1. Buddhism

2. How did Buddhism Start?

3. Origins of Buddhism Siddhartha’s Early Life
Founder  Siddhartha Gautama = Gautama Buddha
5th century B.C.
Siddhartha born  Prince
After birth  Father visited by wise man
Wise Man said  Siddhartha will be a
Great King OR Holy Man
Father  Wanted Great King
Sheltered Siddhartha  Unpleasant Life
Worked until  29 yrs old discovered
“The 4 Sights”
Old Man  Aging
Diseased Man  Sickness
Decaying Corpse  Death
Monk  Ascetic

4. Origins of Buddhism: Siddhartha's Journey
The 4 Sights  Depressed Siddhartha
Tried to overcome  Left Palace to  Be an Ascetic
Became Mendicant- holy person living on charity
Experimented with extreme Asceticism
Fasted
Held Breath
Exposure to Pain
Being based on self deprivation  unproductive
Abandoned Asceticism  Focused on Meditation
Practiced  Anapanasati – awareness of breath
Discovered the “Middle Path”

5. Origins of Buddhism: The Middle Path
The Middle Path A Path of Moderation
Mid-way between extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification
Accepted milk and rice from a village girl
Ate it under a Sacred Fig Tree or “Bodhi Tree” Vowed not to get up until he discovered the ‘truth’

6. Origins of Buddhism
Companions  Thought he abandoned search & was undisciplined  Left him
After yrs old Attained “Bodhi” or “Enlightenment”
After “Enlightenment”  Attained Bodhi  Became Buddha
Spent the rest of his life teaching  Dharma (insights)
Died  80 yrs old  Kushingara, India

7. Modern Buddhism How many Buddhists are there?
310 million worldwide
4th largest world religion after
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Where are most of them located?
Worldwide
Southeast Asia
East Asia
India
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Tibet
Bhutan
Western Countries
Buddhists are divided into 3 groups
Tharaveda (Southern Buddhism)
East Asia (Eastern Buddhism)
Tibetan (Northern Buddhism)

8. Foundations of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
Three Jewels

9. Foundations of Buddhism: Four Noble Truths อริยสัจสี่,
Life Is Suffering
Suffering  Comes from Desire
You can get rid of Suffering
Suffering can be stopped  Freedom from Desire
Follow the 8 Fold Path and “Middle Way”

10. Foundations of Buddhism: Eight Fold Path อริยมรรคแปด
Wisdom
Right View
Right Intention
Ethical Conduct
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livlihood
Mental Discipline
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

11. Foundations of Buddhism: Nirvana निर्वाण; นิพพาน
Nirvana is:
Perfect Enlightenment
Nature of the true mind is revealed
All Conflicts Dissolved  Disciplined Life
Perfect Peace of Mind Free from
Desire
Craving
Nirvana = Total Peace and Contentment

12. Foundations of Buddhism: The Three Jewels
Buddha 佛陀
Enlightened or Awakened One
Buddha within all things
Dharma 法
Teachings of Buddha
Sangha 僧
Community of Great People Attained Enlightenment
Help Others  Attain Enlightenment