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BASIC  BELIEFS  AND  TEACHINGS - 14229_111
GLOSSARY - 14229_113

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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Right   livelihood Right  effort Right  mindfulness Right   concentration The  Eightfold  Path  enables  one  to  overcome  selfishness,  sorrow,  and  to gain  perfect  freedom  and  peace.  This  ideal  state  is  “nirvana.” An   important   virtue   to   Gautama   was   love.   Outside   of   Christianity, perhaps no other religion has stressed the virtue of love quite as much. RELIGIOUS  BUDDHIST  LITERATURE The  sacred  book  of  Buddhism  is  the  Triptika,  also  called  the  “Three Baskets.”  The  Triptika  consists  of The  Vinaya  Pitaka  (Basket  of  Discipline) The  Sutta  Pitaka  (Basket  of  Discourses) The  Abhidhamma  Pitaka  (Basket  of  Metaphysics) Variations  occur  in  the  Buddhist  Triptika,  dependent  upon  whether  Pali  or Sanskrit translations are used. RELIGIOUS  HOLY  DAYS  AND  FESTIVALS The religious festivals that are observed vary according to the branch of Buddhism.  There  are  some  festivals,  however,  that  are  observed  by  most Buddhist  groups. New  Years—Shusho  E—(January  1)  is  a  day  of  dedication.  At  the  new year,  a  water  festival  is  held.  Water  is  splashed  on  friends  and  strangers. There  are  parades  of  decorated  cars  and  floats,  images  of  Buddha  are ceremonially  bathed,  and  monks  entertained.  Processions  of  monks  and young  men  pass  through  the  streets  and  are  splashed  with  water  by  the bystanders.  At  the  pagodas,  they  pay  reverence  to  the  Buddha  and  then engage in national dances. The  beginning  of  the  rainy  season,  from  July  onwards,  is  marked  with special  offerings  to  monks.  It  is  said  that  this  is  the  time  when  Buddha sojourned  in  heaven  and  preached  the  Dharma  to  the  assembled  gods.  The rainy  season  has  always  been  the  time  for  teaching  and  meditation  in Buddhist lands. Since it is not possible to work in the rice fields, during the rainy  season  many  laymen  retire  to  the  monasteries  where  they  live  and meditate.  Plays,  weddings,  or  festivals  are  not  allowed  to  be  held  during this season. At the end of the rains, pagodas are full of flowers and incense is  burned  by  day  and  lamps  lighted  at  night.  Lamps  signify  the  return  of Buddha to earth, and the gods illuminate his path all the way down. Robes are given to monks and alms are given to the poor. 2-84







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