T = Buddhism
Key Ideas* Origins and Development
* Beliefs
* Spread & Influence
Adapted from L. Barnes Lecture
•Originated in Northern India/Nepal in 563 B.C.
•Founder – Siddhartha Gautama
•Born a prince and protected from the real world
•Rejected the Hindu caste system
•According to Buddhist legend
•Siddhartha encounters poverty, disease, death and is shocked.
•Feels he can longer enjoy his life of comfort and security
•Seeks a greater truth, meditates and finds enlightenment
•Becomes the Buddha. Story of Siddhartha
Buddhism – Origins and Development
• Non-theistic -- Buddhism does not have a
specific god or gods, but believes in energy
of all beings.
• Worship is through meditation and chanting
not complex rituals (as in Hinduism)
Buddhism – Origins and Development
1. Search for and attain enlightenment – pure wisdom
2. Understand the 4 Noble truths.
3. Follow the Eightfold Path which offers a way to end
suffering and find peace.
Beliefs of Buddhism
•Karma and reincarnation continues until a person reaches
nirvana – an ideal state of happiness and peace.
•Unlike Hindu reincarnation:
•Buddhist reincarnation rejects rebirth into caste system
•Not reborn into a different body (more of a spiritual process)
Beliefs of Buddhism
1. “Suffering is present in all things and nothing lasts forever.”
2. “The cause of suffering is desire.” (human attachment to pleasure, power, possessions causes suffering)
3. “Removing desire removes suffering.”
4. “The way to remove desire is to follow the Eightfold Path.”
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:
1. Right understanding: know the 4 Noble Truths.
2. Right purpose: Live a life of selflessness.
3. Right speech: Be truthful in what you say.
4. Right action: Do not kill, steal, lie, hurt others.
5. Right livelihood: Earn a living in ways that do
not harm.
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH – a set of
guidelines to achieve enlightenment
6. Right effort: Promote good actions, prevent evil actions
7. Right mindfulness: Be aware but not attached to your
feelings.
8. Right concentration: Focus your mind with practices
such as meditation. Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage Site
•4th largest religion on the world.
•Became less important in India
•Very important in Tibet/Nepal/Bhutan
Spread and Influence
•Spread through South Asia
•Theravada branch (means “way of the elders”)
•focuses on solitary introspection; only monks can attain Nirvana
•
•Spread through East Asia
•Mahayana branch -- means “the bigger raft,” focuses on teaching, compassion, helping others; anyone can attain Nirvana
•Zen – mainly Japan, focuses on meditation
Spread and Influence
DUE FRIDAY 2/24 -- Similarities and Differences of Hinduism and Buddhism
1. Create a chart that looks like the chart below and analyze the similarities and differences in
Hinduism and Buddhism.
2. At the bottom of your chart, write a topic sentence using the prompt below.
Prompt: Describe some similarities and differences of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Write a topic sentence for this prompt. (Your topic sentence should identify both Hinduism
and Buddhism (subjects) to be compared or contrasted and tell the reader exactly what you are
going to say about these subjects.
Hinduism Buddhism