• Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature

• Gautama born 500s BC

• Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal

– Led sheltered life

– Unaware of hardship

– Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died

THE LIFE OF BUDDHA

• Gautama resolved to find way to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suff ering

• Gave up possessions, left palace

• Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years

• Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment

Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way

Stories say he meditated all night

Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations

At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One

Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places

BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT

There is suffering in the world

The cause of self suffering is self centered desire

The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments

To reach nirvana you must follow the Eightfold Path

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

BELIEFS OF BUDDHISM

A major change in Gautama’s thinking was when he decided to stop looking outwardly to understand the cause of suff ering. Instead, he decided to look within his own mind.

Instead of worshipping gods or a god, Buddha taught his followers that the answer to human suff ering was in right thinking and self-denial.

A big diff erence between Buddhism and other major religions is that in Buddhism you do not worship many gods or even one god.

According to Buddha, human suff ering happens because of our selfi sh desires for things like power, wealth, and pleasure. The way to be happy was to give up those selfi sh desires.

He called this path to happiness the Middle Way = MODERATION

In Buddhism, people are to act unselfi shly , treat people fairly , tell the truth all the time, avoid violence and the killing of any living thing

When people learned to follow this Buddhist Middle Path, they would fi nd lasting peace, called nirvana . Once a person reached this point, that person would no longer need to go through reincarnation

GIVING UP DESIRES

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH

SPREAD OF BUDDHISM

Theravada Buddhism The oldest school of Buddhism.

The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”

Found in southern Asia. The monastic life is the best way

to achieve nirvana. Focus on wisdom and meditation. Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”

Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism The “Great Vehicle.”

Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).

Buddhism “for the masses.” Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas,

wise beings. Goal: Not just individual escape from

the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Tibetan Buddhism The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]

Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.

A mix of Theravada and Mahayana. Boddhisatvas include

Lamas, like the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead[Bardo Thodol].

Zen Buddhism

The “Meditation School.” Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori]

through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata].

Use of meditation masters [Roshi]. Beauty, art, and aesthetics:

Gardens. Archery. Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.