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Cultural traditions of Buddhism. Religious traditions of Buddhism

Waiting for a year

“I just haven’t made the same mistake twice.”

“Does anyone have anything to ask?”

“How many leaves are in your hand?”

Three types of listeners

Tricky philosophy

Wolf and deer

Poisonous snake

Head and tail of a snake

Noble husband

About the three-story building

Prodigal son

Parable of the Hidden Pearl

Fool and salt

Cow's milk

Roasted seeds

"Be your own light"

The most unlucky man in the world

Traders and guide

Medicine for growing up

Sugar cane

Silence

Wooden statue

Imitation

What is more valuable?

He got married

Three flatbreads

Mango buyer

Same body position

Gate, rope and donkey

"Does God exist?"

Meat of one pheasant

Vessel control

Hundred Legs

Follow the path

Pebbles and ghee

Seed and fruit

Turtle

Rich poor man

Crooked milk pudding

Punishment

"I was near you"

A fool's donkey

“But practice is even better”

Half a bottle of oil

Doctor's prescription

Golden bricks

Four years old

What are you?

Greed ruined

Principle of cause and effect

“Be in awe! Be in awe!

Inevitability

Tearful old woman

Let everyone protect themselves

What happened?

Death of a son

Buddhism is a system of religious practice and doctrine created on the basis of the ancient religious and philosophical teachings of India, the cornerstone of which is the belief in reincarnation. The basic idea of Buddhism is that “life is suffering” and “there is a path to salvation.” Canonical Buddhism views man as a separate world, a “world in itself,” generating itself and destroying or saving itself.

The path to comprehend the Truth proposed by Buddhism is called the “Middle Way”. This path really lies in the middle between the extremes of the Vedic religion: its cults, rituals and sacrifices, on the one hand, and the asceticism of hermits ancient india, who tortured their flesh in search of the Truth, on the other hand. Buddha already in his youth understood that categories such as good and evil, love and hatred, conscience and dishonesty lose their concreteness and become relative. The path chosen by the Buddha lies between good and evil, hence its name - the Middle.

For achievement inner peace and curbing thoughts is the practice of meditation: yoga exercises, contemplation of various religious objects, reflection on given topics, rhythmic and calm breathing, different stages trance (14) and ecstasy, cultivation of friendliness, compassion, sympathy for all living beings.

14) Trance - an altered state of consciousness.

The practice of meditation and adherence to moral standards allow you to focus on thinking about the essence of existence. From this state, one who follows the Middle Path can move to the stage of beginning enlightenment and comprehend wisdom. However, wisdom is achieved not through analysis, but through intuition and spiritual insight, a sudden awareness of the Truth. A randomly heard word, a randomly noticed phenomenon, an intuitive feeling of dissolution, the disappearance of one’s “I” - all these moments can be the impetus for insight.

According to tradition, the founder of Buddhism is considered to be Prince Siddhartha Gautama from the Shakya clan, who later received the name Buddha - “Enlightened One”. The word “Buddha” is derived from the Sanskrit root “budh” (“to awaken”, “to awaken”) and denotes the transition from a sleeping, darkened consciousness to awakening, i.e. to an enlightened state.

Buddha Shakyamuni (560-480 BC) was born into an aristocratic family of the Shakya clan, which ruled a small state located between Nepal and India. The boy was given the name Siddhartha, and Gautama was his family name. The father built three palaces for his son in order to protect him from the unsightly aspects of life around him. The prince matured, got married, had a son named Rahula, and future life promised him nothing but joy. However, the observant and impressionable Gautama, during his moves from one palace to another, noted for himself that people get sick, grow old, die, and thought about the meaning of life.

He decided to help people in search of the Truth and at the age of twenty-nine he left home, becoming a hermit. According to tradition, Gautama, under the guidance of two teachers, studied yoga - a special system of training the mind and body, during which a person is distracted from all ordinary physical and psychological impressions and enters a state of meditation. Gautama also tried to resort to severe asceticism, killing his body with fasting. For six years he wandered around the Ganges valley, talked with sages and preachers, led a strict ascetic lifestyle, but, convinced that the mortification of the flesh leads to the extinction of the mind, he abandoned asceticism. By the age of thirty-five, he had matured the conviction that the discovery of the Truth was near, and Gautama plunged into meditation, in which he remained, according to one version - for four weeks, according to another - for seven weeks without food or drink. He came to practice what he called “remembering,” “retention in memory,” a special kind of self-observation in which, instead of trying to subdue or stop his physical and mental impressions, he simply sat, observing his feelings and thoughts, how they arise and form random patterns.

Gautama realized that his existence was an accumulation of physical and mental states, replacing each other and being in a constant process of arising and passing away. He also realized that his experiences of pain and pleasure were conditioned by his mental states—states of desire. He felt pleasure when his desires were satisfied, and pain when this did not happen. He knew that a certain level of pain was inevitable when physical existence, but he realized that his very physical condition was the result of the force of desire, that desire was only a superficial phenomenon reflecting a complex mental structure - the “ego”, or the idea of one’s own “I”. The structure of the ego, or the structure of the forces which brought about its present existence, is itself the fruit of a previous existence, the resulting energy of which is called karma. Through the practice of intense “mindfulness,” supported by certain techniques of concentration that calm and purify the mind, Gautama was able to trace the flow of his karma far into the past. The Buddha, like the Brahmins, taught that life is determined by karma - “the power of deeds.” The law of karma states that everything a person is and everything he does is the manifest result of his past actions, that all the circumstances of his life - mental and physical abilities, social and economic situation into which he has fallen from the moment of his birth , and all further events of his life are not accidental and are not determined by the influence of any external force, but are the fruit of their own actions in the past and real lives. The main thing that was revealed to the Buddha at the moment of enlightenment was the understanding that life is continuous suffering generated by desire - the desire for life, pleasure, a high position in society, wealth. - which is rooted in the belief in the existence of a self.

All religions struggle with limitations - with impermanence and imperfection. human life. Buddhism sums up this problem in one word: suffering. To be born is suffering; growing is suffering; to be sick is suffering; growing old and dying is suffering. Besides physical pain, there is a more subtle form of suffering: dissatisfaction, unhappiness caused by the fact that we have what we do not want and do not have what we want. Anxiety (mental suffering) is present even in moments of pleasure and contentment: we know, or at least assume, that they will not last long. It is natural to fear losing something: your position, the respect of others, your loved ones, your property. And in the very depths of the human being lies a vague and gnawing premonition of death, which not only takes away life, but also deprives it of all meaning. It is this anxiety of death that motivates human efforts, it is this that moves the world.

During the first two hundred years from the moment of its origin, Buddhism developed quite harmoniously. Around 300 BC e. Within the framework of the Sangha (Buddhist monastic order), several movements arose that became separate schools, but did not have any significant impact on the development of Buddhism. At the beginning of the 2nd century. BC. new “Sutras” (lit. “Conversations”) appeared, claiming to contain the “highest teaching of the Buddha,” which for the time being was kept secret, but has now been rediscovered. This is how two directions arose: Theravada (“Path of the Elders”), or Hinayana (“Small Vehicle”), and Mahayana (“Great Vehicle”) (15).

15) Hinayana... and Mahayana - since “yana” literally means “that which moves,” it would be more accurate to call these directions: Hinayana (“Small Path”) and Mahayana (“Great Path”). Accordingly, further we need to decipher the terms Vajrayana and Tantrayana. - Approx. ed.

Theravadin monks adhered to the views presented in the early sutras, according to which the goal monastic life is the achievement of the state of Arhat, which can only be achieved by observing monastic discipline, but not by living in the world. A layman could gain heavenly bliss for a while, but he would again have to be born in the human world in order to enter the monastic path. An Arhat was the one who achieved Nirvana, that is, he eradicated all suffering with the help of moral purity and insight, and does not feel the need for new rebirths at the end of his current life. Most of the Hinayana texts are included in the so-called Pali canon - “Tipitaka” (“Three Baskets”). From non-canonical works of this branch of Buddhism highest value have "Milindapanhya" as well as "Abhidharmakosha" of Vasubandhu.

Mahayana monks put forward another goal of monastic life, which is also achievable for lay people - achieving Buddhahood. They believed that complete liberation from suffering is possible only by acquiring the psychological attitude of a bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas (“Those whose essence is awakening”) indulge in asceticism not for their own sake, but for the benefit of others. Mahayana rejected the desire for personal gain, and above all, the personal desire to achieve Nirvana.

According to the Mahayana, the cosmic body of the Buddha is capable of taking on various earthly forms in order to save all living beings from suffering and clarify the teachings to everyone who is in the chains of Samsara, in the stream of ignorance.

Mahayana elaborates and develops the original teaching of the Buddha on the non-existence of the eternal self. If there is no permanent personality, then the life form is empty, devoid of its own nature - it is a continuous process, a flow of energy. This is equally true of things and of people. To see this world (things and people) as it is, that is, to achieve the goal of the Eightfold Path, means to realize its emptiness. This does not mean that one should assume that the world does not exist; this means seeing that everything that exists is in a relationship of interdependence, and therefore in deep unity.

The emergence of Mahayana is marked by the appearance of several new written monuments in the 1st century. BC e. -II century n. e. These are Mahavasta, Divyavadana, Lalitavishtara. The most significant of the early Mahayana teachers were Nagarjuna (2nd century AD), the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu (4th century AD), Ashvaghosha, Aryashura, Shantideva and others.

IN flow I-V centuries n. e. The main religious and philosophical schools of Buddhism were finally formed. In the Hinayana there are the Vaibhashikas and Sautrantikas, and in the Mahayana there are the Yogacharyas, or Vijnanavadins (“Vijnana” - “Teaching of discriminating consciousness”), and Madhyamikas (“Madhyama” - “The Middle Teaching”).

In the 5th century A special, third, direction of Buddhism appears - Bajrayana (“Diamond Chariot”), or Tantrayana (“Chariot of Special Rites”), parallel to Hindu Tantrism. In philosophical positions, Tantrayana agrees with the Mahayana and can be considered its branch. Its peculiarity is that it introduced very ancient ritual and yogic techniques into Buddhism. Adherents of the Vajrayana created many texts, but the true knowledge of this “Vehicle” was known only to teachers, siddhas (“achieved”). In contrast to the open transmission of knowledge in the Mahayana and Theravada, the knowledge of the siddhas was transmitted only through the close relationship of teacher and carefully trained student. Teachers from North India brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet, where it was reborn and became known as Tibetan Buddhism, or Lamaism.

The word “tantra” has many meanings in Sanskrit, including “secret knowledge”, “intricacy”, “flow”, “continuity”. This direction of Buddhism has created an amazing variety of systems of yogic practice, monuments of literature and art.

According to tantric theory, the main ritual action should affect three aspects of a living being: body, speech and thought. The body acts through gestures and movements; speech - through mantras; thought-through meditation. Tantrism combines faith in the authority of a spiritual mentor, meditation practices borrowed from the Yogacharyas, and Madhyamika metaphysics. The most famous early Vajrayana teachers were Tilopa, Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, etc.

After 900 years of prosperity (from 250 BC to 650 AD), Buddhism began to decline in India. However, back in the 3rd century. BC e., thanks to the envoys of Emperor Ashoka, Buddhism spread throughout Southeast and Central Asia, partly capturing Central Asia and Siberia. In the period from the 3rd century. BC e. until the middle of the 1st millennium AD. e. Buddhism established itself in Ceylon, Indochina and Indonesia; in the first centuries of our era, Buddhism began to penetrate into China and Tibet; in the IV-VI centuries. - to Korea, Japan; in the XVI-XVII centuries. - to Mongolia; in the 18th century - to Buryatia.

Buddhism is still a living and viable religion. In different parts globe and now new Buddhist communities continue to emerge and temples are being built. Buddhists around the world are united in two international organizations- World Fellowship of Buddhists (headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand) and Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (headquarters in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia).

Buddha's Teachings arose in the middle of the 1st millennium BC in India. Nevertheless, for many centuries Buddhism has organically manifested itself on the territory of Russia. Significantly influenced the culture and customs of Central Asia and Siberia, assimilating elements of Brahmanism, Taoism, etc. In the Buryat-Mongol culture, it is closely associated with shamanism, the basic principles of which, such as the desire for harmony with oneself and the surrounding world (nature), did not interfere at all, and, even more, they painted ancient customs and culture with new bright colors. The life of Buddha became known in Ancient Rus' based on the text of “The Tale of Barlaam and Joasaph.” Prince Joasaph, whose prototype was Buddha, became a Christian saint (his memory is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church November 19). In the XIX - early XX centuries. Russia has become one of largest centers studying Buddhism. At that time, sources were published and archaeological excavations of Buddhist monuments were carried out in Central and Central Asia. On the territory of the Russian Federation, Buddhism is widespread in Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (in the latter it is the state religion). One of the classical schools of Buddhism is most widely represented - the Tibetan “school of virtue” (Geluk, Yellow Caps). The founder of Buddhism is a real historical figure. Siddhartha Gautama was born and lived in Northern India. Researchers believe that the years of his life are 566-473. BC. Other Name- Shakyamuni - is directly related to the place of birth and family relationships of the future Buddha. He was born in the Shakya country, a small provincial state dominated by the Shakya clan. Siddhartha's father was a rajan - a member of the ruling assembly, consisting of representatives of the military aristocracy. It is worth noting that the later Buddhist tradition considers him a rajah (king), and Siddhartha a prince, but in the country of the Shakyas, government was built on a republican type.

The life path of the prosperous Siddhartha Gautama, who grew up in bliss, changed after he secretly left the palace, where he was looked after and protected from “extra information,” and saw the torment of the sick, the ugliness of old age and the appearance of a motionless corpse. He realized that nothing is permanent, and happiness cannot be eternal. Siddhartha decided to look for a way to get rid of suffering. After various experiments and searches for truth that did not bring the desired result, he plunged into a state of deep concentration while sitting under a sacred tree. On the forty-ninth day, Siddhartha's consciousness became completely enlightened, and he achieved Buddhahood. He realized that in no sphere of the cosmos it is possible to achieve stability - eternal bliss, because there is nothing eternal in the nature of living beings, and faith in the reality of the “I” - the eternal soul, which acquires new births over time, is baseless and meaningless. He also discovered the highest absolute knowledge that eliminates the causes of suffering, and Shakyamuni Buddha decided to convey this truth to living beings. It is worth noting that the very concept of “Buddha” means “enlightened” and, accordingly, is not the name of a specific deity. The word "Buddha" itself can be used in plural and can also be written with a small letter. There is also the concept of “siddhi” - the extraordinary abilities of Buddhist monks and lamas. This concept is the memory of the first Buddha - Siddhartha.

At the center of Buddhism as a philosophical system is the doctrine of " four noble truths ": there is suffering, its cause, the state of liberation and the path to it. In the course of the development of Buddhism, the cult of Buddha and bodhisattvas (“enlightened ones”, mentors), rituals that accompany the knowledge of the Dharma (Teachings) gradually developed in it, and Sanghas (monastic communities) appeared. One of the most important prayers - well wishes, which are a kind of expression of the desire to “take Refuge”, sounds like this: “Namo Buddha, Namo Dharma, Namo Sangha” - “I take Refuge in the Buddha, I take Refuge in the Teaching, I take Refuge in the Community.” . Today in Russia, in accordance with the law on freedom of conscience and religion, there is the so-called Traditional Sangha of Russia. The head of this organization is Pandido Khambo Lama Damba Ayushev - he is a member of the confessional religious council under the President of the Russian Federation. But, given the confusion brought by the age of atheism into the administrative structure of Buddhist monasteries and communities, many Buddhists do not recognize the existing Sangha as truly traditional. The laws of the Russian Federation allow the official registration of any traditional Buddhist communities, and therefore today there are a sufficient number of sanghas, many of which are truly true to the historical traditions and culture of Buddhism. Buddhist philosophy reveals the principles of existence (a cause-and-effect relationship that exists regardless of our knowledge about it), and all his efforts are aimed at ensuring that a person lives in this world consciously, in harmony with nature, the cosmos, individuals and humanity as a whole. For every deed done - both good and bad, people are fully responsible; every factual moment that seems to be reality is a kind of shadow of past achievements or consequences awaiting in the future. Today's Buddhist scholars often say that the era of Buddhism as a religion, and of all religions in general, is in the past - the future belongs to scientists and their achievements. But one way or another, a correct view of yourself and your actions, harmony with yourself and the world around you - a harmless existence - these are the goals of every Buddhist. The festive holiday is also aimed at achieving the same goals. culture Buddhism.

To a person with a “Western” mentality, images of protectors and deities in frightening forms may seem strange. At the same time, it is worth understanding that, according to Eastern logic, the more terrible the face of the defender, the more likely it is that the defender is able to defeat evil or sin. As for the thangkas, which depict Buddhas and bodhisattvas, there is extremely rarely a sad facial expression - most often the faces are smiling and calm. To understand the meaning of Buddhist holidays You should also move away from the usual attitude - “today is a holiday, and therefore we need to rejoice and relax.” During holidays, strict restrictions are placed on people's behavior. A person should monitor himself even more carefully, since it is believed that on these days the power of all actions, physical and mental, increases 1000 times. The consequences of committed negative actions increase 1000 times, but the merits of performing good deeds also increase by the same number of times. During major Buddhist holidays, you can come closest to the essence of the teaching, to Nature and the Absolute. The celebration of each date is, first of all, strictly practical. character and is aimed at creating a clean space in the temple, in the homes of Buddhists, in their souls and bodies. This is achieved by performing rituals, reading mantras, extracting sounds from various musical instruments, the use of symbolic colors and religious objects. All ritual practice has the power and property of a quantum field influence on the people participating in the holiday, cleansing and restoring their subtle structure. On such days, it is customary to visit the temple and make offerings to the Buddhas, the Teacher and the Community. However, you can take part in the celebration while at home. To do this, you need to have knowledge about the inner meaning of the holiday, mentally tune in accordingly and thus join the unified field of the holiday, which embraces everyone interested in it. The results of such interaction will be even higher than a meaningless and inactive presence at the ceremony. The Buddhist ritual tradition uses a lunar calendar. Due to the fact that the lunar calendar is almost a month shorter than the solar calendar, the dates of holidays, as a rule, shift within one and a half to two months, and are calculated in advance using astrological tables. In some Buddhist countries there are discrepancies in the payment systems. Additionally, in the Buddhist tradition, the first month of the year is the first month of spring. Most holidays fall on the full moon (15th day of the lunar month).

The main holidays of Buddhists are:

Sagaalgan — New Year
Duinhor-khural - Kalachakra holiday
Donchod Khural - Birthday, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni
Maidari-khural - Maitreya's rotation
Lhabab duisen - Buddha's descent from heaven Tushita
Zula Khural - Nirvana Day of Buddha Tsongkhapa.

Also noted Birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, but it is not a canonical holiday. At the same time, this holiday is fixed - the Dalai Lama was born on July 6th. In Buddhist lunar calendar There are also days for special prayers - Otosho, Lamchig Ningbo and Mandal Shiva days, which are held every eighth, fifteenth and thirtieth lunar day of the month, respectively. There are also days for special veneration of certain deities, for example, Balzhinim - the master of splendor and happiness, or Lusa - the master of water. For each day of the calendar, astrologers have calculated the combination and consequences of the day - days are marked for cutting hair, taking medicine, having a safe journey or successfully completing litigation. We should also not forget that almost all peoples who profess Buddhism elevate such events as the transition from one age group to another, the construction of a new house, weddings, funerals and others to the rank of holidays and special rituals.

Holiday dates for 2015.

Buddhism Thailand

1. Traditions of Buddhism. You need to dress appropriately

The legs and shoulders of a person who comes to the temple must be covered with clothes made of opaque fabric. Beachwear is also not acceptable for visiting the temple. And this is not surprising, because most religions have certain sets of rules to maintain decency and respect for the temple itself and its visitors. If a person suddenly finds himself in a temple in an inappropriate manner, then this will only indicate his bad manners.

2. Traditions of Buddhism. Shoes must be removed when entering the temple

The caste of body parts in Buddhism plays an important role here. Feet are considered to be the dirtiest because they walk on the ground and come into contact with it. And when a person takes off his shoes, they become cleaner.

Traditions of Buddhism in Thailand

It also needs to be said that according to Buddhist traditions, people spend most of their time in the temple on the floor. Therefore, such an action is quite logical, even from a hygiene point of view, it is completely justified.

3. Traditions of Buddhism.

When you are located in the temple, sit down so that your feet are not directed towards the altar, or towards the images of saints and representatives of the clergy
This rule can also be called a logical continuation of the previous one. To avoid offending anyone in the temple, sit in the lotus position or with your legs tucked under you. The latter is quite acceptable in the temple.

4. Traditions of Buddhism. Is it allowed to take photographs in Buddhist temples?

Yes, you can take photographs in most places in the temple. And if you find yourself in a place of worship where this is not allowed, then you will definitely be notified about this. There are special signs in the temple that depict a crossed out camera. You need to focus on them. For example, you cannot take photos or videos in the hall of the Emerald Buddha.

You should behave carefully if you intend to take a photo with temple servants or its visitors. Perhaps you will come across representative monks on your way south current Buddhism. Know that they are prohibited from touching members of the opposite sex.

5. Traditions of Buddhism. What remarkable things can you see in the temple?

Every Buddhist temple has an altar with an image of Buddha. His image is facing east. The main sculpture in the temple is always the largest. It is usually located in the center. In addition to her, there may be smaller sculptures in the temple. They most often depict periods life path saint

Often the altar is decorated with sculptures of famous monks. They are located below the Buddha image. Near the altar there is a tray for candles. Near it stands an oil lamp from which you can light your candle. Also in the temple you can find urns with sand for smoking sticks, which are soaked in incense.

Buddhism Traditions of Buddhism in Thailand

Buddhism Thailand

For a nominal fee, visitors purchase offerings. These are usually candles, orchid or lotus flowers and incense sticks. At the temple, visitors sit on the floor, fold their hands in the “wai” gesture, which means greeting and respect, and then place flowers on the altar, light candles and incense. The set includes three sticks. The first is the symbol of Buddha, the second is the symbol of Dhamma, the third is the symbol of the Sangha (monastic community). After the offering ceremony is completed, visitors touch their foreheads to the floor three times, thus showing respect for the fundamental teachings of Buddhism.

Sometimes the set contains gold leaf plates. They are needed to decorate monk statues and Buddha sculptures. The attachment locations depend on your wishes.

Buddhism Traditions of Buddhism in Thailand

6. Traditions of Buddhism. What are Siamsi sticks?

Often people come to the temple not only for prayer. In some cases, they have questions that need specific answers. Siamsi sticks help parishioners with this. In general, Buddhism has a negative attitude towards all kinds of fortune-telling, but this tradition is firmly entrenched in the life of temples.

The sticks are placed on a special vessel. They are numbered from one to 28. The man wonders and carefully shakes the vessel until a stick falls out of it. When he finds out her number, he goes to the board, where sheets of text with the corresponding numbers are located. On these sheets you can find the answer to your question. Of course, the answers are allegorical. After reading the answer to his question, the visitor rolls up the leaf and ties it to a tree branch near the temple. This gesture is a request directed to heaven to change one's destiny.

IN certain days There is no sale of alcohol in Thailand

Yes, it is true that on certain days in all places of recreation, bars and shops there is a sign that says that there is no sale of alcohol on that day. The reason for this is religious holiday- Buddha's day. It's not a specific day Everyone calls it Buddha's day.

A little about Buddhist amulets

You've probably noticed that Thais - both children and adults - wear all kinds of amulets and amulets. This is almost identical to our crosses. Amulets protect Thais from troubles and illnesses. The monks themselves make the amulets, and they also sell them in temples and special stores. Anyone can purchase them.

Buddhism - About laces and bracelets on the hands of Thais

The oldest tradition is wearing woven bracelets. They are also worn as a talisman or to attract good luck. Thais think that the power that helps one to be healthy and prosperous can sometimes leave a person. And they are sure that bracelets help in this matter. When a certain ritual takes place, right hand one bracelet is put on (to return the strength), and another one is put on the left one (so that it does not disappear again).

Buddhism - Thais also believe that a string tied around the wrist brings good luck.

You can get a talisman of this kind in the temple. Rituals associated with the return of energy will be different for women and men. For men, strings are immediately tied on their hands, while for women they are placed in their palms.

Buddhism - On the meaning of flower garlands

These garlands are used to decorate the Buddha statue and other temple sculptures. There is also a belief that flower garlands can protect a home or vehicle from evil spirits, which is why they can often be seen in cars or homes. Apart from the statues, “Bothi” is decorated with garlands. This is the tree under which Buddha was able to achieve enlightenment. It is found in every Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Buddhism - About “money” trees near temples

Surely, having visited Thailand, the attention of every tourist was attracted by trees that had banknotes instead of leaves. Such trees are called money trees. Their trunk is made from banana grass. Knitting needles are inserted into it, to which money is attached. Money trees are placed in rooms where anyone can hang a bill on it. Often cotton wool is offered to the tree as a donation.

This tradition has been followed since ancient times. Monks were forbidden to take from hands ordinary people gifts, so people hung things on trees in the forest, left food or pinned money to branches.

Buddhism - About cages with tropical birds and animals near temples

Buddhists are sure that for any good deed they will receive gratitude in next life, and for a bad one they will be punished. Naturally, giving freedom to an animal is also considered a good deed. For this purpose, animals are placed in cages near temples.

Buddhism - About “honorary” plaques near temples

Yes, near temples you can see boards with photographs of people with signatures of their names. Most often, such boards are found near churches in provincial cities. This list of people indicates whose financial assistance was directed towards the improvement of the temple.

Buddhism - About water containers in temples

This is, in fact, the same thing as holy water for Christians. A parallel can easily be drawn here. Such water is obtained by reading prayers (mantras) over it. They wash themselves with it, sprinkle visitors with it, treat it, and consecrate premises.

Buddhism - About vases and lotuses

In Buddhism The lotus is considered a sacred flower. Legend has it that lotuses grew where the newborn Buddha walked.

Moreover, the philosophy of Buddhists is perfectly reflected by the process and characteristics of the growth of this flower: the path of development of the soul from ignorance to perfection. So the lotus flowers themselves are born in the mud, but their stems reach through the water towards the sun on their way to the light, and the flower grows on the surface of the water, pure and perfect, under the rays of the heavenly body.

The souls of those people who have not yet achieved perfection and are at the beginning of their path are symbolized by the still unopened lotus. And the souls of people who have already achieved enlightenment are symbolized by a blossoming flower. That is why Buddha is always depicted sitting on an already blossoming lotus flower.

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Buddhism is the oldest world religion, going back to the teaching Indian ascetic Shakyamuni, nicknamed Buddha (“enlightened”, “awakened”). Buddhists themselves date their religion from the death of the Buddha, but among them there is no complete agreement regarding the dating of the time of his life (according to the tradition of the Theravada school.

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Buddhism is the first of the world religions, which arose in the 6th century. BC e. He went on to win millions of followers in different countries world and especially Asia.

The emergence of Buddhism is associated with the name of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).

He was born around 560 BC. e. His birthplace is considered to be northeast India near the Nepal border. Prince Gautama was the son of the head of the Shakya tribe. At the age of 29, he gave up his carefree, luxurious life, left home, left his wife and son and went wandering...

The Kagyu tradition is one of the four main branches of Tibetan Buddhism, besides the Sakya, Nyingma and Gelug schools. She achieved prominence in the XI and XII centuries AD and one and a half millennia after the departure of Tibetan Buddhism in addition to the Sakya, Nyingma and Gelug schools.

She achieved prominence in the 11th and 12th centuries AD. and one and a half millennia after the disappearance of Lord Buddha. Thus, the Kagyu tradition developed during the "late penetration" of Buddhism into Tibet; "early penetration...

Buddhism is the name given to a religious movement whose origins lie in the life and teachings of the great Buddha. But, more strictly speaking, Buddhism means the unchanging teaching or Dharma that lies behind everything that is transitory.

At the center of Buddhism is the teaching of the “4 Noble Truths”: there is suffering, its cause, the state of liberation and the path to it.

Suffering and liberation are subjective states and at the same time a certain cosmic reality: suffering is a state of anxiety, tension...

Buddhism of the Russian East has a very rich history. Among the ancestors of the Kalmyks - the Oirats - the Teaching spread in three waves. For the first time, the Oirats received knowledge of Buddhism from the Uyghurs: most likely, these were the teachings of the Mahayana. During the second wave, which occurred in beginning of XII centuries, spread various directions Tibetan Kagyu school. In the mid-12th century, the most famous person in Tibet was the Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi - the head of the Karma Kagyu tradition. He was even invited to the Mongol court...

Buddhism is the most ancient of the three world religions. Christianity is younger than it by five, and Islam by as much as twelve centuries. The bulk of his followers live in the countries of South, South-East and East Asia: Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China (as well as the Chinese population of Singapore and Malaysia), Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos.

In our country, Buddhism is traditionally practiced by the inhabitants of Buryatia, Kalmykia, Tuva, and in last years Buddhist communities...

Lesson objectives:

a) educational: to introduce students to Buddhist movements and traditions.

b) developmental: promote the development of memory, attention, logical thinking and oral language skills.
c) educational:

cultivate a culture of behavior when working in groups;
promote the development of interest in Buddhist culture; the ability to see the beauty and harmony of the world through the eyes of Buddhists.

Lesson type: knowledge formation.
Lesson form: lesson - assorted.

Teaching aids: blackboard, chalk, cards on the topic “Buddhism”, paints, brushes, markers, Handout, poster with the text "Buddhism", tape recorder and cassette, .

Teaching method: individual, group, frontal forms of work.

Activities: conversation, lecture, commented reading, work with illustrative material, independent work with sources of information, preparing a creative conversation, participating in educational dialogue.

Basic terms and concepts: culture, religion, Buddhism, teaching, Mahayana, Hinayana, Vajrayana.

Material: A. N. Sakharov, K. A. Kochegarov textbook pp. 134-142.

During the classes

l. Organization of student activities.

1. Greeting children. Psychological attitude

Hello guys! I am very glad to see you, my kind and smart students! But I’m not the only one glad to see you. Look how amazingly kindly and tenderly the sun smiles at you! Let's smile back at him?! Now smile at each other. Do you see how fun, pleasant and warm we all felt? And so that this day and lesson remain joyful and enjoyable, wish all the best for yourself and your friends. Touch your desk neighbor's palms with your palms and wish him success today.

II. Updating knowledge.

1. In previous lessons, we talked about how religion arose, what religions are, and who is the founder of certain religions.

Name what world religions you know and place them on the timeline as they arise.

Christianity

(Judaism Buddhism Christianity Islam)

Have you heard of such a religion as Buddhism? What do you know about her?

How can Buddhists achieve freedom? To do this, you need to know what rules? What are samsara and karma?

3. Game situation (task 4, p. 133 from the textbook) Your parents bought the most necessary thing, but after a while it became superfluous. Describe your impressions according to the rules of Buddhists.
4. Exhibition of books, illustrative material on the topic.

lll. Working on new material
Teacher's lecture: Students “select” vocabulary that can be included in the dictionary of concepts and terms.

Sample lecture plan:

A) Mahayana; (Slide 3)

B) Hinayana; (Slide 4)

B) Vajrayana. (Slide 5)

2.Monasteries (Slides 6-9)

3.Holidays. (Slides 10,11)

4. Traditions of Buddhism (Slide 12)

Traditionally Buddhism is divided into Hinayana(“small chariot”) and Mahayana(“great chariot”) The Hinayana is also divided into the Shravaka vehicle and the Pratyekabuddha vehicle, thus forming the Three Vehicles. Also, three chariots can be formed in another classification, when the Hinayana is considered a single chariot, and the diamond chariot is distinguished from the Mahayana. Vajrayana"(or tantric Buddhism).

Hinayana (“Little Vehicle”) is a vehicle whose followers strive for personal liberation. It is called the “small chariot” because it can lead to the liberation of only the follower himself.

To follow the Buddha's path, one must awaken and maintain within oneself a deep and sincere desire for Enlightenment for the sake of other sentient beings (bodhichitta). The essence of this aspiration is expressed by the formula: “May I become a Buddha for the benefit of all living beings!”
In Mahayana Buddhism, a bodhisattva is considered to be one who consciously renounces nirvana in order to be reborn again and again in order to save all sentient beings from suffering.

In the name of all living things (Photo: Gina Smith, Shutterstock)

Holidays
To understand the meaning of Buddhist holidays, one should also move away from the usual attitude - “today is a holiday, and therefore we need to rejoice and relax.” During holidays, strict restrictions are placed on people's behavior. A person should monitor himself even more carefully, since it is believed that on these days the power of all actions, physical and mental, increases 1000 times. The consequences of committed negative actions increase 1000 times, but the merits of performing good deeds also increase by the same number of times. During major Buddhist holidays, you can come closest to the essence of the teaching, to Nature and the Absolute.
The celebration of each date is, first of all, of a clearly practical nature and is aimed at creating a clean space in the temple, in the homes of Buddhists, in their souls and bodies. This is achieved by performing rituals, reciting mantras, extracting sounds from various musical instruments, using symbolic colors and religious objects. All ritual practice has the power and property of a quantum field influence on the people participating in the holiday, cleansing and restoring their subtle structure. On such days, it is customary to visit the temple and make offerings to the Buddhas, the Teacher and the Community.
However, you can take part in the celebration while at home. To do this, you need to have knowledge about the inner meaning of the holiday, mentally tune in accordingly and thus join the unified field of the holiday, which embraces everyone interested in it. The results of such interaction will be even higher than a meaningless and inactive presence at the ceremony.
The Buddhist ritual tradition uses a lunar calendar. Due to the fact that the lunar calendar is almost a month shorter than the solar calendar, the dates of holidays, as a rule, shift within one and a half to two months, and are calculated in advance using astrological tables. In some Buddhist countries there are discrepancies in the payment systems. Additionally, in the Buddhist tradition, the first month of the year is the first month of spring. Most holidays fall on the full moon (15th day of the lunar month).

The main Buddhist holidays are:
Sagaalgan - New Year
Duinhor-khural - Kalachakra holiday
Donchod Khural - Birthday, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni
Maidari-khural - Maitreya's rotation
Lhabab duisen - Buddha's descent from heaven Tushita
Zula Khural - Nirvana Day of Buddha Tsongkhapa.
The birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama is also celebrated, but it is not a canonical holiday. At the same time, this holiday is fixed - the Dalai Lama was born on July 6th.
In the Buddhist lunar calendar there are also days for special prayers - Otosho, Lamchig Ningbo and Mandal Shiva days, which are held every eighth, fifteenth and thirtieth lunar day of the month, respectively. There are also days for special veneration of certain deities, for example, Balzhinim - the master of splendor and happiness, or Lusa - the master of water.
For each day of the calendar, astrologers have calculated the combination and consequences of the day - days are marked for cutting hair, taking medicine, having a safe journey or successfully completing litigation. We should also not forget that almost all peoples who profess Buddhism elevate such events as the transition from one age group to another, the construction of a new house, weddings, funerals and others to the rank of holidays and special rituals.

3. Commented reading of an article from a student manual.

4. Answers to questions from the student manual.

Physical education minute.

Legs up! Stop, one, two! (Walk in place.)
Raise our shoulders higher
And then we lower them. (Raise and lower your shoulders.)
Place your hands in front of your chest
And we perform jerks. (Hands in front of chest, jerks with arms.)
You need to jump ten times
Let's jump higher, let's jump together! (Jumping in place.)
We raise our knees -
We perform the step on the spot. (Walk in place.)
We stretched with all our hearts, (Stretching - arms up and to the sides.)
And they returned to the place again. (Children sit down.)

5. Work in notebooks(write down brief concepts) Compilation of a dictionary of concepts and terms, its discussion.

Theravadaor Hinayana(“teaching of the elders”; “small chariot”): Achieving nirvana is seen through strict adherence to the way of life of Gautama Buddha and his practice of contemplation. It's available only to those who have completely renounced worldly life(became a monk

Mahayana( in the lane - "great chariot") teaches that any Buddhist, incl. layman may become bodhisattva.
Vajrayana(in translation - “diamond chariot”) - a special direction of Mahayana, which developed in Northern India in the 1st century. AD In the 7th century it formed the basis of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism), which later also spread to Bhutan. Nepal, Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva, among the Kalmyks.

Bodhisattva(Bodhisattva, Bodisattva) - a person (or other being) who has set the goal of identifying the Buddha within himself by repeating his path. The motivation to travel this path is not the desire to achieve personal nirvana, but love for all living beings and a sincere desire to save them from the suffering of rebirth.

6. Work in groups:

Group 1: basic tenets of Buddhism. Do you agree that only by constantly working on oneself, improving internally, can a person become better?

Group 2: 4 truths of Buddhism. Do you agree that any excess is dangerous for humans? Can you give an example from your own life?

Group 3: take the envelope. Assemble a mosaic from the details. Determine which religious culture the building belongs to and prepare a report about this building from the textbook

Sample answers from children:

Basic tenets of Buddhism.
1. Life in all its manifestations is evil and a source of suffering for all living.
2. The cessation of suffering in liberation from desires (primarily from vain desires).
3. The one who leads can free himself from desires righteous life(5 mandatory requirements: do not lie, do not steal, do not harm your neighbor, refrain from sensual excesses and alcohol).
4. Salvation consists in achieving nirvana (a special state of freedom, peace and bliss). Nirvana can be achieved during life, but a complete transition is possible only after death.

Buddha stated four truths:

1. Life is suffering (birth, love, illness, death - everything brings suffering to a person)

2. The cause of human suffering is the thirst for life (life already gives everything to a person, but he wants more, hence all the vices that bring suffering appear: anger, envy, jealousy, malice, etc.)

3. To destroy suffering, you need to destroy the thirst for life, i.e. all the vices

4. The path to destroy this thirst is the middle “eight-fold” path, which presupposes correct views, correct speech, correct behavior, right life.

Only then can a person achieve nirvana and stop the chain of suffering.

Discussion and mutual assessment of the results of the groups’ work.

7. Taking a test on the topic “Buddhism” »

Test

1. Buddhism is the most ancient religion in the world.

a) yes

2. When and where did the Buddhist religion form:

a)2500 years ago in India

b)1000 years ago in China

3.Who is the founder: