Introduction
I. There is a SEARCH for the Truth
II. There has been a great DECEPTION
III.There is a NEED for the Truth
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Comprises around 6% of the World’s
Population
Key Terms
1. BuddhaEnlightened one
2. Meditation- is a discipline by which the
practitioner attempts to get beyond the
reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper
state of relaxation or awareness.
3. Dalai Lama- Tibet’s Spiritual and
Political Leader
FOUNDING OF BUDDHISM
A. Siddhartha Gautama
– Sixth century B.C.
– Siddhartha’s life (563-483B.C.)
PERIOD OF ENJOYMENT
1. Born in warrior family of Shakya Tribe
– Traditions says his father sheltered him from
all suffering such as
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Old age
Sickness
Death
Poverty
2. Siddhartha eventually encountered
ALL the Types of Suffering
PERIOD OF ENQUIRY
1. As a result of his encounter he left his family,
children, and wealth discover the source of
suffering and how to eliminate it.
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Extreme Asceticism
Nearly drowned
* Realized Asceticism did not produce
enlightenment
Period of Enlightenment
1. Siddhartha walked to a city named Bodh Gaya
and sat under a fig tree and vowed not to rise
again until he had attained
ENLIGHTENMENT
2. He went into deep meditation and was tempted
by the EVIL one (Mara)
3. He attained enlightenment and became the
BUDDHA
Buddha’s Last Words:
“Decay is inherent in all things! Work
out your Salvation with diligence”
The Movement of Buddhism
1. For 200 years Buddhism did not spread beyond
India
2. King Ashoka commissioned MISSIONARIES
to go to: Syria, Egypt, Cyrene, Greece, Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.
DIVISIONS OF BUDDHISM
1.MAHAYANA
– BELIEVE THAT ENLIGHTENMENT
IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE
DIVISIONS OF BUDDHISM
• THERAVADA
BELIEVE THAT
ENLIGHTENMENT IS ACCESSIBLETO
ONLY A COMMITTED FEW
4 Noble Truths of Buddhism
1. Life consists of SUFFERING
2. Things are impermanent and ever changing. We suffer
because we DESIRE those things
3. The way to liberate oneself from suffering is by
eliminating all DESIRE
4. Desire can be eliminated by following the 8 fold path
8 Fold Path
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Right views of life
Right resolve
Right Speech
Right Behavior
Right Occupation
Right Effort
Right Contemplation
Right Meditation
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is
thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.”