Buddhism (Not Mine)

Dana Bratton &
Asher Mathew
2005
Buddhism
Understanding
Thai Buddhism for
Evangelism
The Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BC)
 Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded in
India c.525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called
the Buddha. There are over 300 million Buddhists
worldwide. Born a prince and raised in luxury, he
left his family and possessions at the age of 29 to
search for an ultimate solution to the
problem of the suffering.
The Major Buddhist Traditions
 Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”) - Sri Lanka &
Southeast Asia
 Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”) - China, Korea, &

Japan (& Tibet & Mongolia)
 Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”) -

Tibet & Mongolia
Vajrayana is a development within
the Mahayana tradition.
 http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt
Basic Beliefs and Practices
o The basic doctrines of
early Buddhism,
which remain common
to all Buddhism,
include the four noble
truths.
The Three Refuges
(Jewels)
o The Buddha
o The Dharma
(teachings,
doctrine)
o The Sangha (the
Order)
THERAVADA
BUDDHISM
HOLY TEXT
Tripitaka
 The word of the Buddha, which is

originally called the Dhamma,
 consists of three aspects, namely:
Doctrine (Pariyatti),
Practice(Patipatti) and Realization
(Pativedha).
Tripitaka
 English translators of the Tipitaka

have estimated it to be eleven
times the size of the Christian
Bible. It contains the Teachings of
the Buddha expounded from the
time of
Tripitaka
Tipitaka in Pali means

Three Baskets (Ti =
Three, Pitaka = Basket).
Tripitaka
 “Three baskets”
1. Vinaya Pitaka—monastic rules
2. Sutta Pitaka—teachings of the Buddha
a. Versions of the Law
b. Other Lives
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka—supplement to the
doctrines (esoteric)
The Three Baskets are:
1. Basket of Discipline (Vinaya
Pitaka), which
deals mainly with the rules and
regulations of the Order of monks
and nuns;
2.Basket of Discourses (Sutta
Pitaka) which contains the
discourses delivered by the Buddha
to individuals or assemblies of
different ranks in the course of his
ministry;
3.Basket of UltimateThings
(Abhidhamma Pitaka) which
consists of the four ultimate
things: Mind (Citta), Mental-factors
(Cetasikas), Matter (Rupa) and
ibbana
MAHAYANA
BUDDHISM
HOLY TEXT
SUTRAS
 Sutra is a type of
religious literature present
 The word sutra is a Sanskrit term that
means “discourse” (in the Pali
language: sutta). Another meaning
suggested for the
word sutra is “threads”.
SUTRAS
 According to Buddhist tradition it was
Ananda, the main disciple of the
Buddha, who repeated the discourses
of the Buddha during the First
Buddhist Council. These teachings
were memorized by 500 practitioners
and during many generations they were
passed on orally.
DOCTRINES
The Teachings of the Buddha
The Four Noble Truths
Preface to the Four Noble Truths:
The Middle Path
Two extremes to be avoided:
By avoiding these two
(1) Hedonism extremes, we discover a
Middle Path, a path
(2) Asceticism
which opens the eyes,
which bestows
understanding, and
This Middle Path is the Noble which leads to peace of
Eightfold Path, namely, Right mind, to wisdom, to full
Views, Right Intent, Right enlightenment, to
Speech, Right Conduct, Right Nirvana.
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right
Mindfulness, and Right
Concentration . . . .
1. The Noble Truth of Suffering
Birth is suffering, aging and deterioration is suffering,

disease is suffering, death is suffering. The presence
of hateful objects is suffering; the absence of lovable
objects is suffering; not getting what we desire [i.e.,
getting what we don’t want and not getting what we
do want] is suffering. To put it briefly, the fivefold
clinging [attachment] to existence [through the body,
sensation, consciousness, perception, and volition --
the five skandhas or components of human
personhood] is suffering.
2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
The cause is the selfish craving [tanha, “thirst,”

“desire”] that leads to rebirth and which is
accompanied by lust for pleasure, seeking
satisfaction now here, now there. This selfish
craving takes three main forms: (a) craving for
pleasure, (b) craving for [continued] existence, and
(c) craving for non-existence.*
*Some traditions make (c) a craving for
prosperity or for personal happiness.
3. The Noble Truth of the
Cessation of Suffering
Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfish

craving – a cessation which consists in the absence of
every passion [nirvana, “no passion,” the “blowing
out” of tanha]. Suffering ceases with the laying aside
of, the giving up of, the being free from, the dwelling
no longer upon this selfish craving.
4. The Noble Truth of the Path that
leads to the cessation of suffering
It is the Noble Eightfold Path, that is

to say, Right Views, Right Intent,
Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right
Mindfulness, and Right
Concentration.
Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold Path
 Right views (Samma ditthi)

Wisdom (prajna)
 Right intent (Samma sankappa)
 Right speech (Samma vaca)

Morality (sila)  Right conduct (Samma kammanta)
 Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)
 Right effort (Samma vayama)

Meditation (samadhi)  Right mindfulness (Samma sati)
 Right concentration (Samma samadhi)
(Eightfold Path, continued)
1. Right Views
 The Four Noble Truths
 The doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman)
– Transitoriness (anicca): impermanence
– The Five Components or Aggregates
(skandhas) of human personhood
– Interdependent Origination
 Karma & Samsara (rebirth)
 Nirvana (what is it?)
(No-self, cont’d)
The Five Components

(skandhas) of personhood
Body (rupa)
Person Sensation (vedana)

Consciousness (vinnana)
Mind (nama)
Perception (sanna)
Volition (sankhara)
(No-self, cont’d)
The doctrine of
Interdependent Origination
(Paticca Samuppada)
The interdependence & relativity of

all things
The wheel
of
becoming
12. 1.
Aging & Ignorance 2.
Dying
11. Impulse
Birth
Heaven to Exist
3.
10. Demon Con-
Becom- Human
Realm Greed Realm scious-
ing ness
Delusion
9. Hatred Hungry 4.
Cling- Animal Ghost
Mind-
ing Realm Body
Realm
8. Hell Six 5.
Craving Senses
7. 6.
Sensations Contact
2. Right Intent
(Resolution)
Right intent or resolution

is the intent or resolution to live & act
in accordance with right views.
3. Right Speech
 No lying
 No slander  Strive to use language
 No harsh or rude talk meaningfully &
 No profanity usefully
 No impolite or abusive
language  Learn to maintain
 No idle or foolish “noble silence”
chatter
4. Right
Conduct  Eat moderately & not after
noon.
 No harming & killing  Stay away from dancing,
 No stealing singing, & dramatic
 No lying & deceitfulness spectacles.
 No sexual immorality  Do not use garlands,
scents, unguents, or
 No use of intoxicants
ornaments.
 Do not use high or broad
The Five Precepts (for
beds.
everybody) & the Ten
Precepts (for monks & nuns)  Do not accept gold or
silver (money in general?).
5. Right Livelihood
(Vocation)
 Choose professions that promote life, peace,
& spiritual progress (especially life in the
 Specifically prohibited professions: poison
peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher,
manufacturer & trader of liquor & other
intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader,
tax collector, caravan trader.
6. Right Effort
(purification of the mind)
 Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind

from arising
 Getting rid of such states of mind that may
already exist
 Bringing about good & wholesome states of mind
 Developing & perfecting good & wholesome
states of mind that are already present
7. Right Mindfulness
Focusing of attention on:

 Activities of the body (breathing, walking,
sitting, eating, heartbeat, etc.)
 Feelings (anger, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, etc.)
 States of mind (thoughts, ideas, etc.)
 Ways of conceptualizing things (the Four
Noble Truths, the Wheel of Becoming, etc.)
8. Right
Concentration
 One-pointed concentration
1 Detachment from all sense objects &

 The four absorptions: from negative states of mind; thought
processes accompanied by joy
2 Cessation of all mental activities;
internal calm, peace of mind, joy to
the point of great elation
Preliminary concentration
3 Cessation of all passions &
on the Four Sublime
prejudices; continued sense of joy
Moods: love, compassion,
cheerfulness, & impartiality 4 Cessation of joy; total tranquillity &
equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship)
Four Stages of Advancement
along the Noble Eightfold Path
1 Belief in permanent self

2 Doubt
3 Belief in religious rituals
4 Sensual craving
5 Ill will
6 Desire for rebirth in worlds of form
7 Desire for rebirth in formless realms
8 Pride
9 Self-righteousness
10 Ignorance of the true nature of things
The Historical Evolution
of Buddhism
The Major Buddhist Traditions
 Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”) - Sri Lanka &
Southeast Asia
 Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”) - China, Korea, &

Japan (& Tibet & Mongolia)
 Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”) -

Tibet & Mongolia
Vajrayana is a development within
the Mahayana tradition.
Impermanence
 is intimately associated with the doctrine of
anatta, according to which things have no
essence, permanent self, or unchanging soul.
The Buddha taught that because no physical
or mental object is permanent, desires for or
attachments to either causes suffering
(dukkha).
Impermanence
 Impermanence, also called Anicca or
Anitya, is one of the essential doctrines and
a part of three marks of existence
in Buddhism. ... Impermanence is
intimately associated with the doctrine of
anatta, according to which things have no
essence, permanent self, or unchanging soul.
The Spread Spheres of
Influence
of Buddhism
Buddhism
out of India
by 1000 AD
Theravada
Mahayana
Vajrayana
Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching)
Dharma (Buddha's Teachings)
Mahayana Theravada Theravada/Mahayana

(large raft) (hinayana, or small raft)
China Burma United States
Japan Thailand Canada
Tibet Sri Lanka Europe
Taiwan
Malaysia
Chinese
Buddhist
celebration
The monks come daily to each
home for an offering
Coming of age to be a monk
Monks
Tiger Cave Mountain where they
have a foot bone of the Buddha
Atop
Tiger
Cave
Mountain
Atop Tiger Cave Mountain
Revering the foot of Buddha
Why haven’t they responded to
the Gospel?
 Not sharing the Gospel with Thai
Buddhists in an understandable Way
 Communication gap between Thai
Buddhists and missionaries
 To be Thai is to be Buddhist
 Lack of contextualization is partly
responsible for lack of response among the
Thai people
II. General approach to
contextualization in Thailand
 Right attitude towards Thai culture
 All that God created is good
 Acknowledging Thai values which are biblical values
 Use caution in choosing Thai Buddhist words to explain
Christian truth
 Using Buddhist words to express Christian concepts
 Designing new vocabulary to Christian concepts
 Necessity of on-going contact to produce biblical
understanding among Thai Buddhists
 Sharing the Gospel with Buddhists, not Buddhism
 Necessity of loving people as they are
III. Thai concepts that may be
adopted to explain the Gospel
 The origin of suffering (dukkha) and the attainment of
true happiness
 Happiness is impossible because life is suffering (dukkha)
 True origin of Dukkha is Adam and Eve’s ignorance
(avijja)
 True happiness is possible when the true source of
Dukkha is identified
 Dukkha, Anicca, and Anatta may be used to describe
God’s relationship with man
 Israel is a source of suffering (dukkha) to God
 Israel’s devotion to God is impermanent (anicca)
 Israel destroys herself by her actions and disobedience to
God (anatta)
Sharing the Gospel continued
 A probable misunderstanding by Thai Buddhist listeners
 Merit transference (pattidana) and the Cross of Christ
 Theravada Buddhism denies existence of merit transference
 Two examples of merit transference as practiced by Thai
Buddhists i. Cloth Offering Ceremony at a Funeral ii.
Entering the Buddhist Priesthood
 Double transference of merit in Christ Jesus has infinite merit
which is transferred to man
 Man’s guilt is transferred to Jesus
 Discussing merit transference with Thai Buddhists
 Merit transference provides an escape from Karma
IV. A Motivation to Avoid Sin:
Shame
 Shame orientation versus guilt orientation
 The nature of shame in Thai Society Motivation to avoid
sin because of shame
V. Illustrations from Thai history used
to illustrate the biblical truth of
substitution and sacrifice
 The self Sacrifice of Queen Suriyothai.
 The Contest for Chiang Mai, determined by who could
stay underwater the longest.
These two girls accepted
Christ!
Teach ESL, Christian songs, and the Bible

Tsunami devastation on Phi Phi
Island
A horrible tragedy, but an opportunity to
help and for evangelism

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Dana Bratton &

 Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”) - China, Korea, &

 Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”) -

 The word of the Buddha, which is

 English translators of the Tipitaka

Tipitaka in Pali means

Birth is suffering, aging and deterioration is suffering,

The cause is the selfish craving [tanha, “thirst,”

Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfish

It is the Noble Eightfold Path, that is

 Right views (Samma ditthi)

 Right speech (Samma vaca)

 Right effort (Samma vayama)

The Five Components

Person Sensation (vedana)

The interdependence & relativity of

Right intent or resolution

 Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind

Focusing of attention on:

1 Detachment from all sense objects &

1 Belief in permanent self

 Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”) - China, Korea, &

 Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”) -

Mahayana Theravada Theravada/Mahayana

China Burma United States

Japan Thailand Canada

Tibet Sri Lanka Europe

Teach ESL, Christian songs, and the Bible

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