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Title: Buddhism
The Life of the Buddha
In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in ancient
India. That religion was Buddhism.
Early Life
• 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
Buddha’s Enlightenment
• Gautama resolved to find way to
overcome age, sickness, keep people
from suffering
• 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
The Life of the Buddha
Gautama was determined to find way to end human
suffering
• 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
The Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Beliefs
• After enlightenment achieved, Buddha
meditated at Bodh Gaya seven weeks
• Set out to spread to others what he
had learned
• Lessons became basic teachings of
Buddhism
• Among ideas learned in meditation,
central truths, called Four Noble
Truths
Four Noble Truths
• Suffering part of human life
• Suffering from people’s desires for
pleasure, material goods
• Overcoming desires during life
eventually brings end to suffering
• Desires can be overcome by following
Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path
Series of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation
• Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths
• Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things
• Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words
• Right action, or treating others fairly
• Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others
• Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself
• Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one
• Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while meditating
Nirvana
The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could
attain nirvana - State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering
forever.
• Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of
suffering again
• Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in
moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in
search for nirvana
Divisions of Buddhism
After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the correct teachings
and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main Buddhist traditions formed—
Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.
Theravada
• “Way of the Elders”
• Oldest tradition
• Best way to attain
nirvana: be monk, nun,
meditate
• Find one path to
enlightenment; very
much an individual
religion
Mahayana
• Teaches people can
help each other find
enlightenment
• Not necessary to be
monk, nun
• Bodhisattvas,
enlightened people not
yet passed to nirvana,
help others
Tibetan
• Shares many Mahayana
teachings
• Also believes special
techniques can harness
spiritual energy, lead to
nirvana in single
lifetime
The Spread of Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism spread into
other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million people are Buddhists, most of
them concentrated in Asia. Relatively few people in India are Buddhists today.
Buddhism in India
Ashoka
• Buddhist community in India grew
throughout Buddha’s life
• 200s BC, Buddhism reached peak in
India during reign of emperor Ashoka
• Followers spread teachings after
Buddha’s death
• Ashoka became Buddhist, helped
spread Buddhism into all parts of India
• Teachings not written down until first
century BC; helped preserve, spread
teachings throughout India
Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message to lands outside
of India.
Buddhism Beyond India
• Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s southern coast, and
north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands of Southeast Asia
• Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam, islands of Indonesia
Traders
• Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India
• 200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia introduced Buddhist
teachings
• Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into China, slowly
spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies
Leading Asian Religion
Korea and Japan
• From China, Buddhism eventually
diffused into Korea, Japan
Change, Development
• As Buddhism encountered other
religious traditions outside India, it
changed, developed
• AD 300s, first introduced to Korea
• Korean travelers took religion to Japan
200 years later
• By this time, Buddhism had become
leading religion in East, Southeast Asia
• Blending caused smaller traditions
within Theravada, Mahayana
• Zen, branch of Mahayana, emphasized
self-discipline, meditation
• Today Buddhism very diverse