Buddhism The Middle Path
Essential Questions What is Buddhism? How did Buddhism begin? What are the beliefs of Buddhism? How do Buddhists view the world? Why is Buddhism considered a major world religion?
Facts about Buddhism… One of world’s most popular religions w/over 500,000 followers worldwide… Originated in India… Founded by Siddhartha Gautama… Practiced predominantly in Far East…
% of Buddhists in World
Beliefs of Buddhism Polytheism Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path Reincarnation Nirvana Non-Violence
Siddhartha Gautama Founder of Buddhism… Born (c. 563 BCE) a prince into a wealthy family who tried to shelter him from the evils of the world…
Buddha’s Four Sights Sick Man Old Man Dead Man Monk
Search for Truth Legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama meditated beside a stream underneath a Bodhi tree in search of the truth… After 49 days of deep meditation he became enlightened…
Siddhartha becomes Buddha… Meditation had helped lead Siddhartha to enlightenment… Buddha means “enlightened one”… But how could one become enlightened like Siddhartha? The answer was in the Four Noble Truths…
Four Noble Truths Life is filled with suffering… Suffering is caused by desire… Suffering will cease if desire is eliminated… Desire can be eliminated by following the eight fold path…
Reincarnation Path to enlightenment is not a simple one… In fact, the journey may take several “lifetimes”… Reincarnation = belief that a person is “born again” into another bodily form – human or animal…
Smells like Enlightenment End of one’s journey for the Truth, perhaps after several reincarnations, is the end of all suffering, or Nirvana… It is in this state that one is free from all desire & in union w/the Truth…
Could this be Nirvana???
Buddha teaches…
Eightfold Path Right Speech Right Meditation Right Conduct Right Resolve Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right View
Eightfold Path Also known as the Middle Way… Path to enlightenment… Need not be completed in any set order… Anyone can follow path & achieve enlightenment…
Right Understanding Understanding that life involves suffering & change. Realizing that following the Noble Path is the way to overcome suffering & to be happy…
Right Emotion Committing yourself to following the Path…
Right Speech Speaking in a positive & helpful way & speaking the Truth…
Right Action Living a life according to rules & beliefs…
Right Livelihood Doing work that does not harm others & is helpful…
Right Effort Practicing kind & thoughtful thinking…
Right Awareness Being fully aware of yourself, other people & the world around you…
Right Meditation Training the mind to be kind & positive & to develop wisdom…
Buddhist Wisdom Hurt not others w/that which pains yourself. Refrain from all evil, obtain merit & purify the mind: this is the Buddha’s teachings.
Spread of Buddhism
Statutes of Buddha … miniatures
Statutes of Buddha… Colossal
The Lotus Position
Buddhist Temples
Faces of Buddha
Buddhist Symbols
Dalai lama Tenzin Gyatso, the 14 th Dalai lama
Books & Films