BuddhismBuddhism

Leaders & TextLeaders & Text

Who do believers worship?Who do believers worship? Do not worship a godDo not worship a god

Who are their leaders?Who are their leaders? Monks & NunsMonks & Nuns

What was the name of their What was the name of their sacred text?sacred text? Jatakas Jatakas

FounderFounder

Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 483 BCE)Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 483 BCE) AKA = Buddha AKA = Buddha

Meaning?Meaning? The Enlightened One The Enlightened One

Birth (563 BCE)Birth (563 BCE)

Noble family Noble family Time of common questioning of HinduismTime of common questioning of HinduismLots of omensLots of omens

gold-tinged skin, a bump on his head, webbed gold-tinged skin, a bump on his head, webbed fingers/toes, a long tongue & hair b/w his eyebrowsfingers/toes, a long tongue & hair b/w his eyebrows

If he stayed home, he would become a ruler, if he left If he stayed home, he would become a ruler, if he left home, he would become a religious man home, he would become a religious man

SiddharthaSiddhartha

What would your average father want?What would your average father want?Great rulerGreat ruler

How do you keep your son at home?How do you keep your son at home? Sheltered him from the outside worldSheltered him from the outside world

Royal treatment Royal treatment incentive to never leave home incentive to never leave home Spoil himSpoil him

Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama @ 29 left the palace 4 @ 29 left the palace 4

times and saw…times and saw…

1.1. An old manAn old man

2.2. A sick manA sick man

3.3. A corpseA corpse

4.4. Wandering holy manWandering holy man Seemed @ peaceSeemed @ peace

Conclusion:Conclusion: Life is suffering Life is suffering Rel. life offers peaceRel. life offers peace

Went in search of Rel. truthWent in search of Rel. truth

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Spent 6 yrs in forests seeking Spent 6 yrs in forests seeking enlightenment enlightenment Debated w/ Rel. leadersDebated w/ Rel. leaders Meditation Meditation Ascetic Ascetic

Extreme self-denialExtreme self-denial

Yet no truth!Yet no truth!

49 days of meditation 49 days of meditation →→ Bodhi tree Bodhi tree MusicianMusician’’s Quote?s Quote?

'If you make the string too tight, it will break. 'If you make the string too tight, it will break. If you make the string too loose, it will not plaIf you make the string too loose, it will not playy ””

Eureka! ~~ Enlightenment ~~Eureka! ~~ Enlightenment ~~

Buddhism – Basic Buddhism – Basic BeliefsBeliefs

Path to Nirvana?Path to Nirvana? Through moderation in all things Through moderation in all things Not extremesNot extremes

self-indulgence or self-denialself-indulgence or self-denial Middle WayMiddle Way

Buddhism - Basic Buddhism - Basic BeliefsBeliefs

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Eight Fold PathEight Fold Path

Reincarnation & Karma Reincarnation & Karma

Nirvana Nirvana

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

1.1. Life is sufferingLife is suffering

2.2. Cause? Cause? • Desire for pleasures of this worldDesire for pleasures of this world

3.3. End suffering?End suffering?• End desiresEnd desires

4.4. Overcome desires & attain enlightenment Overcome desires & attain enlightenment • Follow Eightfold PathFollow Eightfold Path

aka Middle Way aka Middle Way

Eightfold PathEightfold Path

Guide to behaviorGuide to behavior

Goal Goal Nirvana Nirvana Release from Release from

selfishness & painselfishness & pain

Buddhism & SocietyBuddhism & Society

How do Buddhist feel about the caste How do Buddhist feel about the caste system?system? Reject it!Reject it! Anyone can reach nirvanaAnyone can reach nirvana

What is the effect on society?What is the effect on society? Created religious communities (Created religious communities (sangha)sangha) MissionariesMissionaries Social order Social order