Reference no: EM133471879
Report Instruction
In your reading of Chapter 5 - Encountering Buddhism: The Middle Path to Liberation you have gained a better understanding of what the religion of Buddhism is all about from the context of its history, beliefs and practices, code of ethics, etc. You will now use the information gleaned in the chapter to expand upon particular elements of Buddhism enumerated below:
1. Buddhist Symbols - ½ page
a. Identify a common Buddhist symbol and explain its significance
i. Consider the following:
1. History/Origins of the symbol
2. Important religious figure(s) associated with the symbol and their involvement with it
3. How the symbol is utilized by Buddhists today?
a. Is it used during prayer/worship?
b. Worn as an outward sign of faith?
b. Distinguish between the terms: Buddhism and The Buddha as they relate to the religion itself
2. Life of Siddhartha Gautama - ½ to 1 page
a. Discuss who Siddhartha Gautama was and the impact that he had on Buddhism
b. Describe 3 key events from the Siddhartha Gautama's life
c. Address how these events are commemorated by Buddhist today
3. Beliefs and Practices - 2 - 3 pages
o Throughout his life, Siddhartha Gautama did not record any of his teachings, but he is known for his influential sermons and the discussions that he had with his fellow monks. These sermons were transmitted orally for centuries before they were finally committed to writing by several different Buddhist groups. One of the most famous of The Buddha's discourses is his first discourse titled Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma and in this discourse he outlines two ideas that would become the foundation of all Buddhist thought: The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path.
a. Interpret the meaning of each of The Four Noble Truths:
• This section of the report should be about 1 to 1 ½ page in length
i. All life is suffering.
ii. The Cause of Suffering is desire.
iii. To end desire is to end suffering.
iv. To end desire, one must follow the Noble Eightfold Path.
b. Articulate the significance of each of the aspects of The Noble Eightfold Path listed below and demonstrate how Buddhists believe that following these practical techniques will help them to achieve nirvana
i. Right Understanding
ii. Right Thought (Intention)
iii. Right Speech
iv. Right Conduct
v. Right Livelihood
vi. Right Effort
vii. Right Mindfulness
viii. Right Concentration (Contemplation)
Formatting Guidelines
When completing this written report, the following guidelines must be followed. Failure to do so will result in points being deducted from your grade:
a. This report must be typed in 12pt. font, double-spaced, & Times New Roman
b. Each section of the report must:
a. Include Section Title on a separate line
i. Ex: Buddhists Symbols, Beliefs and Practices, etc.
b. Adhere to the page length as outlined above
c. Incorporate at least 2 direct quotations with appropriate footnotes from either the course text (World RELG4: Introduction to World Religions) or one of the databases/encyclopedias available through St. Thomas University Library
i. When citing your sources, you must use Chicago Manuel Style