1. BUDDHISM

2. Who is followed?
Buddhists do not worship a god or gods, but instead dedicate their lives to the teaching of the Buddha, which means enlightened one. They try to live a simple life and follow the eightfold path.

3. Religious Book Dharma- a collection of Buddha's teachings
Dharma means the true nature of things.
Ahimsa- means nonviolence
Buddha rejected the idea that people in upper castes were holier than others.

4. The Beginning
Siddhartha Gautama ( B.C.) was born a Hindu prince.
A priest predicted that he would become a wandering holy man.
To prevent this, his father sheltered him and gave him lots of material things.
His father made sure he knew nothing about poverty, suffering, or death.

5. Siddhartha’s Journey
At age 29, Siddhartha left the palace and was upset with the troubles he saw.
He fled the castle leaving his wife and new born son behind.
His goal was to search for peace in a world of suffering.
For six years he starved himself but still did not find any answers to end world suffering.

6. Four Noble Truths
Siddhartha meditated under a fig tree (this is sometimes referred to as the “Enlightenment”) and came up with the Four Noble Truths:
1. People suffer because their minds are not at ease.
2. Suffering comes from wanting what one doesn’t have or from wanting life to be different.
3.People can stop suffering by not wanting.
4. People can stop wanting by following the Eightfold Path.

7. Stop to Discuss What is the difference between a want and a need?
Do you think you could stop wanting?
Would this make you happier? Why or why not?

8. Main Teachings: The Eightfold Path
This means having the right opinions, desires, speech ,actions, job, effort, concentration, and meditation.
Buddha said this path could lead to Nirvana- the end of suffering.
Reaching nirvana broke the cycle of reincarnation.
This means there is no need for another rebirth.

9. Place of Worship
Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple. It is not considered essential to go to a temple to worship with others.

10. Religious Rituals/traditions
Meditation - Mental concentration and mindfulness
Mantras - Sacred sounds
Prayer Wheels - Reciting mantras with the turn of a wheel
Pilgrimage - Visiting sacred sites

11. Pilgrimage
For centuries, Buddhists come to visit places in India and Nepal associated with Buddha’s life.

12. Symbol
The Wheel is the symbol of Buddhism, because Buddha’s teachings were intended to break the cycle of births and deaths.

14. Why it Matters Now Buddhism helped to shape many Asian cultures.
Today most Buddhist live in Sri Lanka, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Japan.