buddhism
Founder/origin Siddhartha Gautama 563-483 BCE Present-day Nepal
Creation myth Universe is cyclical No god—no relationship with god
Holidays/clothing/ HOLy book New Year’s Day Birth of Buddha (Vesak) Sangha Day Dharma Day Monks—saffron robes Holy book: Tripitaka Branches: Theravada (Tibetan) Mahayana Zen Vajrayana
Holy cities/hierarchy/today/women Lumbini Temple Buddhist monks Tibetan—Dalai Lama at top 376 million, mostly in Asia Men and women equal
Basic beliefs 4 Noble Truths Dukkha—life is full of suffering Suffering caused by desires Ending suffering ends desires Follow 8-fold path to end desire People should become self-aware Learn mental discipline Avoid harming others Abandon destructive feelings and behaviors Act and think in constructive ways “Buddha” — any fully enlightened person Nirvana— ends cycle of reincarnation, achieve enlightenment
Rituals Meditation—breathing 8-fold path Five Precepts Do not kill Do not steal Do not engage in sexual misconduct Do not lie Do not take intoxicants
Salvation/afterlife 8-fold path Right understanding, thought, speech, action, living, effort, mindfulness, meditation Goal is to reach nirvana Reincarnation until you reach nirvana