Buddhism
Copyright © Clara Kim 2007. All rights reserved.
Founder
• Siddhartha Gautama credited for
founding Buddhism
• Born in 563 B.C.
Siddhartha Gautama
• Born in the
Brahmin
Caste (he was a
prince)
• He led an
extremely
sheltered life in
the royal
compound
One Day…
• At the age 25 he
left the walls of
the palace
• He saw 4 men
–Old man
–Sick man
–Dead man
–Poor man
What Did It Mean?
• This made him understand
that every living thing
experiences old age,
sickness and death
•BUT! ONLY religious life can
save someone from suffering
What Did He Do?
• For the next 6
years he wandered
the forests of India
looking for
ENLIGHTENMENT
• Enlightenment
means wisdom.
• He becomes
Buddha.
Four Noble Truths
First Noble Truth:
Everything in life is
suffering or has
Sorrow.
Second Noble Truth
• What causes
suffering is
people’s
desire for
material
things
Third Noble Truth
The only way
to end suffering
is to give
up all desires
Fourth Noble Truth:
The way to get over
these desires is to be
Enlightened by
following the
Eight Fold Path
Eight Fold Path
* Steps you must take in order to reach
NIRVANA
• Nirvana – Release from all selfishness and
pain
• Eightfold Path:
– Right view
– Right intention
– Right speech
– Right livelihood
- Right action
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right concentration
Reincarnation
• Buddhists believe in reincarnation
• Different from Hindu belief:
–Buddhists may be reincarnated as many
times as it takes until Enlightenment and
Nirvana are reached.
–Hindus believe in reincarnation as a
means of rising up the caste to reach
moksha. There is the risk of being
reincarnated in a lower caste.
Nirvana