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Buddhism (1 Viewer)
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ChockoRepublic
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buddha's that fat bald guy yeah?
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clo-ree
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Some of the notes I have on Buddhism...
Buddhism and Belief Systems
Understanding key terms
One of the important things to consider when studying belief systems is that you are preparing a Focus Study in Society and Culture. It is vital that you always refer to the language and concepts of the subject, and are familiar with the concepts mentioned specifically in the syllabus. These are the terms you should use when writing about Belief Systems.
The syllabus requires you to be aware of three specific terms, which are all defined in the syllabus glossary, and you should become familiar with them. In simple terms:
Belief system : It is an organised way of trying to explain the world around us. It is something that distinguishes human beings, and becomes an integral part of culture. The syllabus gives examples such as Confucianism, humanism, Islam, capitalism and feminism.
Worldview : There is a subtle difference between Belief System and Worldview. Where a belief system will attempt to provide understanding of larger issues of philosophy and fundamental beliefs and ways of doing things, a worldview essentially tries to explain and interpret world history or civilisation. You may find, as the syllabus glossary does, that the two terms are very similar.
Ideology : This refers to the unified set of ideas that link together beliefs. Thus you can refer to the capitalistic ideology that combines the ideas that underpin the belief system of capitalism.
The range of belief systems
One way of trying to chart the extent of belief systems within and outside Australia is through statistical analysis. You could consult census material from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which collects and publishes information based on Australian census returns.
For a look at a brief coverage of the range and history of belief systems across the world, you could try Bret Wallach’s article on the University of Oklahoma Geography Department web site.
The “big” questions
The source of all belief systems, whether religious or not, is an attempt to describe the world in some way. Whether it is “where did we all come from?”, “why are we here?” or “what happens when we die?”, belief systems help people to understand their environment. The environment is a key concept in understanding the variety of belief systems in the world. Indigenous Australians before European occupation used their natural environment to explain the world and their place in it. Science and rationality have contributed to the emergence of more contemporary belief systems that have to make sense of economic systems, technology and a complex social environment. Thus the environment of the person who stood at the entrance to Sydney or New York Harbour in 1000CE (common era) was experiencing a totally different environment than the person who stood in the same place in 2000CE. Many of the questions they would ask of their existence could be the same, but the differing environments would lead to different explanations and belief systems.
Religious and non-religious belief systems
All belief systems offer an explanation of something. The difference between secular (non-religious) and religious belief systems is that religious systems normally deal “with the whole of human life and death”. (John Bowker. World Religions. Dorling Kindersley. 1997). They take on a transcendent dimension that encompasses more than a mere human dimension. In other words, they believe in a supreme being or god. Secular belief systems often tend to try and explain specific aspects of life rather than all of life. For example, feminism is a belief system that attempts to explain gender equality, and capitalism explains economic organisation and life. However, it should be remembered that some non-religious belief systems like Wicca or Scientology often refer to very similar ideas to traditional religious belief systems.
Personal responses
To fully understand the nature and variety of belief systems, you need to engage in a degree of personal reflection. You must determine what your own beliefs are, and where they may have originated. You should try and determine the influence of socialising agents upon you, and compare your beliefs with those of family and friends, as well as people of other times and places. Refer back to the course concepts, and consider issues of continuity and change. Try and explain, through specific examples, areas of commonality and contrast in beliefs across time.
Historical Basis of the Belief System
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Who founded Buddhism?
Buddhism originated approximately 2,500 years ago in northern India (now Nepal) with the supreme enlightenment of and subsequent teachings by Sakyamuni Buddha. Born around 600 B.C. to King Suddodhana, ruler of the Sakya clan, Saykyamuni Buddha was originally named Prince Siddhartha Gautama. In childhood he led a pampered life of royal wealth sheltered from the world's miseries. But, when as a young man he was at last allowed to venture from the palace, he saw four sights: A decrepit old man, a person wracked with disease, a corpse, and a monk. He thus learned of life's inevitable sufferings (old age, sickness, and death) and the transience of all worldly pleasure. He also saw that the wise monastic had found peace in spite of life's ills.
Determined to find a way to be free from these troubles, Prince Siddhartha renounced his crown and family, and embarked on his journey to seek the truth. After years of cultivation, he attained supreme enlightenment and was thence known as Sakyamuni (meaning "sage of the Sakya clan") Buddha. Out of endless compassion, Sakyamuni Buddha shared his teachings so that others could also discover the Middle Path to end all suffering.
Important Places and/or Scripts
FOUR PILGRIMAGE SITES OF BUDDHISM
1. Lumbini is situated at the foothill of the Himalayas in northern Nepal. This is the birthplace of Buddha. It was a custom that women would go to their parents?home to give birth. The Buddha’s mother queen Maya was on her way to her family home. As she came to Lumbini she was spellbound by the park’s natural beauty. While resting, she gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama; the future Buddha. It was between the 5th and 4th century BC.
2. Bodh Gaya is where the Buddha attained enlightenment. After six years of ascetic practice, Siddhartha still could not find a way out of suffering. As he walked to the river to wash himself, he was so weak that he collapsed on the bank of the river. A shepherd girl, Sijata was passing by and offered him a bowl of milk, which he drank in one gulp. As his physical strength was slowly restored, Siddhartha realised that neither tormenting the physical body nor indulgence in sensual pleasure can lead to realisation. When he went to Bodh Gaya, he decided to remain there.
He gathered some straw and made it into a seat under a paya tree. He made a vow that unless he attained enlightenment he would not raise from his seat. It was a real battle between good and evil. The evil king, Mara attacked him with all thoughts of temptation, greed, desire and fear, but Siddhartha was unmoved. After seven days, Siddhartha reached enlightenment. He broke through the chain of illusion. He’s awakened to the truth and from then on he was known as Buddha. He worked out the twelve links of dependent origination that explains our coming into this world and the possible outcome for the future.
The tree that Buddha sat under for enlightenment is known as Bodhi tree, Bodhi means seed of awakening. It was known from legend that the original Bodhi tree had been chopped down by Asoka’s wife who was jealous of her husband spending so much at the site. A new tree grew from the original tree and this is the present tree that we see today in Bodh Gaya. However, a branch from the original Bodhi tree was cut down and brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by bhukkhni Sangamitta, daughter of Asoka’s. This tree remains in Mahavihara monastery to this very day.
3. After enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha went to Sarnath situated on the outskirt of Veranasi. It is here that he first turned the wheel of Dharma in motion for five ascetics and explained to them the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Paths. Thus began the first Buddhist order. A monastic tradition flourished for over 1500 years at Deer Park. In the 3rd century BC King Asoka built a pillar 15m high with 4 lions at the top. The lions symbolise Asoka’s imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. Today, the 4-lion is adopted as India’s national emblem.
4. The last sacred site, where the Buddha passed away is Kusinara. As Buddha approached the village of Kusinara, he became very ill. The Buddha was approaching eighty. He told Ananda to prepare a bed for him.
With his disciples gathered around him, the Buddha asked his disciples to pose any questions they may have. The Buddha repeated this three times but still they remained in silence. The Buddha then said to them, “everything once born is subject to decay. It’s the law of nature, follow the precepts, let it be your teacher...?Soon afterwards, the Buddha entered paranirvana (the great passing away). It was on the full moon of April and the year was around 487 and 483 BC. Mahakasyapa performed the final ceremony on the seventh day by cremating the Buddha. After cremation, the ashes were collected as relics which were divided into eight parts shared by eight kingdoms which ruled ancient northern India. The relics were again subdivided after king Asoka built 84,000 stupas to house all these relics. Today these relics are enshrined in temples and stupas across Asia and now in some of our western countries.
Currently there is the Maitreya project, which is to build the world's largest statue at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. This statue is a 152m tall, 50-story-high bronze statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The Maitreya Buddha is a representation of the future Buddha. Maitreya derives from Sanskirt maitri meaning compassion and universal love. The statue is estimated at a cost of 150 million US Dollars, designed to last for at least 1000 years.
The Path of Buddhism (Scripts)
There are many different traditions and systems, the Mahayana and the Theravada, the Pureland and the Ch'an school, there are the Tibetan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Japanese Buddhism. Out of the broad range of teachings available we may get confused with which one to choose from or we may want to take the whole lot and learn as much as we can. The main thing is to choose the one that is most suitable to us.
During the Buddha's time, there were no written words to record his teaching. The Buddha taught his disciples meditation. Through meditation they contemplate on how the mind functions and responds to outside changes.
After the Buddha passed away, his disciple Mahakasyapa organised the First Council to compile the teachings into Sutra and Vinaya, which are the rules and regulations for the Sangha and the laity.
Over the next hundred years, Buddhism spread to other regions of India, people started to analyse the Dharma and different interpretations have given rise to some very profound philosophy such as the establishment of the Middle School, compilation of the Abhidharma and the formation of the Theravada and Mahayana schools.
When Buddhism was transmitted further abroad to South East Asia; Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and China. It was adapted in the local culture but transformed into new form due to geographical and psychological aspects, but the essence of the teaching remains. The principle of practice is universal.
The Buddha never told his disciples to believe what he said. Instead he encouraged them to test and confirm his teaching, to discover for themselves through direct experience, to recognise that all things are impermanent and possess the non self nature. Everything depends on one another to arise, develop and pass away. The Buddha is not aiming to explain the universe or give us lots of intellectual knowledge, his teaching guides us to have a direct experience of reality.
Learning Buddhism is learning about ourselves. We learn to develop natural mindfulness throughout the day. We watch our mind and we see how it wavers to conditional changes. We come in direct contact with our greed, anger and folly as we strive for a joyful life. A spiritual path is not reserved for monks, nuns or priests. Any person who is looking for peace and happiness can have it. It is not an escape from reality. It is an odyssey.
It is a life long journey of exploration, an adventure into heart of the heart. This journey can surprise us with many wonders while at a time breaks our ego and shatter everything to pieces, which we believe and have held onto for a long time. Spiritual awakening can be a painful process because we face ourselves directly and be honest with our limitation and defects. We need tremendous courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit to battle the fear in opening the mind and heart. We may ask, 'Is it worth the effort? Am I determined to exchange the deluded and happy go lucky person for so much pain? Yet it is the path to awakening.
The Five Precepts
The Five Precepts involve:
- No Killing
- No Stealing
- No Sexual Misconduct
- No Lying (Dishonesty)
- No Intoxicants
According to Chapter 33 of the Samyuktagama Sutra: "The perfection of upasaka Precept is to stay away from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants." It can be seen that the Five Precepts are essential for upasakas and upasikas. Although there are different precepts for the monastic and the lay, it is important to note that all precpts are based on the Five Precepts. That is why the Five Precepts are also called the "Foundation Precepts."
The Overall Meaning of the Five Precepts
Even though there are five separate precepts, their basic principle is not to offend others. When one does not offend others but shows respect to them, s/he will be free. For example, no killing is not causing any harm to other's lives; no stealing is where one does not invade other people's properties; no sexual misconduct is not offending other people's honour and integrity; not lying is not offending other people's good name; and no drinking or taking intoxicants is not offending one's own intellect thus not offending others.
It is a common misconception that taking precepts is about tying oneself down, thus certain people would say: "Why observe precepts? It is only a burden!" The fact is that if we look at the people in jail, all of them have violated one or more of the Five Precepts. For example, murder, physical assault and disfigurement are all violations of the "No Killing" precept.
Corruption, embezzlement, stealing, theft, robberies, kidnapping and abduction are all violations of the "No Stealing" precept. Rape, prostitution, seduction and bigamy are all violations of the "No Sexual Misconduct" precept. Libel, defamation, breaking a promise, falsifying evidence and intimidation are violations of the "No Lying" precept. Drug dealing, drug taking, drug trafficking, smoking and drinking alcohol are violations of the "No Intoxicants" precept. It is due to the violation of these precepts that a person has lost his/her freedom; therefore, observing these precepts is also a way of abiding by the common law.
Those who observe the Five Precepts, and those who have a clear understanding of these precepts will be the ones to enjoy true freedom. Therefore, the real meaning of precepts is freedom, not burden.
Who and/or what do Buddhists worship?
Buddhists trust in:
1. The Buddha as a great teacher and exemplar;
2. The Dharma, i.e. the Buddha's teachings as a guide to enlightenment and essential truth; and
3. The Sangha, i.e. the Buddhist community, particularly monastics who teach the Dharma and guide one along the path to enlightenment. Veneration of this "Triple Gem" is central to Buddhist life.
Who is a Buddha?
A Buddha is not a god, but rather one who, through complete wisdom and compassion, has attained full enlightenment and is thus beyond the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. A Buddha exemplifies the highest form of morality and is the supreme teacher showing people the way to relieve suffering. The word "Buddha" is derived from the root budh meaning "to awaken and be aware or completely conscious of." Buddhists believe that all beings have the Buddha nature, i.e. the potential to become a Buddha.
Cultivating and awakening this potential is what Buddhism is all about. According to the Mahayana thoughts, there are many Buddhas. When Buddhists speak of "the" Buddha, however, they are usually referring to Saykyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
Who is a Bodhisattva?
"Bodhi" means "enlightenment"; "sattva" means "sentient being." A Bodhisattva is one who is following the path to enlightenment. In so doing, a Bodhisattva altruistically chooses to put off his/her own final stage of enlightenment in order to completely alleviate the suffering of others. He/She practices the virtues of generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and even-mindedness to perfection and without self-interest. There are said to be an infinite number of Bodhisattvas. Mahayana Buddhists place particular emphasis on the importance of the Bodhisattva and the Bodhisattva Path as the way to realise one's Buddha nature.
What is Humanistic Buddhism?
We know that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha was born into this world; he cultivated his spiritual development, attained enlightenment, and shared with others in this world the profound truth he had realised. The human world was emphasised in everything he did. Why did the Buddha not achieve Buddhahood in one of the other five realms?
Why did he not attain enlightenment in one of the other ten dharma worlds? Why did he, instead, attain complete enlightenment as a human? There can only be one reason; the Buddha wanted the teachings of Buddhism to be relevant to the human world. The Buddha's very life as a human being has give us all an inspiration and a model for the spiritual path and for making our own lives a spiritual practice.
The Four Noble Truths
After the Buddha gained enlightenment, the first sermon he preached was the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are:
1. Suffering exists
2. The cause of suffering
3. The ending of suffering
4. There is a way to stop the suffering
The Significance of Buddha's Birthday Celebration
For over two thousand years, Buddhists around the world have celebrated the Buddha's Birthday. It may be celebrated at different dates on the lunar calendar due to differences in historical recordings. However this day is the most significant amongst all have the different Buddhist traditions around the world. Buddhists have been celebrating this auspicious day with appreciation for the past thousands years.
The Buddha was born into the royal family as Prince Siddhartha about two thousand six hundred years ago in Northern India, now known as Nepal. Although Siddhartha was a prince, he was deeply troubled by the unjust caste system and the harsh facts of birth, old age, sickness and death. He left the palace and embarked on a spiritual quest.
After six year of ascetic practice, Siddhartha attained full enlightenment and as a result was known as the Buddha, in another word the awakened one. The Buddha gained insight into the nature of Dependent Origination which states that everything is interdependent. He realised the cycle of life and death is brought about by karma and our life is conditioned by the law of Cause and Effect.
The qualities of wisdom and compassion of the Buddha are captured in Grand Master Hsing Yun's book (The Life of the Buddha) It is said that The Buddha's teaching is like a vessel in a sea of suffering, like water in a house of fire, like a compass like direction, and like the lamp in the darkness of the night. Because of the Buddha's teaching, disguise is transformed into sincerity and the fools have become the wise.
Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's Birthday every year. This celebration is also an opportunity on which we can reflect. Are we following the Buddha's teaching? How much do we know about the Buddha's virtues and his teachings? Are we applying the principles into helping ourselves as well as others? Master Tai Shu once said, Aspire to be the Buddha and practice this in this human life? The merits of the Buddha we may not be able to match, however we can aspire to be like the Buddha and to practice his teachings in this very present life.
Morning Gong and Evening Drum
When you first hear about "the morning gong and evening drum", this phrase may be mistaken as: "the gong is sounded in the morning and the drum is hit in the evening." In Buddhism, the correct way to explain is: "In the morning, the gong is sounded first then the drum is hit; in the evening, the drum is hit first and then the gong is sounded."
Both the gong and the drum are one of the most important Dharma instruments to the temple. In Buddha's time, the gong and drum were used to gather everyone to announce the precepts, meal times, Dharma talks etc. Up until now, they have become equipments to announce the times to wake up and go to bed.
Drum
A drum that is kept to the right of an altar inside a shrine is used during chanting. Its sound symbolises the end of the cycle of rebirth which inevitably leads to happiness.
Wooden Fish -The lead of chanting sessions
The wooden fish is one of the most important Dharma instruments that lead and controls morning and evening chanting sessions in a Buddhist temple. When you enter the shrine of a temple, the fish shaped object that you see on the side of the altar is what we called the "wooden fish". Some may ask the question: "Why is it made in the shape of a fish?"
Bell Bowl (Da Qing) -The Dharma Stone: Shape of a bowl and sound of gong
QIANG!QIANG!QIANG! During chanting sessions or Dharma functions in a temple, these three consecutive sounds will enable all participants to regulate their thoughts and calm their minds. By doing this, people will be able to achieve better interactions with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas through deeper sincerity.
Buddhist Flag
The six colours are:
1. Blue : signifying the concept of loving kindness and peace in Buddhism.
2. Yellow : signifying the Middle Path, that is, the complete absence of form and emptiness A mind free from greed, anger and ignorance.
3. Red : signifying achievement, wisdom, virtue, fortune and dignity.
4. White : signifying purity, emancipation, that the Dharma will always exist regardless of time or space.
5. Orange : The essence of Buddhism which is full of wisdom, strength and dignity.
6. The combination of these five colours symbolizes that it is the one and only Truth.
The horizontal bars signify peace and harmony between all races through out the world while the vertical bars represent eternal peace within the world.
In simple terms, the Buddhist Flag implies that there is no discrimination of races, nationality, areas or skin colour; that every living being possess the Buddha Nature and all have the potential to become a Buddha.
Dharma Wheel
The term "Dharma" refers to the Buddha's teachings and the essential truths of Buddhism. A person may learn of the Dharma from sutras and teachers, but most importantly it must be practiced in daily life. The eight-spoked Dharma wheel symbolises Sakyamuni Buddha's supreme enlightenment and his subsequent teachings which set what Buddhists call the Wheel of Law in motion.
Each spoke of the Dharma wheel corresponds to one element of the Noble Eightfold Path:
1. Right Understanding: Comprehending the Law of Cause and Effect.
2. Right Thought: A mind free from greed, anger and ignorance.
3. Right Speech: Speech free from deceit, malice, and idle chatter.
4. Right Action: No killing, stealing, or adultery.
5. Right Livelihood: No occupation which causes harm.
6. Right Diligence: Sincerely striving to do one's best.
7. Right Mindfulness: Maintaining constant awareness.
8. Right Meditation: Calming the mind to help see the truth.
Like an ever-turning wheel, these teachings are timeless and will continue to benefit beings into the future.
Lion
The lion is widely recognised as king of the jungle. For Buddhists, it is a symbol of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who are strong with their hearts and fearless of all evil. A lion's roar is likened to a thunderous call waking beings up to the power of the Dharma. It is representative of the teachings of Ch'an masters and the superior strength of a mind not bound by thoughts. Lion statues flank the stairs leading to Nan Tien's Main Shrine and Pagoda, as well as the entrance to the Front Shrine. Shrine door rings are fashioned out of lion heads.
Do Buddhists believe in a god?
If by "god" one means a creator of the universe or a being guiding ultimate human fate, then Buddhists do not believe in such. Buddhism emphasises the concept of conditional causation where everything in this world comes into being according to different sets of causes and conditions. Plants and flowers grow; spring, summer, autumn and winter constitute the yearly cycle of the four seasons; human beings go through the process of birth, old age, illness and death.
All of these demonstrate the changes brought by conditional causation. Thus all phenomena in this world cannot exist without their corresponding causes and the conditions required. Furthermore, one of the central Buddhist tenets is essentially that each person is his own master.
If by "god", however, one means one of a number of heavenly beings, then Buddhists do believe in these. In Buddhist cosmology there are six general realms of existence: devas, asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell-beings. (Buddhas have transcended these six realms.) Of the six, devas and asuras are most like deities. While their respective realms may be described as "heavens," however they do not exist beyond time and space. The primary difference between devas and asuras is that devas are peaceful while asuras are competitive and jealous.
What is the Buddhist concept of rebirth?
Buddhists views death as exiting one realm of existence and entering another. The cycle of rebirth into countless lives continues until final enlightenment and Nirvana occur. Rebirth is not the same as reincarnation, as Buddhists do not perceive an eternal soul which migrates to a new physical form. Rather, the body and mind are continually changing; death is merely another change. While body and mind are impermanent, they are also interrelated throughout time and space. Every voluntary action produced by one's body, speech, and mind will have consequences, either in the current life or a future one. This is the principle of karma and it incorporates what Buddhists know as the Law of Cause and Effect. Karma is thus a system of ethics which maintains that good deeds result in positive effects, while bad deeds produce negative results. If a voluntary action is said to be a seed, then the outcome is the fruit.
Why do Buddhists chant?
Chanting gives the opportunity to learn, reinforce, and reflect upon various Buddhist teachings, as well as venerate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the virtues they embody. There are many different chants, the texts of which are usually either entire sutras (teachings of the Buddha), Dharanis (essences of sutras), mantras (short symbolic phrases), or the names of particular Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Times for chanting vary, but monastics generally chant each morning and evening. Chanting is often an integral part of Buddhist ceremonies. Special chanting services provide participants with an extended period of spiritual cultivation through chanting.
What is the importance of being vegetarian?
Out of sincere respect for all life and the First Precept to refrain from killing, many Chinese Buddhists are vegetarian. In other words, being a vegetarian is a way to practice compassion. Vegetarianism is also consistent with the Buddhist concepts of universal interrelationship and rebirth. With the concept of rebirth, humans may be other forms of life in their past and/or future lives, thus it follows that an animal could be seen as synonymous with destroying one's own relatives. While the traditional Buddhist scriptures do no mandate vegetarianism, Fo Guang monastics must take a vow to not eat meat. Lay followers, however, are not required to do so. If not daily vegetarians, however, many Buddhists observe a vegetarian diet during retreats, Dharma functions, and holidays. A vegetarian luncheon buffet is available for all visitors at Nan Tien's dining hall.
What Buddhist festivals are celebrated? When and how?
There are a number of Buddhist festivals celebrated throughout the year, of which the most important is the commemoration of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. There are two days to be honored and the dates are based on the Chinese Lunar calendar:
Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday - 8 April
Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment Day - 8 December
Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday is also called the Bathing Buddha Festival. According to legend, there were many auspicious signs on the day he was born. One of the miraculous phenomena was he walked seven steps forward and at each step, a lotus flower sprang up from the ground. With one arm raised upward and one finger pointed downward, he then declared: ‘Above heaven and on earth, I'm the supreme; and unique.?Two dragons appeared in the sky, gently spurting two streams of purified water down, one warm and one cool, to bathe the prince. Thereafter, when people celebrate the Buddha's birthday, they use fragrant water to bathe the Buddha statue. This ritual symbolises the purification of our mind, signifying that it is easy to wash away our external impurities, however it is difficult to remove which is in our mind.
Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment Day is commemorated in a Dharma function and is usually celebrated by participating in the "December 8th Congee," which is prepared with eight vegetarian ingredients. Before his enlightenment, prince Siddhartha practiced a variety of asceticism, and reduced his diet until he was eating nothing at all, but still he could not succeed. He then realised neither self mortification nor self-indulgence was the way; the only way to enlightenment should be the "Middle path" between the two extremes. Finally, he accepted the milk offered by a shepherdess to regain his energy.
At the age of 35, while sitting under a bodhi tree in deep contemplation, he became enlightened. In celebrating this day, the eating of the congee is to symbolise the nourishing of the physical body which is important in our practice of cultivation on the path to awakening.
What is Buddhism's view on death?
Death is the beginning of life; life is a preparation for death. Life is a gathering of right conditions, and death is the dissolution of these conditions. If there is no life there will be no death. If there is no death there will be no life. Life and death is a natural process. There is rebirth after death, so there is no need to fear death. Death is like a flowing river; like matches burning out one after one. However, the spark of fire (life) is still there, so death does not mean total extinction. When faced with death, one should feel the joy of going home after a long journey; facing death, one should feel the freedom of a prisoner released from jail; facing death, one should feel as natural as the autumn leaves returning to the earth; facing death, one should be as calm and serene as the bright moon hanging in the sky.
Buddhist Hymns
Buddhist hymns are the heavenly sound of purity. According to Indian documentary record, during the life of the Buddha when King Bimbarsara was leading his men to fight a war, they saw a bhikkhu sitting by the road, his facial feature was most unattractive, but his singing was so magnificent that all his men and horses came to a halt and listened to his chanting, the words and the melody of which touched the softest part of the hearts, they closed their eyes and were immersed in peacefulness, any enmity that they had was smoothed over with love, they were moved to tears by the bhikkhu's chanting and eventually king Bimbasara ordered his whole army to retreat and returned home.
Buddhist hymns are the sound of compassion, they open the heart and all resistances are surrendered to love and acceptance, it brings us the tranquillity and joy that comes from awareness that we are related to one another.
When Buddhism was introduced into China during the first century AD, the Buddhist hymns were also taken along, but the lyric and rhythm remained purely Indian. Prince Chu Jee who lived between 192 and 233 AD was a great poet and musician. He was inspired by the chanting and as a result he composed and wrote hymns that suit the Chinese people. Later on these hymns were further transformed into their modern day counterparts by cultivated monks who had imparted the result of their realization into this great piece of universal sound.
Buddhism and Belief Systems
Understanding key terms
One of the important things to consider when studying belief systems is that you are preparing a Focus Study in Society and Culture. It is vital that you always refer to the language and concepts of the subject, and are familiar with the concepts mentioned specifically in the syllabus. These are the terms you should use when writing about Belief Systems.
The syllabus requires you to be aware of three specific terms, which are all defined in the syllabus glossary, and you should become familiar with them. In simple terms:
Belief system : It is an organised way of trying to explain the world around us. It is something that distinguishes human beings, and becomes an integral part of culture. The syllabus gives examples such as Confucianism, humanism, Islam, capitalism and feminism.
Worldview : There is a subtle difference between Belief System and Worldview. Where a belief system will attempt to provide understanding of larger issues of philosophy and fundamental beliefs and ways of doing things, a worldview essentially tries to explain and interpret world history or civilisation. You may find, as the syllabus glossary does, that the two terms are very similar.
Ideology : This refers to the unified set of ideas that link together beliefs. Thus you can refer to the capitalistic ideology that combines the ideas that underpin the belief system of capitalism.
The range of belief systems
One way of trying to chart the extent of belief systems within and outside Australia is through statistical analysis. You could consult census material from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which collects and publishes information based on Australian census returns.
For a look at a brief coverage of the range and history of belief systems across the world, you could try Bret Wallach’s article on the University of Oklahoma Geography Department web site.
The “big” questions
The source of all belief systems, whether religious or not, is an attempt to describe the world in some way. Whether it is “where did we all come from?”, “why are we here?” or “what happens when we die?”, belief systems help people to understand their environment. The environment is a key concept in understanding the variety of belief systems in the world. Indigenous Australians before European occupation used their natural environment to explain the world and their place in it. Science and rationality have contributed to the emergence of more contemporary belief systems that have to make sense of economic systems, technology and a complex social environment. Thus the environment of the person who stood at the entrance to Sydney or New York Harbour in 1000CE (common era) was experiencing a totally different environment than the person who stood in the same place in 2000CE. Many of the questions they would ask of their existence could be the same, but the differing environments would lead to different explanations and belief systems.
Religious and non-religious belief systems
All belief systems offer an explanation of something. The difference between secular (non-religious) and religious belief systems is that religious systems normally deal “with the whole of human life and death”. (John Bowker. World Religions. Dorling Kindersley. 1997). They take on a transcendent dimension that encompasses more than a mere human dimension. In other words, they believe in a supreme being or god. Secular belief systems often tend to try and explain specific aspects of life rather than all of life. For example, feminism is a belief system that attempts to explain gender equality, and capitalism explains economic organisation and life. However, it should be remembered that some non-religious belief systems like Wicca or Scientology often refer to very similar ideas to traditional religious belief systems.
Personal responses
To fully understand the nature and variety of belief systems, you need to engage in a degree of personal reflection. You must determine what your own beliefs are, and where they may have originated. You should try and determine the influence of socialising agents upon you, and compare your beliefs with those of family and friends, as well as people of other times and places. Refer back to the course concepts, and consider issues of continuity and change. Try and explain, through specific examples, areas of commonality and contrast in beliefs across time.
Historical Basis of the Belief System
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Who founded Buddhism?
Buddhism originated approximately 2,500 years ago in northern India (now Nepal) with the supreme enlightenment of and subsequent teachings by Sakyamuni Buddha. Born around 600 B.C. to King Suddodhana, ruler of the Sakya clan, Saykyamuni Buddha was originally named Prince Siddhartha Gautama. In childhood he led a pampered life of royal wealth sheltered from the world's miseries. But, when as a young man he was at last allowed to venture from the palace, he saw four sights: A decrepit old man, a person wracked with disease, a corpse, and a monk. He thus learned of life's inevitable sufferings (old age, sickness, and death) and the transience of all worldly pleasure. He also saw that the wise monastic had found peace in spite of life's ills.
Determined to find a way to be free from these troubles, Prince Siddhartha renounced his crown and family, and embarked on his journey to seek the truth. After years of cultivation, he attained supreme enlightenment and was thence known as Sakyamuni (meaning "sage of the Sakya clan") Buddha. Out of endless compassion, Sakyamuni Buddha shared his teachings so that others could also discover the Middle Path to end all suffering.
Important Places and/or Scripts
FOUR PILGRIMAGE SITES OF BUDDHISM
1. Lumbini is situated at the foothill of the Himalayas in northern Nepal. This is the birthplace of Buddha. It was a custom that women would go to their parents?home to give birth. The Buddha’s mother queen Maya was on her way to her family home. As she came to Lumbini she was spellbound by the park’s natural beauty. While resting, she gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama; the future Buddha. It was between the 5th and 4th century BC.
2. Bodh Gaya is where the Buddha attained enlightenment. After six years of ascetic practice, Siddhartha still could not find a way out of suffering. As he walked to the river to wash himself, he was so weak that he collapsed on the bank of the river. A shepherd girl, Sijata was passing by and offered him a bowl of milk, which he drank in one gulp. As his physical strength was slowly restored, Siddhartha realised that neither tormenting the physical body nor indulgence in sensual pleasure can lead to realisation. When he went to Bodh Gaya, he decided to remain there.
He gathered some straw and made it into a seat under a paya tree. He made a vow that unless he attained enlightenment he would not raise from his seat. It was a real battle between good and evil. The evil king, Mara attacked him with all thoughts of temptation, greed, desire and fear, but Siddhartha was unmoved. After seven days, Siddhartha reached enlightenment. He broke through the chain of illusion. He’s awakened to the truth and from then on he was known as Buddha. He worked out the twelve links of dependent origination that explains our coming into this world and the possible outcome for the future.
The tree that Buddha sat under for enlightenment is known as Bodhi tree, Bodhi means seed of awakening. It was known from legend that the original Bodhi tree had been chopped down by Asoka’s wife who was jealous of her husband spending so much at the site. A new tree grew from the original tree and this is the present tree that we see today in Bodh Gaya. However, a branch from the original Bodhi tree was cut down and brought to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC by bhukkhni Sangamitta, daughter of Asoka’s. This tree remains in Mahavihara monastery to this very day.
3. After enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha went to Sarnath situated on the outskirt of Veranasi. It is here that he first turned the wheel of Dharma in motion for five ascetics and explained to them the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Paths. Thus began the first Buddhist order. A monastic tradition flourished for over 1500 years at Deer Park. In the 3rd century BC King Asoka built a pillar 15m high with 4 lions at the top. The lions symbolise Asoka’s imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. Today, the 4-lion is adopted as India’s national emblem.
4. The last sacred site, where the Buddha passed away is Kusinara. As Buddha approached the village of Kusinara, he became very ill. The Buddha was approaching eighty. He told Ananda to prepare a bed for him.
With his disciples gathered around him, the Buddha asked his disciples to pose any questions they may have. The Buddha repeated this three times but still they remained in silence. The Buddha then said to them, “everything once born is subject to decay. It’s the law of nature, follow the precepts, let it be your teacher...?Soon afterwards, the Buddha entered paranirvana (the great passing away). It was on the full moon of April and the year was around 487 and 483 BC. Mahakasyapa performed the final ceremony on the seventh day by cremating the Buddha. After cremation, the ashes were collected as relics which were divided into eight parts shared by eight kingdoms which ruled ancient northern India. The relics were again subdivided after king Asoka built 84,000 stupas to house all these relics. Today these relics are enshrined in temples and stupas across Asia and now in some of our western countries.
Currently there is the Maitreya project, which is to build the world's largest statue at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. This statue is a 152m tall, 50-story-high bronze statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The Maitreya Buddha is a representation of the future Buddha. Maitreya derives from Sanskirt maitri meaning compassion and universal love. The statue is estimated at a cost of 150 million US Dollars, designed to last for at least 1000 years.
The Path of Buddhism (Scripts)
There are many different traditions and systems, the Mahayana and the Theravada, the Pureland and the Ch'an school, there are the Tibetan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Japanese Buddhism. Out of the broad range of teachings available we may get confused with which one to choose from or we may want to take the whole lot and learn as much as we can. The main thing is to choose the one that is most suitable to us.
During the Buddha's time, there were no written words to record his teaching. The Buddha taught his disciples meditation. Through meditation they contemplate on how the mind functions and responds to outside changes.
After the Buddha passed away, his disciple Mahakasyapa organised the First Council to compile the teachings into Sutra and Vinaya, which are the rules and regulations for the Sangha and the laity.
Over the next hundred years, Buddhism spread to other regions of India, people started to analyse the Dharma and different interpretations have given rise to some very profound philosophy such as the establishment of the Middle School, compilation of the Abhidharma and the formation of the Theravada and Mahayana schools.
When Buddhism was transmitted further abroad to South East Asia; Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and China. It was adapted in the local culture but transformed into new form due to geographical and psychological aspects, but the essence of the teaching remains. The principle of practice is universal.
The Buddha never told his disciples to believe what he said. Instead he encouraged them to test and confirm his teaching, to discover for themselves through direct experience, to recognise that all things are impermanent and possess the non self nature. Everything depends on one another to arise, develop and pass away. The Buddha is not aiming to explain the universe or give us lots of intellectual knowledge, his teaching guides us to have a direct experience of reality.
Learning Buddhism is learning about ourselves. We learn to develop natural mindfulness throughout the day. We watch our mind and we see how it wavers to conditional changes. We come in direct contact with our greed, anger and folly as we strive for a joyful life. A spiritual path is not reserved for monks, nuns or priests. Any person who is looking for peace and happiness can have it. It is not an escape from reality. It is an odyssey.
It is a life long journey of exploration, an adventure into heart of the heart. This journey can surprise us with many wonders while at a time breaks our ego and shatter everything to pieces, which we believe and have held onto for a long time. Spiritual awakening can be a painful process because we face ourselves directly and be honest with our limitation and defects. We need tremendous courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit to battle the fear in opening the mind and heart. We may ask, 'Is it worth the effort? Am I determined to exchange the deluded and happy go lucky person for so much pain? Yet it is the path to awakening.
The Five Precepts
The Five Precepts involve:
- No Killing
- No Stealing
- No Sexual Misconduct
- No Lying (Dishonesty)
- No Intoxicants
According to Chapter 33 of the Samyuktagama Sutra: "The perfection of upasaka Precept is to stay away from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking intoxicants." It can be seen that the Five Precepts are essential for upasakas and upasikas. Although there are different precepts for the monastic and the lay, it is important to note that all precpts are based on the Five Precepts. That is why the Five Precepts are also called the "Foundation Precepts."
The Overall Meaning of the Five Precepts
Even though there are five separate precepts, their basic principle is not to offend others. When one does not offend others but shows respect to them, s/he will be free. For example, no killing is not causing any harm to other's lives; no stealing is where one does not invade other people's properties; no sexual misconduct is not offending other people's honour and integrity; not lying is not offending other people's good name; and no drinking or taking intoxicants is not offending one's own intellect thus not offending others.
It is a common misconception that taking precepts is about tying oneself down, thus certain people would say: "Why observe precepts? It is only a burden!" The fact is that if we look at the people in jail, all of them have violated one or more of the Five Precepts. For example, murder, physical assault and disfigurement are all violations of the "No Killing" precept.
Corruption, embezzlement, stealing, theft, robberies, kidnapping and abduction are all violations of the "No Stealing" precept. Rape, prostitution, seduction and bigamy are all violations of the "No Sexual Misconduct" precept. Libel, defamation, breaking a promise, falsifying evidence and intimidation are violations of the "No Lying" precept. Drug dealing, drug taking, drug trafficking, smoking and drinking alcohol are violations of the "No Intoxicants" precept. It is due to the violation of these precepts that a person has lost his/her freedom; therefore, observing these precepts is also a way of abiding by the common law.
Those who observe the Five Precepts, and those who have a clear understanding of these precepts will be the ones to enjoy true freedom. Therefore, the real meaning of precepts is freedom, not burden.
Who and/or what do Buddhists worship?
Buddhists trust in:
1. The Buddha as a great teacher and exemplar;
2. The Dharma, i.e. the Buddha's teachings as a guide to enlightenment and essential truth; and
3. The Sangha, i.e. the Buddhist community, particularly monastics who teach the Dharma and guide one along the path to enlightenment. Veneration of this "Triple Gem" is central to Buddhist life.
Who is a Buddha?
A Buddha is not a god, but rather one who, through complete wisdom and compassion, has attained full enlightenment and is thus beyond the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. A Buddha exemplifies the highest form of morality and is the supreme teacher showing people the way to relieve suffering. The word "Buddha" is derived from the root budh meaning "to awaken and be aware or completely conscious of." Buddhists believe that all beings have the Buddha nature, i.e. the potential to become a Buddha.
Cultivating and awakening this potential is what Buddhism is all about. According to the Mahayana thoughts, there are many Buddhas. When Buddhists speak of "the" Buddha, however, they are usually referring to Saykyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
Who is a Bodhisattva?
"Bodhi" means "enlightenment"; "sattva" means "sentient being." A Bodhisattva is one who is following the path to enlightenment. In so doing, a Bodhisattva altruistically chooses to put off his/her own final stage of enlightenment in order to completely alleviate the suffering of others. He/She practices the virtues of generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy, patience, truthfulness, determination, loving-kindness, and even-mindedness to perfection and without self-interest. There are said to be an infinite number of Bodhisattvas. Mahayana Buddhists place particular emphasis on the importance of the Bodhisattva and the Bodhisattva Path as the way to realise one's Buddha nature.
What is Humanistic Buddhism?
We know that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha was born into this world; he cultivated his spiritual development, attained enlightenment, and shared with others in this world the profound truth he had realised. The human world was emphasised in everything he did. Why did the Buddha not achieve Buddhahood in one of the other five realms?
Why did he not attain enlightenment in one of the other ten dharma worlds? Why did he, instead, attain complete enlightenment as a human? There can only be one reason; the Buddha wanted the teachings of Buddhism to be relevant to the human world. The Buddha's very life as a human being has give us all an inspiration and a model for the spiritual path and for making our own lives a spiritual practice.
The Four Noble Truths
After the Buddha gained enlightenment, the first sermon he preached was the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are:
1. Suffering exists
2. The cause of suffering
3. The ending of suffering
4. There is a way to stop the suffering
The Significance of Buddha's Birthday Celebration
For over two thousand years, Buddhists around the world have celebrated the Buddha's Birthday. It may be celebrated at different dates on the lunar calendar due to differences in historical recordings. However this day is the most significant amongst all have the different Buddhist traditions around the world. Buddhists have been celebrating this auspicious day with appreciation for the past thousands years.
The Buddha was born into the royal family as Prince Siddhartha about two thousand six hundred years ago in Northern India, now known as Nepal. Although Siddhartha was a prince, he was deeply troubled by the unjust caste system and the harsh facts of birth, old age, sickness and death. He left the palace and embarked on a spiritual quest.
After six year of ascetic practice, Siddhartha attained full enlightenment and as a result was known as the Buddha, in another word the awakened one. The Buddha gained insight into the nature of Dependent Origination which states that everything is interdependent. He realised the cycle of life and death is brought about by karma and our life is conditioned by the law of Cause and Effect.
The qualities of wisdom and compassion of the Buddha are captured in Grand Master Hsing Yun's book (The Life of the Buddha) It is said that The Buddha's teaching is like a vessel in a sea of suffering, like water in a house of fire, like a compass like direction, and like the lamp in the darkness of the night. Because of the Buddha's teaching, disguise is transformed into sincerity and the fools have become the wise.
Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's Birthday every year. This celebration is also an opportunity on which we can reflect. Are we following the Buddha's teaching? How much do we know about the Buddha's virtues and his teachings? Are we applying the principles into helping ourselves as well as others? Master Tai Shu once said, Aspire to be the Buddha and practice this in this human life? The merits of the Buddha we may not be able to match, however we can aspire to be like the Buddha and to practice his teachings in this very present life.
Morning Gong and Evening Drum
When you first hear about "the morning gong and evening drum", this phrase may be mistaken as: "the gong is sounded in the morning and the drum is hit in the evening." In Buddhism, the correct way to explain is: "In the morning, the gong is sounded first then the drum is hit; in the evening, the drum is hit first and then the gong is sounded."
Both the gong and the drum are one of the most important Dharma instruments to the temple. In Buddha's time, the gong and drum were used to gather everyone to announce the precepts, meal times, Dharma talks etc. Up until now, they have become equipments to announce the times to wake up and go to bed.
Drum
A drum that is kept to the right of an altar inside a shrine is used during chanting. Its sound symbolises the end of the cycle of rebirth which inevitably leads to happiness.
Wooden Fish -The lead of chanting sessions
The wooden fish is one of the most important Dharma instruments that lead and controls morning and evening chanting sessions in a Buddhist temple. When you enter the shrine of a temple, the fish shaped object that you see on the side of the altar is what we called the "wooden fish". Some may ask the question: "Why is it made in the shape of a fish?"
Bell Bowl (Da Qing) -The Dharma Stone: Shape of a bowl and sound of gong
QIANG!QIANG!QIANG! During chanting sessions or Dharma functions in a temple, these three consecutive sounds will enable all participants to regulate their thoughts and calm their minds. By doing this, people will be able to achieve better interactions with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas through deeper sincerity.
Buddhist Flag
The six colours are:
1. Blue : signifying the concept of loving kindness and peace in Buddhism.
2. Yellow : signifying the Middle Path, that is, the complete absence of form and emptiness A mind free from greed, anger and ignorance.
3. Red : signifying achievement, wisdom, virtue, fortune and dignity.
4. White : signifying purity, emancipation, that the Dharma will always exist regardless of time or space.
5. Orange : The essence of Buddhism which is full of wisdom, strength and dignity.
6. The combination of these five colours symbolizes that it is the one and only Truth.
The horizontal bars signify peace and harmony between all races through out the world while the vertical bars represent eternal peace within the world.
In simple terms, the Buddhist Flag implies that there is no discrimination of races, nationality, areas or skin colour; that every living being possess the Buddha Nature and all have the potential to become a Buddha.
Dharma Wheel
The term "Dharma" refers to the Buddha's teachings and the essential truths of Buddhism. A person may learn of the Dharma from sutras and teachers, but most importantly it must be practiced in daily life. The eight-spoked Dharma wheel symbolises Sakyamuni Buddha's supreme enlightenment and his subsequent teachings which set what Buddhists call the Wheel of Law in motion.
Each spoke of the Dharma wheel corresponds to one element of the Noble Eightfold Path:
1. Right Understanding: Comprehending the Law of Cause and Effect.
2. Right Thought: A mind free from greed, anger and ignorance.
3. Right Speech: Speech free from deceit, malice, and idle chatter.
4. Right Action: No killing, stealing, or adultery.
5. Right Livelihood: No occupation which causes harm.
6. Right Diligence: Sincerely striving to do one's best.
7. Right Mindfulness: Maintaining constant awareness.
8. Right Meditation: Calming the mind to help see the truth.
Like an ever-turning wheel, these teachings are timeless and will continue to benefit beings into the future.
Lion
The lion is widely recognised as king of the jungle. For Buddhists, it is a symbol of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who are strong with their hearts and fearless of all evil. A lion's roar is likened to a thunderous call waking beings up to the power of the Dharma. It is representative of the teachings of Ch'an masters and the superior strength of a mind not bound by thoughts. Lion statues flank the stairs leading to Nan Tien's Main Shrine and Pagoda, as well as the entrance to the Front Shrine. Shrine door rings are fashioned out of lion heads.
Do Buddhists believe in a god?
If by "god" one means a creator of the universe or a being guiding ultimate human fate, then Buddhists do not believe in such. Buddhism emphasises the concept of conditional causation where everything in this world comes into being according to different sets of causes and conditions. Plants and flowers grow; spring, summer, autumn and winter constitute the yearly cycle of the four seasons; human beings go through the process of birth, old age, illness and death.
All of these demonstrate the changes brought by conditional causation. Thus all phenomena in this world cannot exist without their corresponding causes and the conditions required. Furthermore, one of the central Buddhist tenets is essentially that each person is his own master.
If by "god", however, one means one of a number of heavenly beings, then Buddhists do believe in these. In Buddhist cosmology there are six general realms of existence: devas, asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell-beings. (Buddhas have transcended these six realms.) Of the six, devas and asuras are most like deities. While their respective realms may be described as "heavens," however they do not exist beyond time and space. The primary difference between devas and asuras is that devas are peaceful while asuras are competitive and jealous.
What is the Buddhist concept of rebirth?
Buddhists views death as exiting one realm of existence and entering another. The cycle of rebirth into countless lives continues until final enlightenment and Nirvana occur. Rebirth is not the same as reincarnation, as Buddhists do not perceive an eternal soul which migrates to a new physical form. Rather, the body and mind are continually changing; death is merely another change. While body and mind are impermanent, they are also interrelated throughout time and space. Every voluntary action produced by one's body, speech, and mind will have consequences, either in the current life or a future one. This is the principle of karma and it incorporates what Buddhists know as the Law of Cause and Effect. Karma is thus a system of ethics which maintains that good deeds result in positive effects, while bad deeds produce negative results. If a voluntary action is said to be a seed, then the outcome is the fruit.
Why do Buddhists chant?
Chanting gives the opportunity to learn, reinforce, and reflect upon various Buddhist teachings, as well as venerate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the virtues they embody. There are many different chants, the texts of which are usually either entire sutras (teachings of the Buddha), Dharanis (essences of sutras), mantras (short symbolic phrases), or the names of particular Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Times for chanting vary, but monastics generally chant each morning and evening. Chanting is often an integral part of Buddhist ceremonies. Special chanting services provide participants with an extended period of spiritual cultivation through chanting.
What is the importance of being vegetarian?
Out of sincere respect for all life and the First Precept to refrain from killing, many Chinese Buddhists are vegetarian. In other words, being a vegetarian is a way to practice compassion. Vegetarianism is also consistent with the Buddhist concepts of universal interrelationship and rebirth. With the concept of rebirth, humans may be other forms of life in their past and/or future lives, thus it follows that an animal could be seen as synonymous with destroying one's own relatives. While the traditional Buddhist scriptures do no mandate vegetarianism, Fo Guang monastics must take a vow to not eat meat. Lay followers, however, are not required to do so. If not daily vegetarians, however, many Buddhists observe a vegetarian diet during retreats, Dharma functions, and holidays. A vegetarian luncheon buffet is available for all visitors at Nan Tien's dining hall.
What Buddhist festivals are celebrated? When and how?
There are a number of Buddhist festivals celebrated throughout the year, of which the most important is the commemoration of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. There are two days to be honored and the dates are based on the Chinese Lunar calendar:
Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday - 8 April
Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment Day - 8 December
Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday is also called the Bathing Buddha Festival. According to legend, there were many auspicious signs on the day he was born. One of the miraculous phenomena was he walked seven steps forward and at each step, a lotus flower sprang up from the ground. With one arm raised upward and one finger pointed downward, he then declared: ‘Above heaven and on earth, I'm the supreme; and unique.?Two dragons appeared in the sky, gently spurting two streams of purified water down, one warm and one cool, to bathe the prince. Thereafter, when people celebrate the Buddha's birthday, they use fragrant water to bathe the Buddha statue. This ritual symbolises the purification of our mind, signifying that it is easy to wash away our external impurities, however it is difficult to remove which is in our mind.
Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment Day is commemorated in a Dharma function and is usually celebrated by participating in the "December 8th Congee," which is prepared with eight vegetarian ingredients. Before his enlightenment, prince Siddhartha practiced a variety of asceticism, and reduced his diet until he was eating nothing at all, but still he could not succeed. He then realised neither self mortification nor self-indulgence was the way; the only way to enlightenment should be the "Middle path" between the two extremes. Finally, he accepted the milk offered by a shepherdess to regain his energy.
At the age of 35, while sitting under a bodhi tree in deep contemplation, he became enlightened. In celebrating this day, the eating of the congee is to symbolise the nourishing of the physical body which is important in our practice of cultivation on the path to awakening.
What is Buddhism's view on death?
Death is the beginning of life; life is a preparation for death. Life is a gathering of right conditions, and death is the dissolution of these conditions. If there is no life there will be no death. If there is no death there will be no life. Life and death is a natural process. There is rebirth after death, so there is no need to fear death. Death is like a flowing river; like matches burning out one after one. However, the spark of fire (life) is still there, so death does not mean total extinction. When faced with death, one should feel the joy of going home after a long journey; facing death, one should feel the freedom of a prisoner released from jail; facing death, one should feel as natural as the autumn leaves returning to the earth; facing death, one should be as calm and serene as the bright moon hanging in the sky.
Buddhist Hymns
Buddhist hymns are the heavenly sound of purity. According to Indian documentary record, during the life of the Buddha when King Bimbarsara was leading his men to fight a war, they saw a bhikkhu sitting by the road, his facial feature was most unattractive, but his singing was so magnificent that all his men and horses came to a halt and listened to his chanting, the words and the melody of which touched the softest part of the hearts, they closed their eyes and were immersed in peacefulness, any enmity that they had was smoothed over with love, they were moved to tears by the bhikkhu's chanting and eventually king Bimbasara ordered his whole army to retreat and returned home.
Buddhist hymns are the sound of compassion, they open the heart and all resistances are surrendered to love and acceptance, it brings us the tranquillity and joy that comes from awareness that we are related to one another.
When Buddhism was introduced into China during the first century AD, the Buddhist hymns were also taken along, but the lyric and rhythm remained purely Indian. Prince Chu Jee who lived between 192 and 233 AD was a great poet and musician. He was inspired by the chanting and as a result he composed and wrote hymns that suit the Chinese people. Later on these hymns were further transformed into their modern day counterparts by cultivated monks who had imparted the result of their realization into this great piece of universal sound.