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Lecture notes Introduction to Buddhism (5481K1IBU)
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Lecture notes Introduction to Buddhism week 1-6. Very detailled. The book or readings are not included.
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Introduction to BuddhismWeek 1: General Introduction: Issues and Problems
The Three Jewels
- The Buddha (the central figure)
- The Dharma (his teaching)
- The Samgha (the followers and the (monastic) community)
Buddhism is much broader than the teachings/Dharma of the Buddha, for us it encompasses
the eternity of the tradition. The Buddha is the founder but also the leader, the ideal, the goal
and the inspiration.
The teachings deal with many aspects of the picture, the difficulties and possible solutions to
this human situation. Which is called Samsara. It entails the cycle of birth and reincarnation
(birth, death, rebirth, redeath). This is often symbolized by a wheel with 6 divisions. These
six divisions encompass the entirety of the possible ways/modes in which you might be born.
Therefore, strictly speaking Buddhist doctrine with all living beings, however realistically and
practically focuses on humans. We are all caught in this cycle of Samsara, the question
arises if there is anything that we can do about it. The Buddha discovered that the answer is
yes, the goal is nirvana. This can be achieved by the path on which we seek liberation.
The term "emic” perspective is a concept commonly used in anthropology and linguistics to
describe an insider's or participant's viewpoint when studying a particular culture, group, or
language. The emic perspective focuses on understanding the world from the perspective of
those who are members of the culture or community being studied. It involves examining the
unique beliefs, values, norms, and meanings that are specific to the group being observed,
rather than imposing external or "etic" perspectives, which are those of an outsider or
researcher.
The Buddha is often referred to in many different names and titles. These are epithets, which
means that these are descriptive names. Examples of names are; Gautama/Gotama
(lineage name); Siddhartha/Siddhattha (who has achieved his aim); Shakyamumi (sage of
the Shakya clan). While these words do possess meanings, it is essential not to
overemphasize their literal interpretations, as, for instance, the name 'Victor' does not
inherently imply a state of victory. Examples of titles are; Bhagavat (Lord); Jina (Victor);
Tathagata; Bodhisattva/Bodhisatta and Buddha.
Buddha is a descriptive title which means awoken one. Bodhi means awakening, which is
the goal. Buddhas have already reached this mode of understanding/awakening.
Bodhisattva means on your way to bodhi or being buddha.
The goal of buddhist practices in general is through metaphor understood as waking up for
the real true nature of reality. Which means, right now, you are asleep and what you see is
not real (like a dream), it is not the real reality.
This notion already existed before Buddhism, they adopted it in their tradition/worldview.
,In the Jataka stories we read tales about the Buddha’s previous lives, so his bodhisattva’s
lives. Until the Buddha attained awakening, he was not a buddha, he was still a bodhisattva.
He became Buddha in his last life.
A hagiography is the story of the life (‘biography’) of a saint. It is not a biography, but a story
which is oriented around sainthood. It is not meant as an ‘actual life story’.
In the context of Buddhist tradition, "iconic" (with images) and "aniconic" (without images)
art and symbolism refer to the way in which the Buddha and Buddhist concepts are
represented.
Aniconic representations avoid figurative imagery and instead use non-representational
symbols or abstract designs to convey the Buddha and Buddhist concepts and principles.
This is often a response to the teachings of the Buddha, who discouraged the worship of
idols and the attachment to material forms. This approach is often associated with early
Buddhist art and certain Buddhist traditions that discourage the use of anthropomorphic (or
human) representations of the Buddha or deities.
Some examples of aniconic elements in the Buddhist tradition:
- The Wheel of Dharma: The Dharmachakra is a common aniconic symbol in
Buddhism. It represents the Buddha's first sermon and the turning of the wheel of
dharma, or the teachings of Buddhism. It is typically depicted as a wheel with eight or
more spokes, and it serves as a symbol of the path to enlightenment.
- The Bodhi Tree, under which Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) attained
enlightenment, is revered in aniconic form. Rather than depicting the Buddha himself,
this tree is an important symbol of enlightenment and is often represented as a
stylized tree without figurative imagery.
- A stupa is a Buddhist architectural structure used for meditation and religious
worship. It is often a domed or tower-like monument that may contain relics or sacred
items. Stupas typically lack figurative representations and instead focus on geometric
and symbolic design elements.
- The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and enlightenment in Buddhism. The lotus
symbolizes the potential for spiritual growth and purity rising from the muck of worldly
existence.
- Buddhist practices often involve the use of mantras (sacred chants) and mudras
(hand gestures) as aniconic elements in religious rituals. These are
non-representational and focus on sound and hand movements as spiritual tools.
- The umbrella is always a sign to us that basically the Buddha is present.
- Footprints are also a sign of the Buddha's presence.
Iconic representations in Buddhist tradition involve the use of figurative imagery. This
typically includes statues, paintings, and other forms of art that depict the historical Buddha,
Siddhartha Gautama, and various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and deities associated with
Buddhism. TIconic representations often show the Buddha in various postures and mudras
(hand gestures), such as the seated Buddha in the lotus position (Dhyana mudra) or the
standing Buddha with one hand raised (Abhaya mudra).
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, Week 2: The Buddha’s Life
The Three Jewels
- The Buddha (the central figure)
- The Dharma (his teaching)
- The Samgha (the followers and the (monastic) community)
Historically, factually we know nothing of the Buddha. But, what does the tradition maintain
about the Buddha?
Written evidence in general, but in this case about the Buddha, was probably there but did
not survive because of the wet climate in the Indian subcontinent. The first written
evidence about the Buddha is from the Ashoka time period. But this is of course quite some
time after the (hypothetical) lifetime of the Buddha.
Emperor Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, played a pivotal role in the history and
spread of Buddhism. Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire in India from approximately 268
BCE to 232 BCE. Ashoka is often credited with converting to Buddhism after witnessing the
devastating consequences of the Kalinga War, a brutal conflict waged by his empire. The
suffering and loss of life during this war deeply affected him, leading him to embrace
Buddhism as a path of non-violence, compassion, and moral conduct. Ashoka is well-known
for inscribing his principles and Buddhist teachings on rocks, pillars, and caves throughout
his empire. These inscriptions, known as Ashoka's Edicts, conveyed messages of morality,
religious tolerance, and social justice.
The dates of Ashoka are regarded as quite reliable, because his administration was in touch
with foreign diplomats who were concerned with chronology. One of the pillars on which an
edict is carved was found at the place where it is believed that the Buddha was born, in
Lumbini.
He also has a description/edict of a previous Buddha of a mythical past, which is
often seen as more fictional than his edicts about the current Buddha. However, they are
both equally true or untrue. The evidence which we found does not mean that the
information about the Buddha is factual, but the emperor believed it to be at that point.
The tradition associates the four main events of the Buddha with corresponding sites.
Birth → Lumbini
Awakening → Bodh Graya
First Sermon → Sarnath
Nirvana → Kushinagar
The tradition says not only Sakyamuni is a Buddha, but that he is one of several buddhas.
One of the buddhas is Dipamkara, he was the Buddha before the present Buddha
Shakyamumi. The future buddha is Maitreya.
The way that the tradition thinks about time is different than we do. The tradition imagines
stories about all of these buddha’s, these stories about the past buddhas are identical to
‘our’ Buddha.
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