Buddhism & Confucianism

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Siddhartha Gautama Ascetic Middle Way Buddha Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path

Words to Know Confucius Tao Ying/Yang

Ethnic group vs. Religious Group

Ethnic groups share many common characteristics such as language, physical features, customs, and traditions

Religious groups share a common belief system but are not necessarily composed of a single ethnic group.

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Background Buddhism is often

described as a religion and a collection of various philosophies, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha.

Gautama, is believed to have been born in the city of Lumbini, Nepal. Born a prince, his father, King Suddhodana, was supposedly visited by a wise man shortly after Siddhartha was born and told that Siddhartha would either become a great king or a holy man. Determined to make Siddhartha a king, the father tried to shield his son from the unpleasant realities of daily life. Despite his father's efforts, at the age of 29, he discovered the suffering of his people, first through an encounter with an elderly man then he saw the sufferings of a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These are often termed 'The Four Sights.'

Graphic Organizer Siddhart

ha Gautama

Gautama, deeply depressed by these sights, sought to overcome old age, illness, and death by living the life of an ascetic. Gautama escaped his palace, leaving behind this royal life to become a beggar. For a time on his spiritual quest, Buddha "experimented with extreme asceticism, which at that time was seen as a powerful spiritual practice...such as fasting, holding the breath, and exposure of the body to pain...he found, however, that these ascetic practices brought no genuine spiritual benefits and in fact, being based on self-hatred, that they were counterproductive."

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ha Gautama

Became an

ascetic

Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side)

Think-Pair-Share Why would someone think living an

Ascetic life would be spiritual?

Enlightenment concentrating

instead upon meditation Gautama discovered the Middle Way.He accepted a little milk and rice pudding from a village girl and then, sitting under a tree ,he vowed not to arise until he had found the Truth. His five companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become undisciplined, left. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained bodhi, also known as "Awakening" or "Enlightenment". After his attainment of bodhi he was known as Buddha or Gautama Buddha and spent the rest of his life teaching his insights. According to scholars, he lived around the fifth century BCE. He died around the age of 80.

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) Born in NE India

(Nepal). Raised in great luxury

to be a king. At 29 he rejected his luxurious life to seek enlightenment

and the source of suffering. Lived a strict,

ascetic life for 6 yrs. Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana. Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

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ha Gautama

Became an

ascetic

Enlightenment

Middle Way The primary guiding principle of Buddhist

practice is the Middle Way which was discovered by the Buddha prior to his enlightenment (bodhi). The Middle Way or Middle Path is often described as the practice of non-extremism; a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence.

It also describes the state of nirvana and perfect enlightenment.

Graphic Organizer Siddhart

ha Gautama

Became an

ascetic

Enlightenment

Middle Way

The Four Noble Truths According to the

scriptures, the Buddha taught that in life there exists sorrow/suffering, that is caused by desire and it can be stopped by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

There is suffering There is a cause of

suffering—craving There is the end of

suffering There is a way leading

to the end of suffering—the Noble Eightfold Path

Graphic Organizer Siddhart

ha Gautama

Became an

ascetic

Enlightenment

Middle Way

Four Noble Truths

The Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to the end of suffering, the

fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. This is divided into three sections:

Śīla is morality—abstaining from unwholesome deeds of body and speech. Within the division of sila are three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:

Right Speech—One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way

Right Actions—Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm

Right Livelihood—One's way of livelihood does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly

Samadhi is developing mastery over one’s own mind. Within this division are another three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:

Right Effort/Exercise—One makes an effort to improve Right Mindfulness/Awareness—Mental ability to see things for what

they are with clear consciousness Right Concentration/Meditation—Being aware of the present reality

within oneself, without any craving or aversion.

The Eight Fold Path

Buddhavacana (the Word of the Buddha) and the Sutras, are held to be the literal words of the historical Buddha.

Buddhism Holy Texts

Types of Buddhism Therevada

Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Zen Buddhism

Bodhgaya, in the state of Bihar in India, is considered by many adherents of Buddhism to be their most holy site. Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment while sitting under a tree located in Bodhgaya.

Buddhism Holy Place

Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side)

Think-Pair-Share (You pick one question)

1. How is Buddhism different from Hinduism?

2. How did Buddhism spread throughout Asia?

3. How is Buddhism different from Islam?

Confucius (Kung Fu-Tzu)*

(551-479 BC)

*Family name = Kung (Kong) Personal name = Zhong-ni Kung Fu-Tzu (Kong Fu-zi) = “Master Kung” “Confucius” = Latinization of “Kung Fu-Tzu”

“Never kiss a fool, or be fooled by a kiss.”

Graphic OrganizerKung Fu-Tzu (Confucius)

The Life and Legacy of Confucius Confucius was one of the most

important scholars in Chinese history. Born 550 BC at a time when the government was having trouble keeping order and warlords controlled much of the countryside. He believed that the key to peace and social order was for people to behave with good character and virtue.

Virtue is behaving fairly and with justice toward others. His Golden Rule of Behavior was “ What you do not like when done unto yourself, do not unto others.” He believed a good ruler was one who treated his people fairly and was kind to them. Confucius was not a religious prophet or even a religious leader. He saw himself as a teacher.

Texts: The Si Shu or Four Books: The Wu Jing or Five Classics:

Graphic OrganizerKung Fu-Tzu (Confucius)

Government Official-Teacher

The ancient State of Lu

That’s where Confucius was born & spent most of his life.

Anthem

Confucianism originated in China, but its influence spread to Korea & Japan over the centuries.

TAO (“Way”) - the Ultimate; the One; the Source

Yin/Yang - the dual expression of TAO; neither is superior to the other

Central concepts in Confucian thought

Graphic OrganizerKung Fu-Tzu (Confucius)

Government Official-Teacher

Spread to China, Korea,

and Japan

TaoYing/Yang

Confucian Holy Place Qufu, China is the birthplace of

Confucius

Bibliography Buddhism. Religious tolerance.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm. January 2008 Buddanet. http://www.buddhanet.net/. January 2008 Georgia, CRCT TEST PREP, 7th Grade Social Studies, Clairmont Press, 2009. http://chsweb.lr.k12.nj.us/kstokes/prologue/w001.jpg October 26, 2010