1. Buddhism

2. Buddhism

3. The Life of Gautama
Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born into the warrior caste . His father ruled over a small region of northern India.
Siddhartha led a pampered life, but the Four Passing Sights ( an old man, a diseased man, a corpse, and a mendicant), caught his attention and disturbed him.
Siddhartha discovered the Middle Way, the central teaching of Buddhism. This way rejects both extremes of sensual indulgence and asceticism.
He and his followers formed the sangha, or Buddhist community.

4. Three Marks of Existence
Anatta - there is no ultimate reality, no essence underlying existence, nothing exists beyond the present moment. The essence of Buddhism is that there is no essence.
Anicca - The world is constantly changing - “impermanence”
Dukka - suffering is part of the human condition and the first of the Four Noble Truths

5. The Dharma
Buddhist teachings may be difficult to understand, but because they are based on the insights of a human being, they are potentially understandable to anyone.
Buddhism emphasizes the development of wisdom rather than faith.
Buddhism reacted against Hinduism in some respects: philosophical speculation was rejected as was the institutional form of Hinduism. Also, the teachings of Buddhism were written available in an accessible language rather than solely in Sanskrit.

6. Three Rafts to Cross the River
Theravada Buddhism - focuses on the teachings of the Buddha rather than on the Buddha himself. Adherents of Theravada practice the Noble Eightfold Path, which emphasizes meditation. Arhats are the ideal type in Theravada, whom all strive to imitate.
Mahayana Buddhism - focuses on the Buddha himself, celebrating him as a divine savior. Salvation comes through the infinite grace of the compassionate Buddha.
Vajrayana Buddhism - “fights fire with fire.” It harness the energy of desire and turns it against itself to propel the individual towards enlightenment. Tibetans practice this.

7. What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a major world religion, or in a better sense, philosophy.
It is the 4th largest religion of the world, and has about 300,000,000 people living by it.
It explains the purpose of life, injustices and inequality around the world.
It also helps people by providing a way of life that will lead to true happiness.

8. The History of Buddhism
It was all started by Buddha, who was a prince in Lumbini, 2500 years ago.
He was very unhappy in his royal life, so he set off on a 6 year journey, exploring other religions.
After his long journey and much meditation he was finally “enlightened”.
He found the middle path, the key to human happiness. For the rest of his life he wandered Asia, preaching his new religion.

9. What Did Buddha Teach?
He taught the 4 Noble truths which sum up Buddhism religion
He also taught the noble eight fold path
He taught to lead a moral life, be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions and to develop wisdom and understanding
He also taught the 5 precepts

10. What are the Four Noble Truths?
The first was that life is suffering
You can’t live without death, frustration, etc.
The second is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion
Getting what you want doesn’t guarantee happiness, it deprives you of it
The third is that suffering can be overcome, and true happiness attained
If we stop craving useless things, and live each day at a time (not living in the future) we will be happy and free.
The fourth is that the Noble eight fold path leads to the end of all suffering

11. FIRST NOBLE TRUTH: LIFE INEVITABLY INVOLVES SUFFERING: Illness Hateful
Imperfect
Illness
Hateful
Separation

12. SECOND NOBLE TRUTH: THE ORIGIN OF SUFFERING IS OUR DESIRES:
Grasping for pleasure
Grasping for becoming
Grasping for sensual delight
Grasping for what we don’t have

13. THIRD NOBLE TRUTH: SUFFERING WILL STOP WHEN DESIRES ARE STOPPED:
When the ‘grasping’ stops
Elimination of passions

14. FOURTH NOBLE TRUTH:
THERE IS A WAY TO GET TO THIS POINT: THE EIGHTFOLD PATH

15. The Noble Eightfold Path
It taught 8 simple rules:
To have a right understanding
To have right thoughts
To use right speech
To do right actions
To deal with right livelihood
To give a right effort
To have a right mindfulness
To use the right meditation

16. The 5 precepts Do not take the life of anything living
Do not take anything not freely given
Abstain from sensual overindulgence
Refrain from untrue speech
Avoid intoxication
Do not lose mindfulness
This is the moral code of the Buddhists