1. Buddhism

2. Buddhism…
A 2500 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout Asia
A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 300 million people
Based on the teachings of the Buddha

3. Who was the Buddha?
Born Siddhartha Gautama – of noble caste in India, 563 B.C.E.
Raised in great luxury to be a king
Felt empathy for the suffering of others;
At age 29 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering
Followed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six years

4. The Buddha, cont.
Rejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved Nirvana – an awakening to the truth about life, becoming a Buddha, (Awakened One) at the age of 35
Spent the rest of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved

5. What did the Buddha teach?
The Four Noble Truths:
All life is suffering
The cause of suffering is desire & attachments
The solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth)
The way to Nirvana is through the “Eightfold Path”

6. What is the Eight-Fold Path?
Wisdom:
1. Right understanding
2. Right motivation
Moral discipline:
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
Mental discipline:
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right meditation

7. What do Buddhists believe?
Once Gautama Buddha died, he ceased to exist
Buddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is not the Buddhist god – he is just a revered teacher

8. How is Buddhism similar to Hinduism?
Both faiths believe in…
Nonviolence
Reincarnation
Moksha / Nirvana

9. How does Buddhism differ from Hinduism?
Buddhism rejects…
Authority of the ancient Vedic texts
The caste system
The many Hindu gods
Hindu priests

10. Spread of Buddhism Buddha attracted many followers.
Buddhist monks
They set up monasteries and convents for mediation and study.
A monastery in Bhutan

11. The Spread of Buddhism
Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism to north and east into Asia
By the1100s, Buddhism had disappeared from India

12. Adapted from:
Introduction to Buddhism by
Laura Ellen Shulman