Grade 7 – Buddhism Notes
Section 1 – Buddhism
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Buddhism arose in ancient India
Buddhism began with one man known as Siddhartha Gautama
He was a man that was “awakened” or became a Buddha – fully awakened or enlightened being
By being awake it means he is aware of the nature of the human condition and how to escape it.
Section 2 – From Pampered Prince to Starving Ascetic
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Gautama’s family/father owned a small kingdom in northern India
It was prophesized that Buddha would become either 1. A ruler over all peoples 2. Or a Buddha,
an awakened one who would offer the world salvation.
Gautama’s father wanted him to become a king
Therefore, he raised him in a life of luxury, safe from the suffering in the world for 29 years
One day traveling outside the palace Gautama came across the Four Passing Sites.
o Old Man – made him realize everyone will eventually get old
o Diseased Man – deeply disturbed Gautama
o Dead Man – He now learned about death and all people will eventually die
o Holy Man – Told Gautama he was looking to escape this world of suffering
Once seeing these sites he realized all of life is futile and decided to work to find out how to
escape suffering. He left everything behind to live a homeless life – known as the Great Going
Forth.
Section 3 – The Middle Way
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Buddha began on a path to find a way to be enlightened. It took him two tries before he could
figure it out.
1st – he practiced fasting and starved himself because he believed reducing his body would
increase spiritual powers.
He rejected this because he could not continue on his quest to enlightenment because he was
too hungry. He realized that a Middle Way – holding a healthy spiritual life depends on a
healthy physical life is the best way to enlightenment. Be good in the Mind, Body, & Spirit.
2nd – he spend a long time studying with Hindu gurus but realized he could only learn so much.
Section 4 – 3rd - Enlightenment
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Buddha now sat in the lotus position under a fig tree (or Bodhi for wisdom) for seven days
Gautama went through 3 stages first being the first watch
1st watch – he was able to see his passage through all his previous lives
2nd watch – he gained the ability to see the deaths and rebirths of all living things
3rd watch – he discovered the Four Noble Truths and the ways to transcend the human condition
He is now a completely enlightened being
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While under the tree he was tempted to leave his body to pass into nirvana the state of eternal
happiness that is ultimate salvation.
Buddha left the tree and met with five friends and gave his First Sermon at Deer Park.
Here he taught people about the Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths
The first people to form a Buddhist community were known as Sangha – a community of monks
Section 5 – The Dharma: Buddhist Teachings
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Dharma – The teachings of the Buddha
Buddhism is difficult because it requires meditation to gain understanding
Unlike many religions Buddhism does not depend on revelations from a God, rather from a
human being.
Buddhism requires development in wisdom, or insight rather than faith.
Section 6 – Shared Ideas with Hinduism and Disagreements
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Both believe the universe exists in cycles, therefore both religions are eternal
Both believe in the idea of samsara – wheel of rebirth. Or being reborn over and over until
escape.
Buddha said people need to focus on inward observation of the human condition
Rituals to the Gods of Hinduism was also unnecessary, but does agree they exist
Buddhism rejects the caste system
Pali – early language spoken by the common people. The teachings of the Buddha were written
in this language so all could read it.
Section 7 – Enlightenment for All
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Buddhism believes that all people are able to become Enlightened
Three Marks of Existence – Everything that we know and about the world and us is constantly
changing. Buddha discovered three ways this is proven
Anatta – The idea that there is “no-self”
o Consider the fact that you were different 5 years ago than now.
Anicca – The idea that existence is constantly changing
o The self is an ongoing flow of thoughts, fears, hopes, and so on.
Dukkha – considered being the idea of suffering. Our lives are out of order or in need of repair.
Our current spirit, or self, is passed on to other bodies based on the Karma – or moral law of
cause and effect that our previous spirits have obtained.
Section 8: Five Precepts
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Karma is affected by our moral actions in our lives. Our karma is what travels on with our spirit
through rebirth.
Therefore Buddhism emphasizes the observance of the Five Precepts – Moral codes of existence
o Do not take life
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o Do not take what is not given
o Do not engage in sensuous misconduct
o Do not use false speech
o Do not drink intoxicants
An additional five precepts are added for monks and nuns to follow
o Do not eat after noon
o Do not watch dancing or shows
o Do not use perfume or ornaments
o Do not use a high or soft bed
o Do not accept money
Section 9 – The Four Noble Truths
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At Gautama’s highest level of Enlightenment he uncovered the Four Noble Truths
o To live is to suffer
o Suffering is cause by cravings and attachment
o Suffering can be brought to an end
o The solution to suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path
The Four Noble Truths are the central and most important teachings of Buddhism.
The second noble truth is known as tanha – which is translated as desire, thirst, or craving.
o This term refers more to our desire for selfish actions or individual attainment
Section 10 – The Noble Eightfold Path
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These all define the basic practices needed that lead to nirvana. They include:
Right Views, Right Intentions, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right
Mindfulness, Right Meditation
The Buddha’s primary teachings come from meditation. So all of these are important, however,
the heart of Buddhism lies in proper meditation.
If you follow the Eightfold Path to the end you will reach Nirvana
Your body will die when you reach nirvana but your arhat - enlightened spirit. Is now awakened
and has reached nirvana.
The Arhat is free from dukkha, tanha and understands anatta. He or she has reached spiritual
perfection.
Section 11 – Divisions/Schools of Buddhism
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Over the centuries Buddhism has divided into three schools on how to reach nirvana.
They include Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.
Theravada – Is one of the oldest schools of Buddhism and follows the original teachings of
Buddha.
In Theravada the teachings of Buddhism are more important the Buddha himself
Theravada focuses on teachings and meditation from a monastic lifestyle.
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Mahayana – This is the largest division of Buddhism. It claims over half the world’s Buddhists.
Mahayana focuses on the Buddha himself rather than his teachings.
They believe Buddhism offers salvation through the grace of the Buddha
They also pray strongly to bodhisattvas – Buddhas in the making or people working hard to
become enlightened
They are also people that stop short of nirvana so they can stay on this earth to help others
In Mahayana becoming bodhisattvas is better than becoming an arhat. Compassion is the best
thing you can do in the world.
Vajrayana: Tibetan Buddhism – Their main belief is that people can obtain Nirvana in the
current lives that we live.
There are not many Vajrayana Buddhists today because of China
These Buddhists often use Mandalas –to promote the religion. These are icons that are visually
exciting in order to promote enlightenment
They also use mantras – phrases or syllables chanted to enhance meditation
Finally mudras are used which are hand movements that draw on the energies of movement.
Dalai Lama – Vajrayana also have a hierarchy of clergy that institute laws or lamas. The head of
this clergy is known as the Dalai Lama.