1. What Buddha Discovered…
Reaching Enlightenment: The Cure for Suffering

2. Date: 3/9/15
Topic: Buddhism
Essential Questions:
1. How does geography help religion spread?
2.Is Buddhism monotheistic or polytheistic? Explain.
3. How might Buddhism change people’s views about the caste system?
4. Compare Hinduism and Buddhism.
Interaction
Notes:

3. Essential Questions 1. How does geography help religion spread?
2.Is Buddhism monotheistic or polytheistic? Explain.
3. How might Buddhism change people’s views about the caste system?
4. Compare Hinduism and Buddhism.

4. Who is Buddha? Buddha = “Enlightened One”
Stop and Think: What does it mean to be enlightened?

5. Who is Buddha? Siddhartha Gautama – prince of India
Wanted to find out why there was suffering in the world
Death
Sickness
Old age
He talked to many religious people but they could not help him answer his question

6. Don’t write this! Let’s try meditation To calm or clear the mind
To focus on a single object
Easy?
Difficult?
Explain

7. Buddha’s Journey
He began to meditate: focus the mind inward in order to find spiritual awareness
After 49 days of mediation he found his answer
He became the Enlightened One – The Buddha

8. “This is my last advice to you. All… things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation.
The Buddha
(according to legend – his dying words)

9. Causes of suffering Selfish desires for … Buddha’s Journey Power
Wealth
Pleasure

10. Buddha’s Journey Accepted idea of karma Didn’t believe in any god
Didn’t accept the idea of “permanent soul”
A “self” might be reborn in a new body, but “self” is an illusion
The “self” would disappear and cease to exist when a person achieved enlightenment
Didn’t believe in any god
Didn’t accept the caste system

11. Buddha's Journey As Ms. Carso would say “To Review…” MIDDLE WAY!
Grew up in live of extreme pleasure
Left for a life of extreme suffering
Discovered the need to find a middle ground between the two …
MIDDLE WAY!

12. The Middle Way
Buddhism teaches people to follow the Eightfold Path or Middle Way
It is a life balanced between extreme pleasure or extreme unhappiness
It’s in the middle!

13. (Sub-heading)The Eightfold Path
The Middle Way
(Sub-heading)The Eightfold Path
1: Right Understanding – having faith in Buddhist view of the universe
2: Right Intention – making a commitment to practice Buddhism
3: Right Speech – avoiding lies and mean or abusive speech
4: Right Action – not taking life, not stealing and not hurting others

14. The Middle Way
5: Right Livelihood – rejecting jobs that conflict with Buddhist ideals
6: Right Effort – avoiding bad attitudes and developing good ones
7: Right Mindfulness – being aware of one’s own body, feelings, and thoughts
8: Right Concentration – thinking deeply to find answers to problems

15. Goal of Buddhism Life Death Rebirth Release
If people can follow the Middle Way/Eightfold Path, their suffering can end
They will have achieved nirvana – lasting peace
They will be released from the cycle of reincarnation
Life
Death
Rebirth
Release
(Nirvana)

16. Goal of Buddhism Buddhism spread around Asia Spread thru… Missionaries
China
Japan
Koreas
Tibet
Vietnam
Spread thru…
Missionaries
Traders

17. Appeal of Buddhism
Anyone could follow the path to nirvana – regardless of social class
Many people who lived under the caste system liked the sound of that!!

18. Hindus & Buddhists Are they similar or different? Nature
Leader/Founder
Monotheistic/Polytheistic
Reincarnation
Prayer
Location
Caste System
Texts
Others?