1. BUDDHISM

2. Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (560BC-480BC)
Prince in Nepal
Gave up his wife, family and kingdom to search for the reasons man suffered so much

3. Arrival of the Buddha

4. Six years While meditating the answer came to him From this point on he became known as the “Buddha” or enlightened one with spiritual knowledge

5. Buddha’s Teachings Four Noble Truths
All life contains sorrow and suffering
Desire for things man cannot have or attachment to material things leads to his sorrow
Man must overcome his desires to rid himself of suffering
Overcome desire by following the Noble Eightfold Path

6. Noble Eightfold Path Right Faith Right resolve to resist evil
Right Speech
Right Actions
Right Living
Right Effort
Right Thought
Right Meditation

7. Nirvana
It will take man several lifetimes to learn to overcome his desires
Once he had accomplished this the endless cycle of rebirths would end
Nirvana would be achieved (become one with the universe)

8. Asoka declares Buddhism the official religion of India
Sends missionaries to spread the faith
After Asoka’s death many of Buddhism’s ideas were absorbed into Hindu faith
Less than a million followers in India today
Still popular in Japan, China, and Korea

9. Mahayana Buddha was more than a teacher and that he was a god
Nirvana is a paradise similar to Christians heaven
Saints help men achieve Nirvana

10. Buddha was simple a teacher and the holiest life is followed by Buddhist monks
Theravada (Hinayana)

11. Zen
For the benefit of others
Popular among Japanese Samurai warriors