Attention getter: The Buddha once noted in Sutta Nipata, a Buddhist scripture, that “Speak only endearing speech, speech that is welcomed. Speech, when it brings no evil to others, is a pleasant thing.” This is one of the many teachings I follow from the Buddha, and this is the teaching I will be using today.
Credibility: The Buddhist necklace is usually depicted either with the Buddha or other Buddhist symbols. The Buddhist necklace, but more importantly the figure of Buddha, himself represents various ideas of the Buddhist culture. As a Buddhist, it is important to educate people about the origin of Buddhism.
Thesis: By being more familiarize with the Buddha, you will have a greater appreciation of the Buddhist culture.
Signpost: I will begin by discussing the history of Buddhism and the Buddha. Then I will discuss about my artifact, the Buddhist necklace and my connection to it. Lastly I will inform you it’s cultural significance.
TS: The Buddha is an important figure in the Buddhist culture. To learn more about Buddhism also we have to learn about the Buddha also known as Siddhartha Gautama.
II. Main Point 1: Background of Culture
History: In 624 BC, Gautama was born as a royal prince. At the age 29, he abandoned his luxurious life and resided to the forest to live a spiritual life. He spent six years mediation and reflecting until he reached the highest state of enlightenment, Nirvana. From there he wanted other people to reach enlightenment, so he shared his
Buddhism is a major global religion with a complex history and system of beliefs. The founder of Buddhism is said to be Siddhartha Gautama, the son of an Indian warrior-king. Gautama led an extravagant life through early adulthood, reveling in the privileges of his social class. Gautama became bored with the indulgences of royal life so he wandered into the world searching for understanding. After encountering an old man, ill man, a corpse, and an ascetic, he was convinced that suffering lay at the end of all existence. He then became a monk, depriving himself of worldly possessions in the hope of comprehending the truth of the world around him. The culmination of his search came while meditating beneath a tree, where he finally understood how to be free from suffering, and ultimately, to achieve salvation. Gautama became known as the Buddha, meaning the “Enlightened One.” He spent the remainder of his life
Spiritual jewelry became very popula. Pendants can represent the wish for a long life for the wearer, in some cultures.
The jade pendant was given to June after she volunteered to take the worst crab for dinner. When Suyuan gave this to her she said,“This is young jade. It is a very light color now, but if you wear it every day it will become more green” (208-209). The jade pendant was said to be June’s life’s importance of acceptance and kindness. The more accepting and kind June is, the better of a person she will be. The more June wears the necklace, the better it will be and the more that June displays her best qualities, the better of a person she will be. Her mother gave her this necklace, showing its importance in both of their lives and how it was passed down. Suyuan valued these qualities and was proud of her daughter for having this trait. Suyuan gave June this pendant to show how important it is to have this quality in your life. Throughout June’s stories, she is always struggling to find out who her mother was and what was important to her after her death. This is why Suyuan and June did not understand each other very well during June’s childhood. It was not until Suyuan gave June the pendant that she truly accepted June for who she is. When Suyuan gave June the pendant, she helped show her. “See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning” (208). The pendant that was given to June and represents how she should express
The Kannon Bosatsu, or Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, is a carved wood statue of a Bodhisattva figure standing about two and one half to three meters tall. This statue shows a high level of detail on the Bodhisattva 's body, and is carved so smoothly that it could be mistaken for a stone carving. The show of skilled craftsmanship can be seen around the shoulders with the interaction of the cloth with the jewelry the Bodhisattva. The statue is placed on an ornate pedestal to cause the figurine to appear taller, giving it a feeling of authority, which contrasts with its calm, expressionless face. While the figure appears to be standing in a meditative state like the Buddha, the jewelry present all over the body of this figure distinguishes this figure as a Bodhisattva instead of a Buddha. In his book, The Story of Buddhism a Concise guide to Its History and Teachings, Donald S. Lopez Jr. establishes the importance of imagery in Buddhism. One major point he makes concerning the worship of Buddhist figures, is that the disciples of Buddhism not only believe that the figures are a mere representation of Buddha, but that the figures actually become and are animated by Buddha, an argument which seems to hold merit as truth.
Siddhartha Gautama was a prince from a small Indian state who was born into riches and security but switched his ways of life upon encountering sickness and death. After leaving his family behind, he realized the meaning of life and began his quest of reaching enlightenment.
Another important symbol in Buddhism is Buddha’s footprints. Followers believe that the footprints symbolize his presence in their lives. This is important because it is a reminder to them why they are following the teachings of Buddhism. According to the article Brief History of Symbolism in Buddhism, it states "Footprints of the Buddha traditionally symbolize the physical presence of the Enlightened One. This image was reproduced from a rubbing of an ancient stone imprint at Bodh Gaya, India, site of the Buddha's enlightenment." These footprints date all the way back to when Siddhartha was alive and was enlightened, and
Gautama is the founder of the religion Buddhism that originated in India. A Buddhist, follower of Buddhism, spends their whole life trying to escape samsara and reach nirvana. The journey to nirvana for a Buddhist can only be achieved by them self. The book Siddhartha is about a boy that goes on a journey to become enlightened. The boy, Siddhartha, has to overcome a lot before he settles back at the river he once crossed and finds nirvana.
“The silk offering may be knotted around the base of the mirror or wheel, with its ends twisting upwards on either side of the offering bowl” 6. It may be colored white, yellow, red, green, or blue since these colors represent the five elements of the Buddha. The last offering towards the Buddha could be in the form of music such as bells called ting-shak. Music is used to propagate the Dharma but sometimes they place instruments such as a damaru to represent the offering of
Siddharta Gautama was twenty-nine years old when he abandoned his family to search for a means to bring to an end his and other’s suffering after studying meditation for many years. At age thirty-five, Siddharta Gautama sat down under the shade of a fig tree to meditate and he determined to meditate until he reached enlightenment. After seven weeks he received the Great Enlightenment which he referred to as the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. Henceforth he became known as the Buddha.
Buddha With the conception of the Buddha, being picked as the "stirred one" at age thirty-five, his excursion toss life, and even in his passing. Buddha has guided numerous to finding the truths of life. The Buddha was the originator of Buddhism, the religion and philosophical framework that created an awesome culture all through quite a bit of southern and eastern Asia. The Buddha whose unique name was Siddhartha Gautam, was conceived in Nepal around 2600 years prior.
Symbolism used in the artifact, is not immediately apparent, as you are taking by the colorfulness of the artifact, however, as you begin to take in the artifact, you notice little
A necklace of Saint Francis of Assisi, protector of animals. The necklace has a twelve-inch bronze chain-link chain, a small red plastic heart and a silver paw print pendant hanging above a quarter sized bronze pendant of Saint Francis surrounded by animals. Behind and to the right of Saint Francis there is three crosses on a hill, a river flowing behind him, and a church to his left. The animals surrounding Saint Francis appear to be; three birds, a small monkey, squirrel, turtle, rabbit, deer, a dog, and a cat. Saint Francis is holding his arms out for the birds to land on. On the necklace Saint Francis is bald, wears a robe and has a halo. Above his head reads “St. Francis of Assisi protector of animals”.
Bordering India, Tibet has a rich history of religion and the different faiths that developed. However, in the year 779, the Tibetan people adopted Buddhism as the state religion, and worshiped it to the fullest extent. As they developed their system of spirituality, Buddhist ornaments would be used to decorate grand sculptures of Buddha or reverend monks. Each specific ornament was created with careful symbolism and dexterity, each holding its own specific meaning. Circular forms were to represent lotus flowers, a symbol of purity. Abstract lion faces with human hands above the lotuses were symbolic to supernatural powers, and turquoise colors via the stone itself symbolized wisdom of the natural blue sky and the opacity of the earth. These decorations in itself, when seen on a sculpture of a Buddhist leader, symbolized the submission of the natural and the supernatural to that leader.
E. Preview Main Points: Today we will take an in-depth look at the beliefs of the Four Noble Truths and Karma and the customs of meditation and the Sacred Mandela. We will also explore its history in India and of Buddha, and how the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh have truly shaped this life changing religion.
Siddhartha Gautama also known as Buddha (Enlightened One) was born in Nepal in the 6th century B.C. Buddha father was the king who ruled a tribe that was known to be economically poor. Buddha’s mother had died a shortly after giving birth to him, which caused his father to be very protective over him. Buddha father wanted to protect his son from misery and pain of the world, so he was raised in palace built just for him. Buddha was in his late 20s when he first experienced the world outside the palace. In which, caused him to realize that there is a lot of pain and suffering in humanity. Buddha came to this realization that suffering lays at the end of all existence, this occurred when he encountered an old man, an ill man, a corpse and an ascetic. Shortly after Buddha renounced his princely