Chapter 1

Introduction to Buddhism

Objectives of the study

After studying this chapter, students will be expected to be able
1. To learn the historical background of Buddhism,
2. To introduce Buddhism to Buddhists effectively,
3. To know a brief history of Buddhism in Laos.

Scope of the content

 What is Buddhism?
 Who is the founder of Buddhism?
 When was Buddhism introduced to Laos?

Introduction
This chapter is designed to introduce a brief historical background of Buddhism in
English to students. Students will be expected to be able to explain about the origin of
Buddhism to foreigners.

1.1 What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion originated from India 2600 years ago. It is atheism among
other religions such as Brahmanism or Hinduism. Buddhism is a religion of wisdom which
focuses on humanism, where human beings can develop themselves to reach the highest
spiritual level, the highest goodness, Nibbāna or Summum bonum. It does not focus on any
external salvation or any concept of creation of the universe, yet it only aims at learning the
cause of suffering and finding the way to its end.
Some people may consider Buddhism as a philosophy; other groups regard it as a
religion. To intellectual people, Buddhism is a science. Because it teaches the causes and
effects; it invites people to practice and investigate by themselves before firmly adhering to.
Buddhism invites us to investigate the teachings by individual practice. The result of practice
witnesses the authentic teachings, without applying the Buddha’s words into daily life; one
may not profoundly understand the Buddha’s teachings. Through an implementation of the
Dhamma, one will live happily and so that Buddhism is considered as the way of life.
For those who learn Buddhism metaphorically, they may critically ponder upon the
techniques, concepts, perspectives, similes that the Buddha utilized and come to conclusion
that Buddhism is the philosophy. And this is a secular evaluation in the eyes of modern
scientists. However, Buddhism is beyond any secular meaning on earth. It is more than just
the teachings, but also the knowledge gained from an enlightenment of the Buddha.

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 Buddhism teaches that all human beings are used to be a father, mother, brother,
sisters, and even nephew and nieces. Therefore, the teachings somehow focus on loving-
kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. It teaches all of us to be endowed
with these four qualities of the Dhamma towards others. In this sense, it means that human
beings should live together in harmony, in a peaceful way as if we were all born from the
same parents.

1.2 Who is the founder of Buddhism?

The founder of Buddhism is a real historical person who ever walked, lived, and
taught on earth. He was initially a prince who was born in a luxurious royal family, Sakya
clan in northern former India, which is now known as the part of Nepal. His name is
Siddhartha, the prince of Sakya, who later was known as the Buddha, the Supreme
Enlightened One.

1.3 When was Buddhism introduced into Laos?

Buddhism was introduced into Laos in mainly three phases. According to the legend
of Arangha nitane (the story of Buddha’s chest relics), it was introduced in the 1st Buddhist
Era (B.E) or after the Buddha passed away for 8 years, 7 months and 15 days led by the Most
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Venerable Maha Kassapa with 500 monks (there must be 5 monks) travelling to the
Suvannabhumi region (the golden land) in which present day included Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, in order to spread Buddhism. The second phase is in the
reign of Suriyavaraman VII, when the Khmer empire was powerful and influential to almost
current Asian countries. Though an earlier belief of the local people still professes in a
supernatural power or an external salvation, it was initially introduced during the 7th century
in form of Mahayana or Tantric Buddhism. The third phase was in the reign of King Fangum
during the 13th century. At this time, Buddhism was officially adopted in the reign of King
Fangum. He brought with him Buddhism from the Kingdom of Cambodia after he had spent
his time in his education; spiritual training under the patronage of Suriyavaraman VI, whose
teacher was Maha Pasaman, the advisory monk of the king.
Buddhism is one of the major religions of the world and introduced into Laos for
three official times and absorbed into the Lao culture since then. Presently, it still remains,
and gains popular among intellectuals and teachers. It plays crucial roles in many fields of
Lao society, including education, medical care, consultancy, and a center of spirituality. In
Laos, Buddhism is not only considered as a religion to be believed, but it is also a
fundamental foundation of Lao society where people have been gradually and deep-rooted
absorbed by Buddhist teachings in the way of living. Monks teach people on various
occasions, in this regards, they have learned the Buddha’s teachings and apply into their lives
from time to time and at the end has been incorporated into the Lao culture.

1
Photisane, Souneth, Dr, Lao Buddhism: History and Practice,(Mahasalakham: Mahasalakham University,
2006), p.16.
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Class Activities:
1. What is Buddhism? Please summarize in brief
2. Who kind of religion is Buddhism?
3. How many phases of Buddhism were introduced into Laos?
4. How many kinds of Buddhism were introduced into Laos?

Vocabulary:

apply(v) ນຳໃຊ້,ປະຍຸກໃຊ້
Buddhism(n) ພຣະພຸທຯດະສຳສນຳ
compassion(n) ຄວຳມກະຣຸນຳ
Brahmanism(n)ສຳສນຳພຣຳຫ໌ມ
equanimity(n)ອຸເປກຂຳ, ກຳນວຳງເສີຍ
Hinduism(n) ສຳສນຳຮິນດູ
human beings(n) ມະນຸດ
individual practice(n) ກຳນປະຕິບັດໂດຍສ່ວນຕົວ
influence (v) ກຳນຜູ່ອິດທິພົນ, ກຳນໄດ້ຮັບອິດທິພົນ
introduction(n) ກຳນນຳສະເໜີ, ຄວຳມຮູເ້ ບື້ອງຕົື້ນ
loving-kindness(n)ຄວຳມເມດຕຳ
Mahayana(n) ມະຫຳຍຳນ
Nibbāna (n) ພຣະນິພພຳນ(ເປົ້ຳໝຳຍສູງສຸດໃນທຳງພຣະພຸທຯດະສຳສນຳຯ)
phase(n) ຂັື້ນຕອນ, ລະຍະເວລຳ
profess(v) ຍອມຮັບ, ນັບຖ
religion(n) ສຳສນຳ
secular(adj) ກ່ຽວກັບຊຳວໂລກ,ກ່ຽວກັບຄະລຫັດ
summarize(v) ສະຫລຸບ
Supreme-Enlightened One(n) ຜູ້ຕັດສະຮູ້, ພຣະພຸທຯດະເຈົື້ຳ
sympathetic joy (n) ມຸທິຕຳ, ຄວຳມຮູ້ສຶກຍິນດີ ໃນເມື່ອຜູ້ອື່ນໄດ້ດີ.
Trantayana (n) ຕັນຕຣະຍຳນ, ພຸດຯດະສຳສນຳນິກຳຍໜຶື່ງໃນຕີເບດ

This is a Dhamma in English lesson taught in Sangha College in Vientiane,

prepared by Ven.Sayadej Vongsopha