Download Buddhism

Buddhism
Buddhism
Basic Facts and History
• Founded in India 2500 years ago.
• Siddartha Gautama (the Buddha) created it.
– He tried to find a way to avoid pain and suffering.
• People can practice it how they want.
• Buddhism does not focus on the presence of God
– it focuses on man’s life on Earth.
• Practiced all over the world, mostly in Asia
• Around 500 million Buddhists in the world.
Buddhism
Basic Beliefs
• Buddha taught Four Noble Truths.
• These were key to understanding the world
and finding happiness
Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
First:
• All things suffer and are reincarnated based on
Karma.
• Do you agree?
• Do all things suffer?
• Is this the cause of our pain in life?
Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Second
• The cause of suffering is …
– What do you think the cause of suffering is?
Desire
• Do you agree?
• Does desire cause all suffering?
Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Third
• You can escape suffering and reincarnation
by eliminating desire.
• Do this and you will reach Nirvana – heaven
• Can you eliminate desires?
Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Fourth
• The way to eliminate desire is to follow the
eight-fold path
• This combines faith, dedication and ethics
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path
• Eight steps that can help you reach Nirvana
• The eight steps get more difficult as you go
along.
• As you master each step you can move to the
next.
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path
1. Right Viewpoint: have the right attitude toward
life
2. Right Values: consideration and compassion
3. Right Speech: be truthful and kind with your
words.
4. Right Actions: Live honestly and don’t harm
living things
– Many Buddhists are vegetarians
– Ear piercings are not popular
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path
5. Right Livelihood: have a job that does no
harm to people.
6. Right Effort: Keep good thoughts in your mind
7. Right Mindfulness: be able to calm the mind
and avoid distractions.
8. Right Meditation: be able to achieve
enlightenment through meditation.
Buddhism
Buddhist Practices
• Buddhism emphasizes meditation, kindness and inner peace
• Buddhist monks and nuns live in temples and spend time
caring for others, reading Buddha’s teachings and meditating.
• Buddhists who visit the temples will pray and bring food,
clothing and flowers.
• Buddhists should refrain from:
–
–
–
–
–
Destroying life
Taking what is not given
Impurity
Lying
Intoxicating substances
Buddhism
Buddhism
Types of Buddhism
• Zen: Japan
– Puts a heavy emphasis on meditation
– They use riddles, chants and rock gardens to
inspire deep thought.
Buddhism
Types of Buddhism
• Tibetan: Tibet (Southern China)
– Use mandalas and prayer wheels to
meditate and pray.
– Believe that the Dalai Lama (their
leader) is the reincarnation of an
ancient Buddhist monk