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Buddhism
Maitreya Buddha
• Name means “future
Buddha”. Many believe
he will return to earth
in the future to restore
Buddhist ideals
• He is a Chinese symbol
that most assume is the
Buddha, he is not.
• He is a symbol for
generosity
Terms to Know
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Buddha
Siddhartha Guatama
Ascetic
Middle-Way
Bodhi Tree
Enlightenment
Nirvana
Karma
4 Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
The Bodhi Tree
• Mahabodhi tree (Sacred Fig)
next to the Mahabodhi Temple,
the spot where Siddhartha
Gautama, the Buddha, attained
enlightenment. It is supposedly
the descendent of the original
tree.
Facts
• Buddhism is the 4th largest religion with about
360 million followers.
• Branches away from Hinduism
• Founder is the 1st Buddha, a former Hindu
prince by the name of Siddhartha Guatama.
• 1st written records of Buddhism came about
400 years after Buddha’s death.
• Theism varies from somewhat atheistic to
polytheistic, to pantheistic.
God(s)
• Gods are real but they are not the focus like
many religions. Some Buddhists place little
emphasis if any on deities.
• Focus is on the pursuit of an individual’s
spiritual goals and the complete
understanding of reality and life
(enlightenment).
The Start of Buddhism
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Siddhartha Gautama : Born 583 BC near Nepal.
Wealthy son of king.
Sheltered, well educated, and is married
Escapes the palace around age 29
– Old man
– Sick man
– Corpse
– Ascetic
Realizes the inescapable fate of all humans
Begins his quest for enlightenment and an escape from rebirth
Becomes an ascetic
Switches to the “Middle Way”
Sits under a Bodhi Tree
The Ultimate Goal: Achieve
Nirvana
• The breaking of the cycle of rebirth.
• It has no definition to Buddhists because it
must be experienced to be understood
• You want to avoid life’s roadblocks that
prevent you from reaching Nirvana.
• This can be done by following the “Four Noble
Truths”.
The Bedrock of Buddhism: The
Four Noble Truths (essential for enlightenment)
1) All of life is marked by suffering (life is
suffering)
2) Suffering is caused by desires and
attachment.
3) Suffering can be eliminated by abandoning
desires and attachments.
4) Desires and attachments can be eliminated
by following The Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path (to enlightenment)
1) Right Understanding
– Develop an understanding of the world through the 4
Noble Truths.
2) Right Thought
– Avoid Jealous or angry thoughts: foster thoughts of
goodwill.
3) Right Speech
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avoid lying, harsh words, etc.
4) Right Action
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peaceful honest and pure conduct.
Eightfold Path Continued
5) Right livelihood
- earn your living in an honest and righteous way.
6) Right Effort
- practice discipline and cultivation of the mind
7) Right Alertness
- awareness of your own actions works and thoughts and their
reality, not conceptualizations.
8) Right Concentration
- the ability to become completely absorbed in one point or object
leading to a state of higher consciousness (meditation)
Purpose in Life and the Afterlife (will
vary based on sect)
• Focus of life is understanding human nature and
reality
• Death is followed by reincarnation based on Karma.
(may take animal form, human, or even a god)
• The only way to break this cycle is to achieve
enlightenment (complete understanding) and enter
Nirvana.
• Some Buddhists believe in the idea of a Bodhisattva –
one who has achieved enlightenment but postpones
eternal nirvana to return to earth and help others
achieve it.
Buddhist Quotes
• The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.