Origins of Buddhism

Origins of Buddhism The Big Idea Buddhism began in India and became a major religion. Main Ideas Siddhartha Gautama searched for wisdom in many ways. The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding peace. Buddhism spread far from where it began in India. Origins of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha was born from the “side of his mother” as she was walking, and proclaimed, ‘This will be my last birth!’ and as he stepped, lotus flowers bloomed on his path. His parents were warned that if Siddhartha left his palace, he would become a wandering monk, but if he stayed, he would be a noble prince. Father keeps sick, poor, and aging people out of the palace.

Siddhartha Gautama Quest for Answers Siddhartha leaves his house one day and encounters the Four Sights: An old man (aging) A sick person (disease) A dead body (death) An ascetic Determined to be released from the three negative sights, Siddhartha decides to become an ascetic.

Teachings of Buddhism Four Noble Truths Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow. 1. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods. 2. People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach nirvana, a state of perfect peace. 3. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eightfold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation. 4.

The Eightfold Path

Activity In your groups, you will each be given one of the four sights. Your task will be to respond to the appropriate questions AND create a visual representation of the source on your paper. This is due tomorrow (picture and sheet) and is worth 10 pts per group.