BuddhismBuddhism

By: Karen Chambless, Caleigh By: Karen Chambless, Caleigh Dillingham, Kyle Holmes, and Tim Dillingham, Kyle Holmes, and Tim

Scoville Scoville

Who was Buddha?Who was Buddha?

Siddhartha Buddha was a prince in Siddhartha Buddha was a prince in northern India. Buddha lived a northern India. Buddha lived a sheltered, wealthy life away from the sheltered, wealthy life away from the suffering and dieing outside the palace. suffering and dieing outside the palace. He did not even know about people He did not even know about people suffering until he saw a dying man, an suffering until he saw a dying man, an old man, and a dead man on the streets old man, and a dead man on the streets by his fathers palace. Buddha then went by his fathers palace. Buddha then went away to the woods for six years to away to the woods for six years to meditate so he could find the meaning meditate so he could find the meaning of life. When he did, he was then called of life. When he did, he was then called the enlightened one.the enlightened one.

The four noble truthsThe four noble truths

1.1. sufferingsuffering

2.2. The cause of sufferingThe cause of suffering

3.3. The cessation of sufferingThe cessation of suffering

4.4. The way leading to the cessation of The way leading to the cessation of sufferingsuffering

Buddhism Basics• One of the major religions of the world

• Founded in India about 500 B.C.

• Belief system based on life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

• Four main ideas: Four Noble Truths

• Today it has about 350 million followers

• All believers have faith in:

1. Buddha

2. His teachings called the dharma

3. The religious community he founded called the sangha

These three things are known as The Three Refuges or The Three Jewels.

Who was Buddha??

He was Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who lived in India from 563 to 483 B.C. Gautama was a member of a rich and powerful family and he led a luxurious/ sheltered life in his palace. At the age of 29, Gautama became overwhelmed with the conviction that life was filled with suffering and unhappiness. He abandoned his wife and infant son to seek religious enlightenment. He sought wisdom through harsh discipline and suffering. For days he ate only one grain of rice, but he felt only pain, not wisdom or insight. At the age of 35, after wandering for six years and meditating deeply in the shade of a bodhi tree**, he reached “enlightenment”.

**--- the bodhi tree is believed to be the “tree of perfect knowledge.”

۩ Many of the important foundations of Buddhism were stated in a sermon the Buddha gave shortly after his enlightenment. He taught these four main ideas known as the Four Noble Truths.

• First Noble TruthFirst Noble Truth: Suffering and sorrow are a part of life for everyone.

•Second Noble Truth:Second Noble Truth: If people did not want wealth, power, pleasure, and fame they would not be disappointed/ unhappy when they don’t have those things: suffering and sorrow is caused by people’s self-centered desires.

• Third Noble Truth: Third Noble Truth: The way to escape suffering is to overcome desires and reach a state of not wanting.

• Fourth Noble Truth: Fourth Noble Truth: People can overcome their desires and reach the state of enlightenment or nirvana, by following the Middle Path.

----The Middle Path involves leading and ethical compassionate life in with one meditates and participates in rituals.

After the Buddha’s death Buddhism evolved from a philosophy of life into a religion. The Buddha is now worshipped as a god and followers pray to Buddha asking for enlightenment. Travelers and missionaries spread Buddhism throughout Asia.

Paraphrased Quotes

Quote 1: If you step away from desires in your life then you will step away from misery.

Quote 2: Your mind is hard to grasp, tame the mind and achieve tranquility.

Quote 3: Develop moral principles, concentration and wisdom. End greed, hatred, and stupidity.