Doctrines of Buddhism

Buddhist Philosophy

1. Introduction

• Buddhism (Bauddha Darshana) is a significant non-Vedic philosophical system.
• Founder: Gautama Buddha (historical figure, 6th-5th century BCE).
• Focus: Means of ending suffering for all individuals.

2. Buddha's Journey

• Raised as a prince.
• Encountered suffering (sickness, death, old age), leading to his quest.
• Result: Teachings of the Buddha and Buddhism.

3. Two Forms of Modern Buddhism

• Mahayana (Northern): Nepal, Tibet, China, etc.
• Theravada (Southern): Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, etc.).

4. Buddhist Scriptures

• Non-Vedic tradition but has scriptures.
• Canonical works: Tipitaka (Pali) or Tripitaka (Sanskrit), meaning "Three Baskets":
  • Vinaya Pitaka: Discipline of the sangha (monastic rules).
  • Sutta Pitaka: Compilation of Buddha's actual utterances.
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical discussions.

5. The Four Noble Truths (Chattari-ariya-saccani)

• Summary of Buddhism:
  1. Dukkha (Suffering): There is suffering.
  2. Samudaya (Cause of Suffering): There is a cause for suffering.
  3. Nirodha (Cessation of Suffering): There is an end to suffering.
  4. Magga (Path to Cessation): There is a path that leads to the end of suffering.

6. Elaboration of the Four Noble Truths

• 1st Noble Truth (Suffering): Universal experience of suffering.
• 2nd Noble Truth (Cause of Suffering):
  • Suffering is not random, it has a cause.
  • Root cause seen through the cycle of pratityasamutpada (dependent origination).
• 3rd Noble Truth (Cessation of Suffering):
  • An end to suffering is possible by complete cessation of "thirst".
    • Thirst: Desire for engagement in worldly activities.
• 4th Noble Truth (Path to Cessation):
  • 8-Fold Path to lead a moral life and achieve liberation.

7. The Cycle of Suffering (Bhavachakra)

• Root cause of suffering is identified:
  • Old age and death → Rebirth → Tendency to be born (clinging to enjoyment) → Thirst for enjoyment → Sense experience → Contact with objects → Sense Organs → Particular Body & Mind → Consciousness → Impressions of Previous Life
    • Each is dependent on the previous, thereby propagating the cycle.

8. Analysis of the Cycle

• Thirst for Enjoyment:
  • Derived from sense experience.
• Sense Experience:
  • Arises from contact with objects.
• Contact with Objects:
  • Due to the existence of sense organs.
• Sense Organs:
  • Present because of a particular physical & mental constitution.
• Constitution (Body & Mind):
  • Results from the manifestation of consciousness.
• Consciousness:
  • Arises due to impressions ( samskara) from previous birth.
• Samskara:
  • Stamps of experiences on the consciousness.
  • Arise from ignorance.

9. Shared Beliefs & Key to Cessation

• Buddhism shares some things with other traditions.
  • Example: Agrees with Advaita Vedanta on ignorance being the root cause of suffering.
• Buddha's key realization:
  • Ignorance is the ultimate cause of suffering.
    • By removing ignorance, we can break the cycle and end suffering.

10. Nirvana

• State of moksha or complete cessation of suffering.
• Involves realizing the momentary nature of reality (Kshanika).
  • Things are changing at every moment.
• Achieved by separation from worldly activities and the 5 skandhas.
  • What we call self/body is made up of aggregates of 5 things (Skandhas) * Rupa: Matter. * Vedana: Emotion/feeling. * Samjna: Perceptions/precepts. * Samskara: Dispositions. * Vijnana: Consciousness.

11. The 8-Fold Path to Nirvana

• The path for cessation of suffering.
  1. Samyag Dristi: Right Faith.
  2. Samyag Sankalpa: Right Resolve.
  3. Samyag Vak: Right Speech.
  4. Samyag Karmanta: Right Action.
  5. Samyag Ajiva: Right Living.
  6. Samyag Vyayama: Right Effort.
  7. Samyag Smriti: Right Thought.
  8. Samyag Samadhi: Right Concentration.
     • Overlaps with the concept of Yoga.