Buddhism Understanding Thai Buddhism for Evangelism Dana Bratton & Asher Mathew 2005.

BuddhismBuddhism

Understanding Thai Buddhism for Evangelism

Dana Bratton & Asher Mathew 2005

The BuddhaThe BuddhaSiddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama

(563-483 BC)(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.

Basic Beliefs and PracticesBasic Beliefs and Practices

o The basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the four noble truths.

The Three RefugesThe Three Refuges(Jewels)(Jewels)

o The Buddhao The Dharma

(teachings, doctrine)

o The Sangha (the Order)

TripitakaTripitaka

“Three baskets”

1. Vinaya Pitaka—monastic rules

2. Sutta Pitaka—teachings of the Buddhaa. Versions of the Law

b. Other Lives

3. Abhidhamma Pitaka—supplement to the doctrines (esoteric)

The Teachings of the BuddhaThe Teachings of the Buddha The Four Noble Truths

Preface to the Four Noble Truths:The Middle Path

Two extremes to be avoided:

(1) Hedonism

(2) Asceticism

This Middle Path is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration . . . .

By avoiding these two extremes, we discover a Middle Path, a path which opens the eyes, which bestows understanding, and which leads to peace of mind, to wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana.

http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering1. 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 wedo 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 humanpersonhood] 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 isaccompanied by lust for pleasure, seekingsatisfaction now here, now there. This selfishcraving takes three main forms: (a) craving forpleasure, (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 3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of SufferingCessation of Suffering

Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfishcraving – a cessation which consists in the absence ofevery passion [nirvana, “no passion,” the “blowingout” of tanha]. Suffering ceases with the laying asideof, the giving up of, the being free from, the dwellingno 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 isto say, Right Views, Right Intent,Right Speech, Right Conduct, RightLivelihood, Right Effort, RightMindfulness, and RightConcentration.


Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold Path

Right views (Samma ditthi)

Right intent (Samma sankappa)

Right speech (Samma vaca)

Right conduct (Samma kammanta)

Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)

Right effort (Samma vayama)

Right mindfulness (Samma sati)

Right concentration (Samma samadhi)

Wisdom (prajna)

Morality (sila)

Meditation (samadhi)


1. Right Views1. 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?)

(Eightfold Path, continued)


The Five Components (skandhas) of personhood

Person

Body (rupa)

Mind (nama)

Sensation (vedana)

Consciousness (vinnana)

Perception (sanna)

Volition (sankhara)

(No-self, cont’d)

The doctrine ofThe doctrine ofInterdependent OriginationInterdependent Origination

((Paticca SamuppadaPaticca Samuppada))

The interdependence & relativity of all things

(No-self, cont’d)


The wheel of

becoming

1.Ignorance

12.Aging & Dying

Impulse to Exist

Con- scious-

ness

3.

5.Six Senses

11.Birth

10.Becom-

ing

6.Contact

7.Sensations

8.Craving

4.Mind- Body

9.Cling-

ing

Greed Delusion

Hatred

Heaven

Hell

Human Realm

Demon Realm

Animal Realm

Hungry Ghost Realm

2.


2. Right Intent2. Right Intent(Resolution)(Resolution)

Right intent or resolution

is the intent or resolution to live & act

in accordance with right views.



3. Right Speech3. Right Speech

No lying No slander No harsh or rude talk No profanity No impolite or abusive

language No idle or foolish

chatter

Strive to use language meaningfully & usefully

Learn to maintain “noble silence”



4. Right 4. Right ConductConduct

No harming & killing No stealing No lying & deceitfulness No sexual immorality No use of intoxicants

Eat moderately & not after noon.

Stay away from dancing, singing, & dramatic spectacles.

Do not use garlands, scents, unguents, or ornaments.

Do not use high or broad beds.

Do not accept gold or silver (money in general?).


The Five Precepts (for everybody) & the Ten Precepts (for monks & nuns)


5. Right Livelihood5. Right Livelihood(Vocation)(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

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.)

Focusing of attention on:

(Eightfold P

ath, continued)


8. Right Concentration

One-pointed concentration

The four absorptions:

1 Detachment from all sense objects & 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

3 Cessation of all passions & prejudices; continued sense of joy

4 Cessation of joy; total tranquillity & equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship)

Preliminary concentration on the Four Sublime Moods: love, compassion, cheerfulness, & impartiality



Four Stages of AdvancementFour Stages of Advancementalong the Noble Eightfold Pathalong 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 http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The Historical EvolutionThe Historical Evolution

of Buddhism

The Major Buddhist TraditionsThe 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.


The Spread of Buddhism

Spheres of Influence

Theravada

Mahayana

Vajrayana

Buddhism out of India by 1000 AD


Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching)Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching)D h arm a (B u d d h a 's Teach in g s )

M a lays ia

Ta iw an

Tib e t

Jap an

C h in a

M ah ayan a(la rg e ra ft)

S ri L an ka

Th a ilan d

B u rm a

Th eravad a(h in ayan a, o r sm a ll ra ft)

E u rop e

C an ad a

U n ited S ta tes

Th eravad a /M ah ayan a

Chinese Chinese Buddhist Buddhist

celebrationcelebration

The monks come daily to each The monks come daily to each home for an offering home for an offering

Coming of age to be a monkComing of age to be a monk

MonksMonks

Tiger Cave Mountain where they have a foot bone of the Buddha

Atop Atop Tiger Tiger Cave Cave

MountainMountain

Atop Tiger Cave MountainAtop Tiger Cave Mountain

Revering the foot of BuddhaRevering the foot of Buddha

Why haven’t they responded to Why haven’t they responded to the Gospel?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 II. General approach to contextualization in Thailandcontextualization 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 III. Thai concepts that may be adopted to explain the Gospel 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 continuedSharing 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: IV. A Motivation to Avoid Sin: ShameShame

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.

Teach ESL, Christian songs, and the Bible

These two girls accepted Christ!

Tsunami devastation on Phi Phi Tsunami devastation on Phi Phi Island Island

A horrible tragedy, but an opportunity to A horrible tragedy, but an opportunity to

help and for evangelismhelp and for evangelism

Buddhism Understanding Thai Buddhism for Evangelism Dana Bratton & Asher Mathew 2005.

Documents

right livelihood

right conduct

right speech

right effort

right mindfulness

right concentrationby

cause of suffering

suffering ceases