Roots of Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama: founder of Buddhism

The Life of Siddhartha  Born to noble family of kshatriya (warrior) caste –Never saw world outside of palace – Finally left palace – saw old aging, sickness, poverty, death for 1 st time  Wanted to put an end to life’s suffering

The Search for Enlightenment on why we have suffering in the world  Decided he could not be happy going back to the life he once lived  Wandered in forests  Debated with other religious seekers  Fasted

 Meditated for 49 days under large fig tree  Achieved understanding of the cause of suffering in the world  Became Buddha, “the enlightened one”

The Four Noble Truths 1) life is filled with suffering and sorrow 2) the cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire 3) Way to end suffering is to end all desires 4) the way to overcome such desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the Eightfold Path

 "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." ~Buddha ~Buddha

a.k.a. the Middle Way – avoiding extremes

Goal was to reach “nirvana” - release from selfishness & pain

 Accepted cyclical view of history – world is created & destroyed again and again  Buddha also believed in reincarnation & karma –Did not believe in caste system –No worship of deities or gods

 Sangha – Buddhist religious order –Includes monks, nuns, & entire Buddhist community  Dharma – Buddhist doctrine or teachings, universal law of nature  “Three Jewels” of Buddhism = Sangha, Buddha, & dharma

 Many of Buddha’s early followers were laborers and craftspeople  He reluctantly admitted women to religious orders – however, he feared that women’s presence would distract men from their religious duties  Monks & nuns took vows of poverty, nonviolence, and not to marry

 Teachings of Buddha were written down after his death (1 st century BC)  Buddhist sacred literature includes commentaries, rules of monastic life, manuals on meditation, and legends about Buddha’s previous reincarnations

 India is important place of pilgrimages for Buddhists  Visit spots associated with Buddha’s life – birthplace, the fig tree, site of first sermon, & the sacred mounds (said to contain his relics)

Spread and Development of Buddhism  Trade spreads Buddhism to China, Korea, Japan –SILK ROADS!!! –Did not become strong in India –Missionaries  Was a unifying force in Japan  Related to the religion of Jainism

Branches of Buddhism  Theraveda Buddhism  Mayahana Buddhism  Vajrayana Buddhism  Buddhism in the West –Zen Buddhism

Overview Questions  How did Siddhartha Gautama become known as Buddha?  How does one reach nirvana?  How did Buddhism affect society?  How and where did Buddhism spread?