2. Religions of South Asia

3. Buddhism in the Subcontinent

4. Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)  Born  Born in NE India (Nepal).  Raised  Raised in luxury to be a king.  At  At 29 he rejected his life to seek enlightenment and the source of suffering. -in meditation, he found nirvana.

5. What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire!

6. Four Noble Truths 1. There is suffering in the world.

7. Four Noble Truths 2. The cause of suffering is desire.

8. Four Noble Truths 3. The solution is to eliminate desire

9. Four Noble Truths 4. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

10. Eightfold Path Nirvana  Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

11. Buddha – 19c Thailand

12. Buddha’ s head : 2c Pakistan Buddha’ s head : 2c Pakistan

13. Bamiyan Buddhist Bamiyan Buddhist

14. Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

15. Theravada Buddhism  The oldest school of Buddhism.  The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana.  Goal = “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”  Over 100,000,000 followers today  376 m. overall.

16. Tibetan Buddhism  Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE. Dalai Lama.

17. The Dalai Lama

18. zen Buddhism  Seeks sudden enlightenment through meditation.

19. Buddhism in America (1999)

20. Distribution of Buddhism Centers in the US, 2001