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Doctrines of Buddhism

Buddhist Philosophy

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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.
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