5 Days Buddhist Study Programe and Initiatiation Ceremony

May 22, 2013 | General News, Teaching

NAIROBI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, LORESHO

FIVE DAY BUDDHIST STUDY PROGRAM AND INITIATION CEREMONY

21st May 2013 – Day 2

1.0 Beginning, Expansion & Brief History of Buddhism

1.1 After Attaining Enlightenment

–          The first five students

–          The first sermon (Dhamma chakka pavattana Sutra)

–          60 Arahants and Start of Dhamma Mission (Charata bhikkave charikam bahujana hithaya bahujana sukhaya)

–          The attendant Ananda

–         Passing way of the Buddha or parinibbana in the city ofKusinara or Kusinagar

1.2 Two Main Schools of Buddhism

  • Theravada
  • Mahayana

Theravada – The teachings of the elders    

  • Theravada Buddhist Countries: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand

Mahayana – The grater vehicle(mixture of many schools; Zen, Vajirayana, Pure land school)

  • Two original Mahayana Schools, Madyamika and Yogachara
  • Some Mahayana Buddhist  countries:  China, Japan, Tibet, Nepal, Korea

1.3 Buddhist Scriptures (Three Baskets or Three Pitaka)

  • Vinaya Pitaka – Rules of Conduct 
  • Sutra Pitaka– Discourses of the Buddha
  • Abhidhmma Pitaka – Higher Buddhist psychology

2.0 Five Precepts

       i.     To abstain from taking the lives of living beings

      ii.    To abstain from taking that which is not given

      iii.   To abstain from sexual misconduct

      iv.   To abstain from telling falsehoods

       v.    To abstain from distilled and fermented intoxicants, which are the occasions for carelessness (which also includes drugs)

2.1 The Difference between the Precepts & Commandments

2.2 Learning to Chant Five Precepts in Pali

Panchasila – The Five Precepts

1.    Pânâtipâtâ veramani sikkhâpadam samâdiyâmi

I take the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.

2.    Adinnâ-dânâ veramanî sikkhâpadam samâdiyâmi

I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given.

3.    Kâmesumicchâ-cârâ veramanî sikkhâpadam samâdiyâmi

I take the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.

4.    Musâvâdâ veramanî sikkhâpadam samâdiyâmi

I take the precept to abstain from false speech.

5.    Surâmeraya-majja-pamâ-datthânâ veramanî sikkhâpadam samâdiyâmi

I take the precept to abstain from distilled and fermented liquor that

causes intoxication and heedlessness.