Buddhism

BuddhaEnlightened One/Awakened One

Buddhism is based on the teachings

of Buddha

• Buddha lived in India from 563 to 483 B.C.E •Before earning the title

Buddha, he was called Siddhartha Gautama.

Buddha was a Prince but left his royal life. He

went on a journey to find spiritual peace. On his

journey he learned many things, and it changed his life. He shared his

learning with other people - this began the religion of Buddhism.

Buddhism is very different from Hinduism.

Buddhism was not based on complicated rituals and beliefs in

many gods.

Instead… Buddhism was a way of life based

on simple teachings. Buddhism embraced all regardless of their caste. It taught people how to

reach enlightenment or happiness. Once they reached enlightenment, they would no

longer be reborn again and again.

Prince Siddhartha

Once there was a King and a Queen. They had a child named Prince

Siddhartha. Prince Siddhartha was born about 563 B.C.E.

One night before Queen Maya’s son

was born, the queen had a

dream.

She dreamt that a white elephant walked around her

and then struck her right side.

The Queen and King didn’t understand her dream, so they

asked the Hindu priests to explainthe dream.

The Swami said…

“You are carrying a child who will be a great man,” he told the queen. The Priest declared that the prince’s future held two possible paths. As a prince, he could rule their kingdom. If he left royal life to see the suffering in the world, however, he would become a Buddha, one who is enlightened.

The King and Queen had a choice to make:

Did they want their son to be a powerful, wealthy ruler?

Become a great holy man?

OR

They chose to protect their son from all the horrors of the world. Servants and beautiful women took care of the prince’s every need. Siddhartha enjoyed his easy life, yet he always felt curious about the world outside the palace walls. At the age of 16, Prince Siddhartha married a beautiful young princess. At 29, they had a son.

Once Prince Siddhartha had a child of his own,

his father gave him more freedom to travel

outside the royal palaces. During his

trips, the prince discovered three forms

of suffering.

On his first trip, he saw a thin man who walked with a stick. The man was very old, and his body was weakening.

On the second trip, the prince saw a man crying out in pain on the ground. The man was extremely sick.

On the third trip, the prince saw a group of people walking slowly down the road. The group carried a figure wrapped in white cloth – a person who had died.

The prince was deeply troubled by his

discovery of aging, sickness, and death.

The fourth time he went out, he met a man who gave up

everything (all worldly pleasures).

Siddhartha asked him, “How can you sit so peacefully when there is so much suffering around you?” The man replied, “To be free of suffering, one must give up the desires, pleasures, and comforts of the world. I find peace by helping others find peace.”

Prince Siddhartha’s experiences with suffering changed him forever.

Suddenly, his royal life seemed empty. He wanted to find the happiness and

peace that man had found.

One night the prince went to the edge of the dark forest. Siddhartha removed his royal robes, sandals, and jewels and cut his beautiful hair. He put on a simple robe and kept only a small bowl for food. He believed he would reach enlightenment through meditation. While meditating, he sat quietly and focused his mind on spiritual questions. He also denied his body many basic needs.

This was extreme!Siddhartha realized that giving up bodily pleasures did not bring enlightenment. He wanted a “middle way,” a balance between the extremes of pleasure and pain. He was not enlightened yet, but he was on the right path.

Siddhartha turned 35, and he walked until he reached a tree now

known as the Bodhi tree. (enlightenment tree)

He promised to meditate under the tree until he reached enlightenment.

He meditated all night thinking about how to reach true happiness and peace. By morning, he had reached enlightenment and become Buddha.

Sermon at Deer Park

• The Buddha taught others what he learned under that bodhi tree:

1. The Middle Way2. The Four Noble Truths3. The Noble Eightfold Path• This has become the core of Buddhism today!

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