1. Buddhism
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
Siddhartha Gautama

2. 1. History Spiritual journey of Siddhartha Gautama
6th century B.C.E.
Time of change in the Hindu religion
rejecting the power and dominance of the Brahmin caste and the caste system generally.

3. 1. Founder Siddhartha Gautama aka – The Buddha
“The Enlightened One”
Siddhartha Gautama was born in 563 B.C. to a noble Hindu family in what is today Nepal.

4. The Legend… Read Aloud

5. The Legend…is Established
After 49 days of meditation, he had a vision allowing him to understand the cause of suffering – at which point he became known as “the Buddha”, or “enlightened one”

6. The Buddha’s Teachings

7. The Four Noble Truths Human suffering is universal
everyone suffers…life is full of suffering & sorrow
The cause of suffering is desire
all forms of desire
especially for the temporary desires of the material world.
3. The way to end suffering is to crush desire
Follow the Eightfold Path
the “middle way” between desire and self-denial.

8. The Eightfold Path

9. 2. Supporters/Sects
Over 300 million

10. Theravada Buddhism Monastic / reclusive Popular in southeast Asia.
Buddha = teacher, not as a god
Popular in southeast Asia.

11. Mahayana Buddhism
Worship the Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods
Popular in China, Japan & Korea
Influenced by and similar to Christianity.

12. Zen Buddhism More of a philosophy and meditative practice
enlightenment in only one lifetime
Japan
popular in North America and Europe.

13. 3. Major Scriptures

14. Tripitaka (3 baskets of wisdom)
Theravada sect
Contains discourses, rules of conduct and analysis of conduct

15. Sutras Mahayana sects Collection of “general truths”
a manual
Written in Sanskrit

16. 4. Goals

17. Nirvana
Nirvana: the goal of all Buddhists – an end to pain & desire – release from reincarnation

18. 5. Path of Attainment Three Jewels of Buddhism the Buddha
the Dharma (or teachings)
the Sangha (the community of monks and/or nuns)

19. 6. Beliefs Reincarnation (Samsara) Law of Karma Ahimsa
karma or doing good deeds
Prayer & fasting
Ahimsa
Non-violence

20. 7. Symbols The Wheel of Law Circle of Reincarnation
8 spokes… Eightfold path

21. 8. Holidays Important moments Buddha’s birthday Enlightenment Nirvana
Buddha Day May
Enlightenment
April 8
Nirvana