RELS 160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Noble Eightfold Path, Vesak, 613 Commandments
15 Feb 2017
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5 key pillars: there is one god, there are angels, there are many prophets, there will be a final judgement. Sufism is a separate branch of islam: hinduism. Trinity of gods: brahma, the creator, vinshu, maintainer, shiva, the destroyer. Theravada: elite form for monks with religious traditions, monks live in sangha, detachment through meditation, rely solely on outside support for life. Mahayana: more complex understanding, anyone can achieve liberation and enlightenment from suffering, burn incense and offering flowers. Meditation is the most important teaching: reaching enlightenment. Embracement of 4 noble truths: life is suffering, desire and craving is the source of all suffering, detachment from desire is possible, eightfold path to achieve enlightenment. Embracement of eightfold path: knowledge, aspirations, speech. The truths and the path make up dharma. Adherents will escape the cycle of birth and death and rebirth. 2 types of rituals: seasonal liturgies, follow lunar calendar to key moments, rash hashanah, yom kippur, hannukuh, passover, religious ritual practice.
