Four noble truths
What Gautama perceived on his third night of enlightenment:
- To live is to suffer
- Suffering is caused by desire
- Suffering can be brought to cessation
- The solution to suffering is the noble eightfold path
Three marks of existence
Anatta, Annica, dukkha
Anicca
“Impermanence” the idea that existence is constantly changing
One of three marks of existence
Anatta
“No self” there is no ultimate reality within, no essence
Dukkha
Suffering
Three jewels of Buddhism
Sangha, dharma, Buddha
The noble eightfold path
- Right views
- Right intentions
- Right speech
- Right conduct
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right meditation
Middle way
Balance. Abstaining from indulging in harmful pleasures while treating the body well without going into a practice like asceticism.
Asceticism
Punishing the body to gain spiritual perfection
Arhat
One who has become enlightened, worthy one
Dharma
Teachings of the Buddha,
One of the three jewels of Buddhism
Nirvana
The ultimate goal of all Buddhists, extinction of desire and any selfhood resulting in liberation from samsara and its limiting conditions
Theravada Buddhism
“Way of the elders” focuses on the earliest texts and emphasizes a monastic lifestyle
Vajrayana Buddhism
Harnesses sensual energies to attain nirvana
Prevalence in Tibet
Mahayana
“The great wheel” prevalent in China, Japan, Korea
Emphasizes devotion and prayer to bodhisattvas and Buddhas
Siddhartha Gautama
Founder of Buddhism
