T = Buddhism

Key Ideas* Origins and Development

* Beliefs

* Spread & Influence

Adapted from L. Barnes Lecture

•Originated in Northern India/Nepal in 563 B.C.

•Founder – Siddhartha Gautama

•Born a prince and protected from the real world

•Rejected the Hindu caste system

•According to Buddhist legend

•Siddhartha encounters poverty, disease, death and is shocked.

•Feels he can longer enjoy his life of comfort and security

•Seeks a greater truth, meditates and finds enlightenment

•Becomes the Buddha. Story of Siddhartha

Buddhism – Origins and Development

• Non-theistic -- Buddhism does not have a

specific god or gods, but believes in energy

of all beings.

• Worship is through meditation and chanting

not complex rituals (as in Hinduism)

Buddhism – Origins and Development

1. Search for and attain enlightenment – pure wisdom

2. Understand the 4 Noble truths.

3. Follow the Eightfold Path which offers a way to end

suffering and find peace.

Beliefs of Buddhism

•Karma and reincarnation continues until a person reaches

nirvana – an ideal state of happiness and peace.

•Unlike Hindu reincarnation:

•Buddhist reincarnation rejects rebirth into caste system

•Not reborn into a different body (more of a spiritual process)

Beliefs of Buddhism

1. “Suffering is present in all things and nothing lasts forever.”

2. “The cause of suffering is desire.” (human attachment to pleasure, power, possessions causes suffering)

3. “Removing desire removes suffering.”

4. “The way to remove desire is to follow the Eightfold Path.”

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:

1. Right understanding: know the 4 Noble Truths.

2. Right purpose: Live a life of selflessness.

3. Right speech: Be truthful in what you say.

4. Right action: Do not kill, steal, lie, hurt others.

5. Right livelihood: Earn a living in ways that do

not harm.

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH – a set of

guidelines to achieve enlightenment

6. Right effort: Promote good actions, prevent evil actions

7. Right mindfulness: Be aware but not attached to your

feelings.

8. Right concentration: Focus your mind with practices

such as meditation. Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage Site

•4th largest religion on the world.

•Became less important in India

•Very important in Tibet/Nepal/Bhutan

Spread and Influence

•Spread through South Asia

•Theravada branch (means “way of the elders”)

•focuses on solitary introspection; only monks can attain Nirvana

•

•Spread through East Asia

•Mahayana branch -- means “the bigger raft,” focuses on teaching, compassion, helping others; anyone can attain Nirvana

•Zen – mainly Japan, focuses on meditation

Spread and Influence

DUE FRIDAY 2/24 -- Similarities and Differences of Hinduism and Buddhism

1. Create a chart that looks like the chart below and analyze the similarities and differences in

Hinduism and Buddhism.

2. At the bottom of your chart, write a topic sentence using the prompt below.

Prompt: Describe some similarities and differences of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Write a topic sentence for this prompt. (Your topic sentence should identify both Hinduism

and Buddhism (subjects) to be compared or contrasted and tell the reader exactly what you are

going to say about these subjects.

Hinduism Buddhism