Speech given by Adit:
Birth of Buddha:
Siddartha / Gautama was born around 566 B.C. in Himalayan Foothills to Queen Maya and KingSuddodhana.
Rising:
King wanted him to be an emperor of this world. He decided to protect him from possibilities of spiritual path. He provided all luxuries to his son, inside the 4 walls.
The Four Signs that changed Siddartha:
1. Old man with white hair, withered skin, staff to lean.
2. Maimed man (distorted).
3. Funeral procession & corpse.
4. A monk in yellow robes, shaven head, empty bowl.
His chariot explained the meaning of each sign. His chariot’s name was Channa.
4 Noble Truths:
1. The truth of suffering
2. The truth of cause of suffering
3. The truth of cessation of suffering (suffering can end)
4. The truth of path that leads to nirvana
8 Eightfold Path:
· Right understanding
· Right thought
· Right speech
· Right action
· Right livelihood
· Right effort
· Right mindfulness
· Right concentration
If anyone sees ‘NIRVANA’ in his life time, he won’t reborn.
Five Hindrances:
· Doubt
· Lust
· Hatred
· Worry
· Languor
Definition of Karma: Karma à means action. Every time a person acts there is some quality of intention at the base of the mind and it is that quality rather than the outward appearance of the action.
Buddha’s Ethics:
What makes a person a Buddhist?
· Do not destroy life
· Do not steal
· Do not commit sexual misconduct
· Do not lie
· Do not take intoxicating drinks
There are some similarities between Buddha’s Ethics and Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments:
· Do not have any other Gods before me
· Do not make unto thee any carved image
· Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
· Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
· Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lordyour God is giving you.
· Do not kill
· Do not commit adultery
· Do not steal
· Do not bear false witness against a neighbor
· Do not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
Holy Book:
Holy Book of Buddhism is ‘TRIPITAKA’. It was written by Buddha Ghosa in Pali
Famous Mantra:
OM MANI PADME HUM – Jewel in the Lotus
If you take refuge in 3 Jewels:
· The Buddha
· The Dharma
· The Sangha
The chant: http://youtu.be/3T-7Ug7x2uE
Buddham saranam Gachami
Dharmam saranam Gachami
Sangham saranam Gachami
Meaning is:
I go to Buddha for refuge.
I go to Dharma for refuge.
I go to Sangha for refuge.
Dalai Lama is said to be incarnation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig
Dalai Lama is spiritual leader of Tibetan people. Dalai means Ocean (Spirituality as deep as ocean); Lama means Guru (Teacher)
Three Vehicles: There are 3 ways in following Buddhism.
Theravada (conservative)
Mahayana (liberal)
Vajrayana (subset of Mahayana)
Spread of Buddhism:
Many Eastern countries in Asia are following Buddhism. China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Bhutan, Vietnam etc.
Conclusion:
July 2010, Minneapolis MN
