God,
The Cosmos & The Human Condition

Sources,
Revelation,
Scriptures, Holy Texts

Organization:
Hierarchy
Leadership Ministries

Calendar
Time Line
&/or Feast Days

Prayer
Worship Ritual

Views on the Moral Life

Karma is the ultimate principle of universal justice --not a "creator God."

Living beings are burdened with varying degrees of suffering or Dukkha – with potential for genuine happiness

Happiness or peace stems from

Kindness, Charity, and Insight

Cosmos has diverse types of living beings—

All with the capacity for Liberation from the cycle of rebirths or Samsara

or Buddha, Dharma and Sanghi is interactive source of aid.

Yogic – not prophetic – model of religious knowledge

Buddha's  "Ehi passika" – "Come and see" --  invites one to seek awareness

Scriptures include Three Baskets or

Tripitaka including Buddha's discourses –

Sutra

*Rule of Life –

Vinaya

*Systematic

Psychology –

Abhidharma

Philosophical Commentary enhances the three part canon

renders scripture interpretable rather than absolute

No universal Buddhist hierarchy

Clergy are, in theory, "as free as birds" to go about

Society is split between clergy and laity

Political connection varies with historical time and culture

Buddhism is universal – "for the benefit and happiness of the many"

Present-day Buddhist leaders include

Dalai Lama-Tibet

Thich Nhat Hahn-

            Viet Nam

Mahaghosananda-

Cambodia

Branches:

   Theravada

       (South Asia)

   Mahayana

       (East Asia)

Monthly:

Uposatha obsevance days are four according to lunar phases.

Monastics recite vows, confess sins, fast, meditate, and teach. 

Laypeople fast, meditate, take part in devotions listen to a dharma talk, and observe the Eight Precepts

Yearly on full-moon:

*April/May is

Vesak for Buddha's birth, enlightenment and

passing away

*February is  "Sangha Day" for Buddha's promulgating Monastic Code

*Others

Devotions in Temple on observance days

Make offerings, chant, pray, meditate, at Domestic altar daily

Traditionally monastics beg alms once per day.

In west, laypeople bring food to temples.

Ritual acts include:

(i)Preparation –remove shoes, bow down, make offerings of incense, food, water, flowers, etc.

(ii) Take refuge, chant scripture, meditate, etc.

(iii) Dedicate merit for all.

  Respect not worship Buddha and Saints

Practice the

Eightfold Path, i.e. the Fourth Noble Truth or way to end suffering by doing these "right"

Morality

-speech

-action

-livelihood

Concentration

-effort

-mindfulness

-meditation

Wisdom

-thought

-understanding

Belief in cause and effect of actions through many lifetimes of

Compassion and Wisdom –

"two wings of a bird

Notions of Body & Spirit
Physician – Patient Relationship

Individual
Autonomy vs Community

Views on Rx:

Transfusion
Transplant
Organ Donation Autopsy

Views on

Suffering/Death:

Sustaining vs.
Withdrawal of Life Support

Who's at the
Bedside –
Spiritual Care
For the Patient & Care for the Dead

 The Five Skandhas

(the body,
feelings/emotions,
perceptions/ thought,
intentions,
consciousness)
come together at
birth and fall apart at death.

Suffering is universal and the goal of beings is to be free of suffering. 

The physician is a means by which physical or emotional suffering that is due to a medical illness can be reduced or stopped.        

Theravada Buddhism

Only goal is to obtain enlightenment through meditation

Mahayana Buddhism

Those who obtain enlightenment then help others. These individuals are called 'bodhisattvas.'

Each of these are methods that can reduce suffering and are acceptable.

Organ donation is considered karmically to be a very positive act

Suffering from a medical condition is recognized as a combination of factors:

An external event (i.e., the illness) and personal desires (i.e., the desire to become well or be restored to a previous level of health or activity).  Suffering is greater the desires are not realistic.

Suffering can be viewed as the result of karma, from this life or previous ones. Suffering also makes us more aware of our one-ness with all beings.

Suffering that is not done in this life will have to be done in a subsequent one. However there is no point to endless suffering (that the individual cannot modify) and with-drawing life support is acceptable.

Goal of being at the bedside prior to death is to relieve or reduce suffering.  This can be done by the laity or by monks.

Care of the dead is highly variable.

Some forms of  Buddhism believe nirvana can be obtained between death and re-birth, making after death rituals extremely important (some funerals can last for many days.)

For other forms of Buddhism the after death rituals are not nearly so elaborate