This site features information about the different Buddhist sects as well as links to many other informative sites. www.afn.org/~afn20372/rel.html A Short Guide to Tibetan Buddhism Contains information about the teachings and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. www.wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/DHAMMA.HTM The Dhammapada More than 80 important sayings from the compendium of teaching ascribed to the founder of Buddhism. From Richard Hookers Anthology of World Cultures.

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Suggested Print Resources________________________

Boisselier, Jean. The Wisdom of the Buddha. New York: Harry Abrams, 1994. Cherthan, Eric. Fundamentals of Mainstream Buddhism. Boston: Charles Tuttle, 1994. Chodron, Thubten. What Color Is Your Mind. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publishing, 1993.

Follow-up Activities ____________________________

As a vehicle to explore the theological questions regarding human nature as good, evil or neither, organize a classroom debate. First, have one group of students research karma and another group research free will. Then, have them create and present arguments for each philosophy on human nature. Have students create their own mantras that are reflective of their own backgrounds and have special meaning for them. Place them on decorative posters. Have students research and develop a chart that displays the major sects of Buddhism and their similarities and differences. Have students research Zen and determine how it fits into varied human activities such as being a warrior, athlete, artist or monk. Present the students with some Buddhist riddles, or koans, and have them solve them and react to them. Then, have students study and write their own koans.

TEACHERS GUIDE:
Paul J. Sanborn Assistant Professor of Intelligence, American Military University Historian, Freedoms Foundation

BUDDHISM
T
he study of world religion is the examination of the specific beliefs, customs and traditions of a particular religion as well as its impact on world culture and history. The Religions of the World video series and its accompanying Teachers Guides are designed to supplement World Cultures and History curriculum. These teaching aids are meant to invite classroom study and dialogue and challenge students to make connections between the past and the present. Questions and insights are likely to develop and will reveal striking similarities and vast differences among the worlds major religions as well as the unique perspective of its many individual cultures.

TITLES IN THIS SERIES

AFRICAN AND AFRICANAMERICAN RELIGIONS ANCIENT RELIGIONS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BUDDHISM CONFUCIANISM & TAOISM HINDUISM ISLAM JUDAISM NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY ORTHODOX AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY RELIGIONS OF SMALL SOCIETIES SHINTO SKEPTICISM & RELIGIOUS RELATIVISM

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Internet Resources ____________________________

www.nandawon.demon.co.uk/vihara/intro00.htm#intro Introduction to Buddhism Provides introductory information about Buddhism, the Eightfold Noble Path and meditation. (Continued)

S
1998 Religions of the World, LLC under license from Liberty International Entertainment, Inc. Produced and directed by Greenstar Television

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Historical Overview ______________________________

Buddhism is a religion with millions of followers who seek spiritual enlightenment. It is an ancient tradition that began in northeast India and dates back to 560 B.C.E. when it was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha or Enlightened One. His teachings of Dharma and the Four Noble Truths are the essence of Buddhism. Over the centuries, Buddhism has been embraced by many Asian cultures from the Mahayana Buddhists of China and Korea to the Dalai Lama and the Buddhists of Tibet and today, has a growing Western following. Buddhism teaches pacifism and nonviolence, philosophies that have shaped the destinies where Buddhism has predominated and has made it an enduring and influential world religion.

Four Noble Truths Achieved through meditation, these are the four main tenants of Buddhism: (1) life brings suffering; (2) the desire for pleasure, power and immortality are the roots of suffering; (3) suffering ceases when desiring ends; and (4) desire ends via the Noble Eightfold Path of right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, awareness and concentration. Sangha The original monastic community established by the Buddha after he achieved enlightenment. Today, it is a term for any Buddhist monastery. Karma The cosmic principle of cause and effect, which rewards human goodness and punishes human evil through the transmigration of souls into better or lesser situations of rebirth. Selflessness Achieved through Buddhist meditation, it allows people to serve others and concentrate on the true perception of reality, an understanding that there are no boundaries between ones self and the reality of the universe. Zen From the Sanskrit word Dhyana, meaning meditation. That sect of Buddhism mainly found in Japan where meditation is used to achieve enlightenment. Mendicant A holy man who travels and teaches while relying on the generosity of others for clothing, shelter and food. Mahayana A major sect of Buddhism founded by Nagarjuna and means the great or universal path of salvation. It used a new body of scriptures called Sutras (Lotus, Heart and Diamond). Open to all, one can achieve enlightenment at any stage in the cycle of birth and rebirth. Bodhisattva An enlightened human being in the Mahayanist sect who spreads insights to help others and refuses to enter Nirvana until everyone has done so. Lama Tibetan for high priest. Theravada Primarily practiced in southeast Asia,Theravada Buddhism is a more conservative interpretation of Buddhas teachings than Mahayana Buddhism. Dhammapada Summary account of Buddhas teachings on meditation and moral issues in the Theravadic scriptures. Tantric The sect of Buddhism that focuses on yoga with ritual chants to discipline the mind and body to go beyond desires to achieve enlightenment. Mantra In Sanskrit, the sacred utterance, which is a sound or group of sounds used to focus the mind in meditation on the inner realities. Bardo Thodol The Tibetan Buddhist Book of the Dead. Zazen The Zen sitting form of meditation. Koans Riddles used by some Zen practitioners to help students break through their perceptions into the true reality in an act of sudden enlightenment. 3

Pre-viewing Discussion ________________________

Using a map, point out and discuss the areas of the world where Buddhism predominates. Start a discussion and generate a list of familiar Buddhist words, symbols and ideas found in current events or recent films about the Dalai Lama.

Focus Questions ______________________________

1. What do accounts say about the origins and early life of the founder of Buddhism? 2. What happened to Siddhartha Gautama when he was twenty-nine years old, and why was it significant to Buddhism? 3. What truth did Siddhartha Gautama learn from his meditation and ascetic practice? 4. Why does Buddhism follow the Middle Way and what does that mean? 5. What is the key mood of Buddhist enlightenment? 6. What is the significance of the Deer Park Sermon? 7. What are Buddhas Four Noble Truths? 8. What are the precepts of the Noble Eightfold Path? 9. Have the students discuss the nature of reality. What do they think it is? What problems do we have with defining the true nature of what is real? 10. What is karma? 11. What is the connection between karma and reincarnation? 12. What is the primary goal of Buddhist meditation? 13. How does meditation play a beneficial and essential role in Buddhism? 14. What does Zen Buddhism suggest is the difference between becoming a good person and becoming a human being? 15. What does nirvana mean? 16. What are the four Great Unlimitables? 17. What is the cause of suffering in Buddhist thought? How can suffering be eliminated? 18. What does the Lotus flower symbolize and suggest about the spirit of Buddhism in the Mahayanist sect? 19. What does the story of Buddhas death say about his ultimate beliefs and his integrity of spirit? 20. How do the Theravada Buddhists differ from the Mahayana Buddhists in belief? 21. Who is the Dalai Lama and how is he chosen? 22. How did Buddhism become important to Japanese culture? 23. What is Zen Buddhism? What is its primary goal? 24. What does the Zen goal of emptiness contribute to attaining enlightenment? 4

Time Line ______________________________________

560 B.C.E. Birth of Siddhartha Gautama in northeast India, the founder of the Buddhist faith. 200 B.C.E.100 C.E. Mahayana Buddhism develops as a major Buddhist sect and spreads from India to China, Korea, Japan and southeast Asia. It is believed to have been founded by Nagarjuna. 300400 C.E. The very influential Lotus Sutra texts are written in Sanskrit and later translated into Chinese. c550 C.E. Buddhism arrives in Japan. c12221282 C.E. The Japanese monk Nicherin promotes Buddhist reform based on the Lotus Sutra. c1250 C.E. Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist monk, brings the Chan Buddhist tradition from China to Japan, where it becomes the foundation of the Samurai tradition and Zen Buddhism.

Vocabulary ______________________________________
Buddha Means Enlightened One or Awakened.This title is given to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Dharma The orthodox belief of Buddhism which must be known in order to be enlightened. It is the sublime religious truth. Ascetic A person, who, for religious reasons, practices rigorous selfdiscipline by leading a life of meditation and self-denial. Bodhi Tree Siddhartha Gautama meditated under this tree for seven days until he achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha. Nirvana The ultimate state of freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth by achieving selflessness through the understanding that all reality is one. Samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth based upon ones karma; also known as reincarnation or transmigration of souls. (Continued)