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Buddhism
The “Middle Way”
Founder of Buddhism…
Siddhartha Gautama
 Siddhartha was born in Nepal to a Hindu
King and Queen.
 Legend says he was born fully awake and
could speak.
 He could stand and walk a short distance.
 His mother died 7 days after his birth.
 At his birth, an old and wise sage
(prophet), predicted Siddhartha would
become either a great king OR a great
priest and savior of humanity.
 His father, the king, did all he could to make sure
Siddhartha would become a king, not a priest.
 As a prince of a warrior caste (kshatriyas), he
trained in the art of war.
 His father gave him everything he could ever desire
but did not allow him to leave the palace walls.
 He grew up to be strong and handsome. He was
married to a princess and they had a child.
 Siddhartha managed to leave the palace and for the
first time, he saw suffering, old age, and death.
 He spent the rest of his life trying to find an end to all
suffering.
 You tube clip:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Cq2FS
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 (Class Project) The Epic tale of Siddhartha
Gautama
I. Siddhartha Gautama
A.
B.
Founder of Buddhism.
Siddhartha’s early life:
1. Very wealthy prince,
2. Gave up all he had to wander
as a monk to find meaning in
life.
3. He starved himself with five
Hindu men, this still didn’t
help him.
4. He then ate so that hunger
would not occupy his
thoughts.
5. He meditated for 49 days and
achieved the “enlightenment”
he was seeking.
6. He believed he found the
answer to the “riddle” of life.
II. Teachings of Buddhism
A. Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is filled with suffering.
2. Suffering is caused by selfish desire.
3. The cure for suffering is to stop
one’s selfish desire. (Live in moderation.)
4. The way to stop selfish desire is to
follow the Noble Eightfold Path.
1. Right knowledge
(To know truth.)
2. Right intention
(To intend to
resist evil)
3. Right speech
(To not say anything
to hurt others.)
8. Right
Concentration
(To be able to
focus in everyday
situations.)
7. Right mindfulness
(To be in control
of one’s feelings
and thoughts.)
B. Noble
Eightfold
Path
4. Right conduct
(To respect life
and property.)
5. Right
6. Right effort
(To try to free
one’s mind
from evil.)
means
of livelihood
(To work at a job
that does not
Injure others.)
C. Withdraw from the world.
1. Greed for power and possessions is
wrong.
2. Live in moderation with necessities:
food, water, shelter, and clothing.
Why are so many Buddhist countries poor?
So many Buddhist countries are poor because
Buddhism teaches wealth does not guarantee
happiness.
Many devoted Buddhists give up all their possessions
and do not hold jobs.
D. Nirvana- It is a heaven-like state one reaches
after many reincarnations.
1. To reach Nirvana, you must:
* build a favorable karma.
* meditate and pray
* help others and show compassion.
III. Buddhism Spreads to Asia
A.
Some people found wisdom in Buddha’s words because of the following
reasons:
1. Buddha was a Hindu.
2. He believed in karma, ahimsa, and
reincarnation.
3. He disapproved of the caste system.
a. He taught that everyone could find
peace without the aid of priest’s rituals.
b. He taught that all people are equal.
There are many Buddhist monks and
monasteries because of the belief
that Buddhists need to meditate and
teach others.
1. They live a very simple life.
2. They meditate and teach.
3. They own no property
4. They receive food donations.