1. Buddhism

2. Goals Review life of Siddhartha Gautama Examine principal tenets of Buddhism Provide background necessary to understand syncretism as discussed in Old World Encounters

3. Life of Siddhartha Gotama ca 563-483 BCE Prince in northern India Lived life of luxury, sheltered from pain At age 29 ventured from palace and discovered suffering of world Began six-year ascetic life Found no peace or wisdom

4. Night of Power Sat under Bodhi tree until he received enlightenment Saw all his former lives pass before him Discovered “Dhamma” (universal truth) Realized that everything is conditional Individuals have no self or soul Believing they do causes desire Became the Buddha, the enlightened one

5. Four Noble Truths Life is filled with suffering. Suffering is caused by desire. To end suffering, cease desire. To cease desire, follow the eight-fold path Goal is to end the cycle of samsarsa to achieve nirvana (“extinguishing”), no being

6. Eight-fold Path 1. Right knowledge 2. Right intention 3. Right speech 4. Right conduct 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right meditation

7. Unique characteristics of Buddhism Non-theistic religion, practically Reform movement within Hinduism Rejected ritual, prayers, caste system Not particularly successful in India Great expansion abroad Had to be adapted to local situations and existing belief systems

8. Five Precepts 1. Do not kill 2. Do not take what is not freely given 3. Do not commit unchaste acts 4. Do not lie 5. Do not drink intoxicants

9. Two branches of Buddhism Thervada South and southeast Asia Buddha as mortal Provides example Religion of self-reliant works Emphasize wisdom as enlightenment Mahayana North and east Asia Buddha as semi-divine Nirvana is paradise Bodhisattvas Emphasize compassion

10. Conclusion Buddhism has roots in Hinduism Goal is to escape samsarsa Based on presumption that life is suffering Emphasis on mediation and spiritual discipline as means to enlightenment Complemented indigenous religions in lands where it was planted