Download The Four Noble Truths

Chapter 6 Section 3
Origins of Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama’s
Search for Wisdom
• In the late 500’s BC, a
restless young man,
dissatisfied with the
teachings of Hinduism,
began to ask questions
about life and religious
matters. In time, he
found answers. These
answers attracted
many followers, and
his ideas became the
foundation of a major
religion in India.
Siddhartha sees
death for the
1st time
• Siddhartha was born 563
BC in northern India
near the Himalayas. He
was a prince who grew
up surrounded in luxury.
• When he left his
sheltered palace for the
first time as a young
man, he saw human
suffering all around him.
• Before the age of 30, he
left his home and family
to search for the
meaning of human life.
• Siddhartha wandered for
many years searching for
answers. He wanted to free
his mind from daily concerns.
For a while he didn’t wash
himself. He also started
fasting. He devoted much of
his time to meditation.
• He spent six years
wandering throughout India.
He eventually came to a
place near the town of Gaya,
near the Ganges River.
There he sat under a tree
and meditated for seven
weeks.
The Buddha Finds
Enlightenment
• He realized that human suffering
comes from three things:
• Wanting what we like but do not
have.
• Wanting to keep what we like
and already have.
• Not wanting what we dislike but
have.
• Siddhartha spent seven more weeks
meditating under the “Tree of
Wisdom”. He was about 35 years old
when he found “enlightenment”.
• He then would be called Buddha, or
the “Enlightened One”.
• He spent the rest of his life traveling
across India teaching people his
ideas. He was around 80 years old
when he died.
Mahabodhi Tree
where Siddhartha
found
enlightenment
• Buddha was raised a
Hindu so many of his
teachings reflect
Hindu ideas. He
believed that people
should act morally
and treat each others
well.
• *At the heart of the
Buddha’s teachings
are four guiding
principals, “The Four
Noble Truths”.*
What is Buddhism?
The Four Noble Truths
• To free your soul
from suffering and
achieve Nirvana
you will need to
follow the
“Eightfold Path”.
Buddha believed
that this path is the
“middle way”
between wanting
everything and
doing completely
without…
everything in
moderation.
What is Nirvana?
(look in your book)
An artist’s
interpretation
of
Nirvana
To reach
Nirvana you
must free your
soul from
suffering. If
you do this
you will be
free from
further
reincarnation.
Write two paragraphs
describing what
you think this
picture means in
relationship to
the teachings of
Buddha.
Hint:
Follow the
path from the
bottom, right
corner.
Notice the
change
in color of the
elephant, the
size of the fire,
and
the diminishing
black creature.
What does
“the Middle Way” mean??
Important
Concept!!!
• Buddha believed that
people should overcome
their desire for material
goods. However, they
should be reasonable.
• Example: Girls… you
would keep some of your
dresses but give some of
them away.
• Boys… you would keep
some of your XBOX
games but give some of
them away.
True or False?????
*Buddha says, “Contentment comes from gaining what you
want.”*
• Buddha was
opposed to the
caste system.
• Because of this
belief, many
people in the lower
classes supported
Buddha’s
teachings.
Important
Concept!!!
Spread of Buddhism
*What are missionaries?* (book)
Missionary
Priest in
Early
Americas
Missionary
In
India
Buddhist
monk
and
missionary,
Dali
Lama
Mother
Teresa,
nun and
missionary
The Spread of Buddhism
Summary
• Buddhism, one of India’s major religions,
grew more popular once it was adopted by
rulers of India’s great empires.
On a small
piece of
paper,
describe
this picture
with one
word.
Collect and
read
to class.