Download Siddhartha Gautama – “Buddha” - Garnet Valley School District

Key Terms
Siddhartha Gautama – “Buddha”
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
Mindfulness
Enlightenment
Buddha = “The Enlightened One”
*** Sikhism
*** Jainism
Buddhism Fast Facts
Location of Origin : India (Current day Nepal)
Date of Origin: 500 BCE
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
Given the title “Buddha”, which means “the enlightened one”
Ultimate Goal: Enlightenment, Nirvana
Buddhism Today:
4th largest world religion (400 million)
Popular throughout Asia today, but not in India (where it was
created)
Story of the Buddha1
Siddhartha Gautama (563 BCE – 483 BCE)
Wealthy Prince
Gave up wealth at the age of 29
Found the “Middle Way”
Enlightened at age of 35
Taught others (only if requested) how to
achieve enlightenment.
Enlightenment - awakening to the great
reality of universal nature
Four Noble Truths
(Foundation of Faith)
1. Life is suffering (Dukkha)
2. Suffering comes from attachment / wanting.
3. Freedom from suffering is possible.
4. The Eightfold Path can free one from suffering.
Eightfold Path
1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Core Beliefs
1. Non-Violence / Compassion
2. Equality
3. Detachment (from Ownership, Possession, Wanting)
4. Reincarnation / Nirvana
5. Mindfulness / Meditation
6. Middle Way
7. No gods / Non-exclusive / Earthly
8. Seeking “getting out of the way of” Enlightenment
***Nirvana – perfect peace of mind
1. Non-Violence / Compassion
Compassion for all living things
Vegetarianism common
“May no act of mine cause harm”
The Monk and the Scorpion2
2. Equality
All people are equal, all can be Buddha
Women’s Rights  can be monks too!
Says
to the Caste System
Why might some people in India have converted to
Buddhism?
3. Detachment
(from Ownership, Possession, Wanting)
Remove the “want”
Uncle Rye and the Moon3
Love
Ownership
Example: You really want an expensive car
Name two ways you can be satisfied…
Greed can never be quenched with “things”, leads
to more want
Example  New Video Game
4. Reincarnation / Nirvana
Nirvana can be attained here and now
Buddha did not focus on the next life.
Nirvana – perfect peace of mind
Similar to Moksha
5. Mindfulness / Meditation
The here and now.
When you wash the dishes, wash the dishes
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a
gift… That’s why it’s called the present.”
Master Wugui, Kung Fu Panda
Meditation is the key practice in Buddhism
The Farmer’s Luck4
6. Middle Way
Ascetic Life
Life of Convenience
Choosing a life of
Material goods
extreme poverty
Luxury goods
Balance
7. No gods / Non-exclusive / Earthly
Concerned mostly with this life on Earth
Non-exclusivity
No need to renounce other religions, no need to declare devotion
No single “Creator” god, not concerned with existence of gods
Buddha is NOT a god.
Enlightened being. People follow his teachings so they can become
enlightened too.
8. Seeking “getting out of the way of”
Enlightenment
“Buddha” translates to “Enlightened one”
Enlightened - “to have woken up and understood”
Buddhists seek to become enlightened and
experience Nirvana
Other South Asia Religions:
Sikhism
Followers called “Sikhs”
Monotheistic
Reject the Caste System
Originated in Punjab Region of India
Known as great warriors
Believe people should act as “saint-warriors”
Famed as bodyguards around the world
Other South Asia Religions:
Jainism
Extreme Non-violence
Simple (poor-by-choice) Life
Veganism mandatory
Farming generally avoided
Some adherents wear gauze over there
mouths
To prevent violent words
To prevent breathing in insects
Developed alongside Hinduism
Review
1. What was the Buddha’s name (before he became
the Buddha)?
2. What does the term “Buddha” mean?
3. What do Buddhists think of the Caste System?
Guided Meditation Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh-klfBJlHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRlE0HwVcj0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUnWGPfyGgN5gFgXVJJ5o6Uw
Mindfulness
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?feature=player_em
bedded&v=NbizmVKHdgs
Benefits of Mindfulness?