World Religions paper Due 6/11
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Esposito-WorldReligionsToday6e-Chapter7PowerPoint.pptx1
Lecture Outline Chapter 7
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Siddhartha’s enlightenment
Motivated by “four passing sights”
Starting age 29, experiments with extremes in lifestyle; decides on “Middle Way”
Tempted by Mara to remain in Nirvana
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Buddha’s next 40 years teaching Dharma
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Dependent origination
Spread of Buddhism
King Ashoka third century BCE
Sangha becomes key
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Diversity
Belief in Three Refuges provides unity among various schools
200 CE begins expansion into China
Six centuries of expansion equaled only by Christianity’s and Islam’s
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Diversity
Pure Land and Zen eventually most popular in Japan
Major split: Theravada and Mahayana
Vajrayana (tantra) a third division, from Mahayana
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Doctrine
All schools: full development of prajna essential to salvation
Methods for developing prajna vary
Concept of anatman and skandhas
Buddhism and morality
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Decline in South Asia
Popularity of devotional Hinduism and arrival of Islam
Decline in China
Started around 645 with revival of traditional Confucianism
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Modernity
Mindfulness meditation remains key salvific practice
Buddhists-at-large still express devotion through rituals and merit making
In merit making, duna most popular
Death ritual most highly regarded of all rituals, even by the nonpracticing
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Colonialism
Decline of Buddhism
Abrupt loss of resources
Withdrawal of political support in colonized areas
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Recovery
Some convert to Christianity
Some engage in conversation with science and Christianity
Some invest in printing technology to publish Buddhist reforms made
Public sermons
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Euro-American “discovery” of Buddhism
Around 1900
Bring Buddha’s teachings back to own societies
Contact with Japanese Zen becomes influential
Leads to revival of interest that continues today
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Postmodern trends
Central issue facing Buddhism today is the sangha’s ability to adapt and lead
Sangha’s hierarchical nature and isolation inhibit creativity of younger monks
Nuns remain “unofficial,” severely restricting their roles
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Postmodern trends
Organizations led by laypeople most active and effective in adapting Buddhist teachings and practices to postmodern world
Tibetan Buddhists only school to successfully cross-fertilize with West
“Engaged Buddhists” offer greatest hope for continued survival of Buddhism
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