HON 1517 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Four Noble Truths, Gautama Buddha, Lotus Sutra
Document Summary
Teachings of siddhartha gautama, the buddha, in northern india. Young prince who learned about the various suffering of people. Left his family and life of luxury to seek truth through the ascetic life. Deep meditation he experienced a transcendent state (nirvana) and his enlightenment freed him from the fear of human suffering. He began to share his perceptions with others and promoted following the middle way between the paths of luxury and poverty. Career lasted 40 years until his death in 483 bc. Followers memorized the buddha"s teachings and eventually buddhist monks wrote them down as scripture. Buddha was an enlightened teacher, not a deity. Dharma (way of truth) buddha"s teachings. Lotus sutra used in china and japan. All life is suffering physical, mental, economic, social problems and disharmony. The cause of suffering is desire, because humans want what they don"t have. Suffering ends when we are free from desire.
