A Short History of Buddhism

1
A Short History of Buddhism

• LA Beach Cities Region

2
Shakyamuni

• 3000 years ago in India
• Born a prince
• Devote to finding a solution to the sufferings of
• Birth
• Old age
• Sickness
• Death

3
Shakyamunis teaching

• Taught for over 40 years, according to the
  circumstances and understanding of the people he
  met.
• His teachings are many and varied.
• In the last eight years of his life he taught the
  Lotus Sutra.
• Honestly discard expedient means discard his
  previous teachings which had been preparatory.

4
Many different forms of Buddhism

• Many of Shakyamunis followers did not understand
  his intention. (Devadatta)
• Many of them already departed and were spreading
  his earlier teachings before Lotus Sutra.
• The teachings were added to or modified.

5
After Shakyamunis death

• Mahayana Buddhism spread to China, Korea and
  Japan over 1,500 years.
• During next 500 years, Buddhism started to
  decline and had become formalized and ritualized
  so that only monks, or those with independent
  means, could undertake the lifetime of
  austerities involved.
• It had lost its effectiveness.
• Shakyamuni predicted the appearance of a Buddha
  who would reveal the correct teaching for the
  time beginning two thousand years after his
  death.
• He also predicted the many persecutions to this
  person.

6
Four teachers

• Shakyamuni
• Tientai
• Dengyo
• Nichiren

7
Nichren Daishonin

• 2-16-1222, born in Japan as the son of a
  fisherman.
• Studied at local temple since 12
• Entered the priesthood at 16
• 4-28-1253 at 32, declared Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is
  the correct teaching on
• Met many persecutions as Shakyamuni predicted.
• 10-2-1279, inscribed the Dai Gohonzon, dedicated
  to the happiness of all mankind.

8
Nichirens Teaching

• Declared that the Lotus Sutra is supreme amongst
  Buddhist teachings.
• It teaches that everyone without exception has
  Buddhahood.
• It reveals that life is eternal.
• He was able to read between the lines and
  declare the ultimate teaching.
• He revealed the fundamental law of universe which
  is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taught a specific
  practice for all people to attain enlightenment.
• 2nd high priest is Nikko and the its pure
  teaching has been passed onto SGI not to the
  priesthood.

9
Soka Gakkai Intl

• Formed SGI in 1975
• The originally Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (value-creating
  Education Society) founded in Japan in 1930 by
  first president Makiguchi.
• Makiguchi died in prison. He refused to renounce
  his Buddhism faith. He was sent to the prison
  with false charge.
• Josei Toda as Makiguchis disciple survived and
  was released from the prison in July 1945 and
  became the 2nd president.
• After accomplishing 750,000 households
  membership, he passed away in 1958.
• Daisaku Ikeda as Todas disciple became the 3rd
  president in 1960 at his 32. The organization
  grew into 190 countries.