World History
Origins of Buddhism Study Guide
Name ______________________
1.
Who was Siddartha Gautama?
2.
What did Siddartha endure before reaching
enlightenment?
3.
What three things, according to Siddartha caused
suffering here on earth? Of the three things Siddartha
said caused human suffering, which one do you think
causes the most suffering today? Why?
4.
What is the story of how Siddartha came to his
realization of the cause of suffering? What was the
first sermon?
5.
Many of Buddha’s teachings reflect the ideas of which
other world religion?
A.
Hinduism
6.
What are the four noble truths?
7.
What do you think the quote from Buddha “Let a man
overcome anger by love, Let him overcome the greedy
by literally giving, the liar by truth, This is called
progress in the discipline of the blessed”?
8.
What advantages do you think the Buddha saw in
following the “middle way”?
9.
Why did the Buddha think about the caste system?
10.
How is “right thought” different right action?
11.
How do you think people reacted to the Buddha’s telling
them they did not have to accept the Brahmin’s
authority?
12.
What are some places to which Buddhism spread?
13.
What is one reason why Buddhism spread so quickly?
14.
How are the Theravada and Mahayana branches of
Buddhism different?
15.
How did Bhuddism spread from India to other parts of
Asia?