1. Buddhism

3. Who is Buddha? His name: Siddhartha Guatama
Born into the Hindu religion in what is now Nepal

4. Who is he? His date of birth ? His date of death? Did he even exist?
What does Buddha mean?
Maybe 560 BC?
Maybe 486 BC?
Not really sure…not a lot of documentation…
“Awakened One”

5. Tradition says…
When Siddhartha was born a “seer” prophesied that he would be the greatest ruler in human history…..Unless….
He were to ever see sickness, old age, death, and a monk who had renounced the world….
He would give up his earthly rule and discover a way of salvation for all mankind.

6. A father’s response
The father built a palace so his son would never see those 4 things.
Eventually Siddhartha married….
…but the gods (which no one knows how many or who they are)…

7. Had other plans… Rode through a park and saw…
Man covered in horrible sores
Old man
Corpse being carried to his grave
A begging Monk who appeared happy and at peace….

8. Buddha
Left his home and family and tries to solve the riddle of “life”
Dressed as a monk, begged on street corners, starved himself, read Hindu passages to find “happiness”.
Finally, sat under a tree for 40 days and 40 nights. Swore he would not move until he found what he was searching for.

9. Buddha’s vision
At the end of 40 days he experienced Nirvana – a “blowing out of the flame of desire and the negation of suffering.”
He was now known as Buddha or ‘enlighten one’

10. Buddha’s Vision Saw the human race as a bed of Lotus flowers.
Some lotuses were in mud, others emerging from mud, others about to bloom.
All ppl had the ability to unfold their potential and some

11. Buddha’s 4 step plan: 4 Noble Truths.
His plan is like that of a doctor…
1. Suffering is universal
2. The cause of suffering is selfish desires. (wealth, status, comfort, etc)
3. Overcome suffering by eliminating selfish desires and ignorance.
4. Live by eightfold path (right speech, right living, right effort, right mindfulness, etc)

12. Eastern Religions Hindu was before Buddha.
Eastern religions emphasize that everything in the world is temporary, changing, unreal. The universe is a hindrance to experience “ultimate reality”
“ultimate reality is attainable within each individual.
God is seen as impersonal who takes no interest in people.

13. hindu
Hindu comes from the Indus River (sindu) which flows through Pakistan.
3rd largest religion
Belief in reincarnation and karma

14. Reincarnation – the soul must be repeatedly recycled into the world in different bodies – animals, plants, even humans, or inanimate objects

15. Karma Karma – law of cause and effect – merit and demerit
Merit and demerits attach to your soul based on how you live your life.
How you live in the past decides your present. Your present decides on your future

16. Hindu religion No known founder No creedal statements of faith
Belief in one god, no god, many of gods
“brahma” is your “ultimate reality”
Your soul is separated from brahma and your reincarnation is trying to get to your ultimate reality.

17. Reaching brahma 3 ways to get to brahma
1. path of works – social and religious obligation must be filled.
2. path of knowledge (only men)
3. path of passionate devotion. You choose one of the 330 million gods to follow.