How do they practice their religion?  Meditate at a temple.  Going on pilgrimage  In temple  Have to be silent in front of statue of Buddha.  Have to listen to monks chanting.  Recite prayers with other followers.  Not about teaching or learning= about experiencing.  Not really seen as a religion.  Not practicing worship in physical form.  Teaches practical methods= meditation.  Different form of Buddhism.  Meditation= heart of Buddhist way of life.  Meditation= attain a higher level of consciousness

Where do they worship?  Worship in temples.  Temple= many shapes.  Home.  Pilgrimage= journey, often a long one, made to a scared place.  Pilgrimage= Help them have a better life  Lumbini in Nepal= where Buddha was born

What religious text does Buddhism follow?  Buddhist religious text= Trip taka  Trip taka= 3 kind of the sacred scriptures of Buddhism. also= ‘3 baskets’ 1 st basket= teachings of the Buddha. 2 nd basket= the discipline for the Sangha. 3 rd basket= special teaching.

Why is Trip taka important?  Trip taka describes Buddhist various canons of scriptures.  Trip taka encourages people’s life.

What is an important symbol in Buddhism?  The Lotus= a very important symbol of Buddhism.  refers to speech the mind.  complete purification of body.  blossoming of wholesome deeds of liberation.  The Lotus like our life.  The Lotus= pure.

-Encourages people to think about the Buddha -Reminding his birth, enlightment and death - Held day of the full moon in early May or late June - Takes place Buddhists temples or monastery - Play or film about the Buddha’s life or past lives - Lay people join the Monks in meditation - Special kind of chanting and listen to talk by the Monks

(Continued) -Buddhists make offerings like, food and flowers - Temples and Monastries are decorated colorfully, lit with candles and lamps - Wesak ceremony reminds Buddhists of the Buddha - Renew their vows

Who are their Gods? -A religion without a God -Do not believe in God as devine being -Reality behind all appearances; Emptiness, Void, The essence of all things - No form of its own

What do Buddhist believe?  Samsara: the continuous cycle of birth, old age, illness, death and rebirthing  Souls don’t continue from one body to another  The world is imperfect and nothing lasts  If they follow Buddha’s teaching they will gain enlightment  Buddha was a person, not a god

What are some important symbols and statues in Buddhism?  Lotus Flower : symbol of pure and good  Wheel of life : 8 spokes = 8 truths of life  The Bo Tree : the tree where Buddha gained enlightment  Buddha : standing, sitting or laying down standing= 1 hand raised, blessing people Sitting = meditating in lotus position Teaching= sitting w/ 1 hand raised The wheel Life