Extreme Buddhism
� Before the Buddhist period, there were two extreme beliefs:
1.) Eternalism- The idea that all things in life are permanent. The transferring of the soul to a new body is possible. In modern Buddhism today, this idea of extremism is not practiced. It is believed that all conditioned things are impermanent, and of the nature to arise and pass away.
2.) Nihilism- Believed in the extinction of the body after death. It was believed that everything was annihilated on death. This contradicts the more modern practice of Anatta. This is a characteristic of non-self and that all conditioned things are without any permanent, independently existing self.
� The Buddha was a prince and led a luxurious life, but he soon realized this was not the way to true happiness. His early extreme beliefs were:
1.) Self-Indulgence- It is where people indulge their bodies in sense pleasures, paying no attention to the mind. They eat, drink, and have sex whenever they feel like it. This is a materialistic life.
2.) Self-Mortification- These people do the exact opposite of the indulgence group. They believed that if they sacrificed their happiness completely, and tortured themselves, they would achieve Nirvana.
� The enlightenment by the Buddha made him realize these beliefs were extreme and caused him to live a life of self-moderation, or The Middle Path-a balance.
Tibetan Buddhism (extremism)
� Sometimes called Lamaism
� Form of Mahayana Buddhism, developed in Tibet and the surrounding Himalayan region beginning in 7th century CE
� Unique characteristic: system of reincarnating lamas and the vast number of deities
� �Tibet�= refers to a mountainous region in central Asia covering 2.5 million sq km.
� independent until the early 1900�s
� occupied by Britain and then China
� 641: King Songtsen Gampo unified Tibet, made Buddhism state religion
� 774: Padmasambhava
� eventually spread west in the second half of the twentieth century
� Distinctive beliefs: Buddhas, bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors
� Distinctive practices: gain merit by performing rituals such as food and flower
� Tsechu: annual religious festival
� Meditation is important
� Yoga
� Cham: a dance with sacred masks, sacred music, healing chants, and richly ornamented costumes. Forbidden in Tibet
� Dali Lama: head of the dominant school of Tibetan Buddhism
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