5 Discussion: Buddhism and Workplace Ethics

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The essence of Buddhism

  • The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”
  • 2,500 year old tradition.
  • The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
  • Buddha, the teacher.
  • Dharma, the teachings.
  • Sangha, the community.

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

  • Born in NE India
    (Nepal).
  • Raised in great luxury
    to be a king.
  • At 29 he rejected
    his luxurious life to
    seek enlightenment
    and the source of
    suffering.
  • Lived a strict,
    ascetic life for 6 yrs.
  • Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana.
  • Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?

Desire!

  • Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

Four Noble Truths

  • There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha)
  • The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

Four Noble Truths

  • The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha)

Four Noble Truths

  • The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments.
    (Nirvana = “extinction”)

Four Noble Truths

  • To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path

Nirvana

  • The union with the ultimate
    spiritual reality.
  • Escape from the cycle of
    rebirth.

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha’s head :

2c Pakistan

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Buddhist Altar

Types of Buddhism

  • Therevada Buddhism

  • Mahayana Buddhism
  • Tibetan Buddhism
  • Zen Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism

  • The oldest school of Buddhism.
  • The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”
  • Found in southern Asia.
  • The monastic life is the best way
    to achieve nirvana.
  • Focus on wisdom and meditation.
  • Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”
  • Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

  • The “Great Vehicle.”
  • Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
  • Buddhism “for the masses.”
  • Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.
  • Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Mahayana Buddhism

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c
Bhutan

boddhisatva

Tibetan Buddhism

  • The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
  • Developed in Tibet in the
    7c CE.
  • A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.
  • Boddhisatvas include
    Lamas, like the
    Dalai Lama.
  • The Tibetan Book
    of the Dead
    [Bardo Thodol].

The
Dalai
Lama

zen Buddhism

  • The “Meditation School.”
  • Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata].
  • Use of meditation masters [Roshi].
  • Beauty, art, and aesthetics:
  • Gardens.
  • Archery.
  • Tea ceremony.
  • Calligraphy.