BuddhismI can describe the life and moral teachings of Buddha and how Buddhism spread. HSS 6.5.5

Buddha’s Early LifeSiddhartha Gautama was born in

563 BC in NepalHis father, Suddhodana, was the

ruler of the Sakya people and Siddhartha grew up living the extravagant life of a young prince.

At the age of sixteen, he married a girl named Yasodhara.

The Beginning of Buddhism Siddhartha began to question his sheltered, luxurious life

in the palace. One day he left the palace and saw four sights:

◦ a sick man◦ an old man◦ a dead man◦ a monk

These sights showed him that even a prince cannot escape illness, suffering, and death

Therefore, at age 29, he left his kingdom and became a wandering, holy man, seeking answers to questions such as:◦ “Why must people suffer?”◦ “What is the cause of suffering?”

He decided to dedicate the rest of his life to determining a way to relieve universal suffering.

EnlightenmentWhile meditaing under a Poplar-figtree in Bodh Haya, India, Siddhartha finally understood the basic truths of life.He gained enlightenment, or nirvana, and was given the title of Buddha, which means Enlightened One.Nirvana is freedom from needless suffering and being fully alive and present in one’s own life.

Buddha’s TeachingsBuddha discovered Four Noble Truths which he

taught to people for the next 45 years.

Four Noble Truths◦ Human life has a lot of suffering◦ The cause of suffering is greed.◦ There is an end to suffering.◦ The way to end suffering is to follow the Middle Path.

The Middle Path was the way to nirvana. ◦ It meant not leading a life of luxury and indulgence.◦ It meant not leading a life of too much fasting and

hardship.

The Five PreceptsAll Buddhists follow a set of guidelines

for daily life called the Five Precepts: Do not harm or kill living things. Do not take things unless they are freely

given. Lead a decent life. Do not speak unkindly or tell lies. Do not abuse drugs or drink alcohol.

Buddha lives on after his death

After Buddha died, his teachings were gradually written down from what people remembered

The Ripitaka, or The Three Baskets, is a collection of Buddha’s sayings, his thoughts about them, and rules for Buddhists monks.

The Ripitaka was first written on Palm leaves which were collected together in baskets.