Introduction to Buddhism  Heretical Movement – 6 th Century. India  Life of Siddhartha

India  6 th Century BCE  Caste System  Hinduism  Siddhartha - Buddhism  Mahavaria – Jainisn  Heretical Movements….

The Buddha  Born Ksharyia Caste – prince  Early life of indulgence Miracle birth Married Pursuit of worldly power and pleasure

4 Sights  A sick man  An old man  A dead man  An ascetic

The Flight  4 Sights conclusion – life is to suffer Why? How do we stop it?  Renunciation and Austerities Wandering seeker Traveled with 5 other ascetics Meditation – deep trance Process fails answer his questions – why we suffer?

Discover – The Middle Way  Asceticism and self-denial Not providing the answers or wisdom he seeks Self denial was as unsatisfactory as a life of indulgence in the palace Offered a bowl of rice  Discovers the Middle Way A path between extremes Other ascetics felt betrayed If you tighten the string too tight it will break, if it is too loose then it will not play

Enlightenment  Resumed meditation and attained a higher state of consciousness 1. Remembered all his past lives 2. Saw the birth and death of all beings – resulting from their karma – good deeds led to a better life 3. Realizing this he removed craving and ignorance for himself  Achieved Nirvana – a state of supreme realization / enlightenment

Enlightenment continued  Siddhartha became the Buddha – The “ Enlightened one ” or “ One who has been awakened ”  4 Noble Truths  Noble Eight-fold Path

Buddhism Fundamentals  The 4 Noble Truths 1. The Noble Truth of Suffering 2. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering 3. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering 4. The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Extinction of Suffering The Noble Eight-Fold Path

The Buddha – Going Public  First Sermon, in the Deer Park Shared his new understanding with the original 5 ascetics Setting in motion the Wheel of the dharma  Sangha – Buddhist community Including the original 5 ascetics whom became monks  Dharma – teachings

Parinirvana  85 years old, sick  No successor since the Buddha never considered himself a leader  Declared that the dharma as well as the monastic rules would serve as the spiritual guide  Died – complete nirvana thus being released from the involuntary cycle of birth and death