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Buddha Biography
History of Buddhism
Believe
Teaching of Buddha
4 Noble Truth
8 Fold Way
etc.
Worshiping
Basic lessons
Buddha Holidays
Temple
Monk/Novice
We will be learning all about Buddhism, especially Thai Buddhism which is one of a few countries where Theravada Buddism* is still presently practiced since the Sukhothai era (about 730 years ago). [Therav‰da or "Teaching of the Elders" Buddhism called "H”nay‰na," the "Lesser Vehicle," by the Mah‰y‰na): Developed In India, 5th century BC to 1st century AD. *
Distinctive doctrines:
1. The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni) is gone, and individual practitioners must work out their salvation on their own.
2. The Buddha was unique, and individual practitioners cannot become Buddhas, only arhats or "saints". There will be a future Buddha, Maitreya, but not for thousands of years.
3. Nirv‰n.a (liberation) and sams‰ra (the place of death and rebirth) are definitely different. Sams‰ra is a place of suffering to be left behind. Nirv‰n.a is a liberation that is free of death and rebirth but is beyond description and rational understanding. from http://www.friesian.com/buddhism.htm]
We will be also meditating 10-15 minutes every class. Students will be involved in finding pictures, proverbs, tales, stories or quotes of the day about Buddhism and the teaching of Buddha.