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Chapter 5: India’s First Empires
Lesson 2: Buddhism
Pages 96 – 99
Part A: Buddhism’s Emergence
1. Siddhartha Gautama was the son of
a princely family in a small kingdom
in the foothills of the Himalayas in
what is today part of southern Nepal
2. In his late twenties he set out to find
a solution to the pain of
illness/suffering, the sorrow of
death, and the effects of old age on
ordinary people
Part A: Buddhism’s Emergence
3. After a period of asceticism did not yield
results, he turned to meditation, and found
enlightenment.
4. Though it may have begun as an attempt to
reform Hinduism, Buddhism became a new
religion dedicated to awakening /
enlightenment and seeing the world anew.
Part B: The Principles of Buddhism
5. In Buddhism, Bodhi, or wisdom, is the key step in
achieving Nirvana, or the union with the ultimate
reality / enlightenment (release from reincarnation)
6. The Buddha taught a path of moderation he called
the Middle Way, also known as Eightfold Path to
enlightenment
Part B: The Principles of Buddhism
7. Siddhartha accepted the idea of
reincarnation, but rejected the
Hindu caste system and Hinduism’s
multitude of gods.
8. Overtime, Siddhartha agreed to
accept women into the Buddhist
monastic order, and though they
held an inferior position, their
status was higher in Buddhist
societies than elsewhere
The Four Noble Truths
1. Ordinary life is full of suffering
2. This suffering is caused by our desires and
greed
3. The way to end suffering is to end desire,
selfishness, and greed
4. The way to end desire is to follow the Middle
Path or Way through moderation
The Eightfold Path
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Nirvana?
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HC8