1. Buddhism – Quick Facts One of the four largest religions in the world today with over 350 million followers Followers are known as Buddhists Followers are located primarily in Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc.) Based on pursuit of enlightenment (Nirvana) Key Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path

2. Buddhist Shrine in Japan

3. Founder: Siddhartha Gautama Born in India, raised in luxury, was overcome with the suffering that exists in the world Set out to find enlightenment through physical deprivation – found it didn’t work Found enlightenment through the “Middle Path” – moderation and getting rid of desires Got followers and became known as Buddha (“The Enlightened One”)

4. Main Beliefs Goal: to end the cycle of rebirth and suffering : Attain Nirvana! Attained by: discarding desires How: Meditating on the Four Noble Truths

5. Four Noble Truths 1. The world is suffering 2. The cycle of reincarnation is a result of desires “The thirst for existence leads from rebirth to rebirth...” 3. suffering ends by eliminating desires “Nirvana”literally means “Snuffing Out” as greed, hatred, desire, and delusion are all extinguished 4. One can eliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path

6. The Eightfold Path RIGHT VIEW: Accepting Buddhist views. RIGHT RESOLVE: A serious commitment to developing the right attitudes. RIGHT SPEECH: telling the truth and speaking in a thoughtful and sensitive way. RIGHT ACTION: Abstaining from wrongful behavior or over indulgence. RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: Avoiding a livelihood that harms others. RIGHT EFFORT: Controlling one’s thoughts and cultivating positive states of mind RIGHT MINDFULNESS: Cultivating constant awareness RIGHT MEDITATION: Developing deep levels of mental calm through various techniques which concentrate the mind and integrate the personality.

7. Places of Worship Places of Worship include Stupas, Temples, and Shrines A Stupa in Thailand A Temple in Japan

8. Leaders There are two types of leaders in Buddhism, priests and monks Bodhisatvas: Those who’ve attained enlightenment but experience rebirth to help others (a saint)

9. Symbols Wheel of Life 8 spokes remind people of the Eightfold path and the wheel represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth Lotus Flower symbolizes purity

10. Holy Book The Tripitaka –Written down from what oral tradition said about Buddha’s sayings When written in English, it is over 40 volumes!

11. Divisions There are two main branches of Buddhism Mahayana –Believes Buddha was divine Theravada –Believes Buddha was a great teacher