2. Buddhism 4 th largest religion in the world About 500 million people follow Buddhism (half a billion) 6% of the world’s population

3. Buddhism Founded in 535 B.C. in India Started by Siddhartha Gautama -He is known as the Buddha -Buddha means “The Awakened One”

4. Siddhartha Guatama The Story of Buddha (Video)

5. The story of Siddhartha Gautama Born a prince, Siddhartha Gautama was never allowed outside of his palace – His father shielded him from suffering, sickness, and death During a parade, he saw old and sick people for the first time and learned the 3 truths of life: 1)Everyone gets old 2)Everyone gets sick 3)Everyone dies

6. Siddhartha becomes Buddha After seeing suffering, he dedicated his life to ending it As he was meditating, he was able to understand the whole universe, the end of suffering, and the way to inner peace At this moment he became the Buddha, which means “The Awakened One”

7. Buddhism- The Four Noble Truths 1)Suffering Exists 2)There is a cause for suffering 3)There is an end to suffering 4)To end suffering, one must follow the “Eightfold Path”

8. Buddhism- The Eightfold Path “How to end suffering and find inner peace” 1)Right Understanding 2)Right Thinking 3)Right Speech 4)Right Conduct 5)Right Livelihood 6)Right Effort 7)Mindfulness 8)Right Concentration WISDOM ETHICAL CONDUCT MENTAL DEVELOPMENT

9. Buddhist Principles Buddhism was based on several important principles: – Peace with others – Harmony with nature – Simple life (don’t need money or possessions) Buddhism did not require priests or gods Anyone could achieve enlightenment and inner peace by following the Eightfold path

10. Spread of Buddhism The Buddha would go on to spread his religion throughout Asia – Buddhism began in India, but spread to the north and east Today, Buddhism is mostly practiced in Southeast Asia: – China – Japan – Thailand – Cambodia – Vietnam

11. Your own research- Using online sources, find the answers to the questions below 11) Who is the leader of Buddhism today? Where does he live and what is his life like? 12) What major holidays do Buddhists celebrate?

12. Extra Credit- You have the opportunity to earn extra points by doing extra research Write your answers on an extra sheet of paper and include them in your Religions Encyclopedia when you turn it in. You can earn up to 10 points of extra credit on a formal assignment

13. Possible extra credit questions: -Describe the life of a Buddhist monk. Where do most Buddhist monks live? -How many Buddhists live in the United States? -What is the largest Buddhist temple in the U.S.? -Do Buddhists believe in god(s)? Why or why not? -Who are some famous Buddhist followers? *You can come up with similar questions and research your answers