4: Along with everything in the stated learning goal, the student is able to compare/contrast
the foundations and beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism with other world religions.
LEARNING GOAL (3): THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE FOUNDATIONS AND
BELIEFS FOR BOTH HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM AS WELL AS COMPARE AND CONTRAST
THOSE FOUNDATIONS AND BELIEFS WITH EACH OTHER.
2: The student is able to describe the foundations and beliefs for Hinduism and Buddhism.
1: The student can describe the foundations and/or beliefs for either Hinduism or Buddhism.
0: The student is unable to describe either the foundations or beliefs for both Hinduism and Buddhism.
Buddhism
IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO:
Imagine that today, for the first time in your
lives, you learned that the following things
existed because you were sheltered from them.
• Poverty
• Disease
• Violence
• Death
What do you think you’re reaction would be???
The Rise of Buddhism
Around the year 550 B.C., a young Hindu prince
name Siddhartha Gautama found himself in the same
situation as we discussed. He gave up his wealth and
high standing Caste system position to try and
understand the meaning of life. Later, when he began to
teach what he had learned he was called Buddha, or
enlightened one.
The Buddha’s Early Life
Siddhartha Gautama was born a Hindu prince. As a child, a priest had predicted that
he would become a wandering holy man. To prevent this, Siddhartha’s father gave his son every
luxury and sheltered him. Siddhartha did not see old age, illness, death, or poverty until he was
29. When he finally did see such troubles, they upset him. He fled from his home to search for
peace in a world of suffering.
THE STORY GOES…….
For six years, Siddhartha starved himself, but this sacrifice
did not help him find the answers he sought. Then he sat under a fig
tree and meditated until he found understanding. This gave him
insights into reality.
According to Buddhist teaching, as Siddhartha Gautama
sat meditating, an evil spirit tempted him to stop seeking truth. First
the spirit sent beautiful women, but Siddhartha ignored them. Then
flaming rocks began to rain down on him. But as they drew close to
Siddhartha, they became flower petals. Finally, the evil spirit asked
what right Siddhartha had to look for truth. Siddhartha ignored the
evil spirit and continued on with his meditation.
That night Siddhartha’s meditation grew even deeper, and
he received his great insights. He had become the Buddha. The evil
spirit decided to tempt him one last time. “No one will understand
your deep truths,” the evil spirit taunted.
The Buddha simply answered, “Some will understand.”
Four Noble Truths
1) People suffer because their minds are not
at ease.
2) That condition comes from wanting what
one doesn’t have or from wanting life to be
different.
3) People can stop suffering by not wanting.
4) People can stop wanting by following the
Eightfold path.
“Attachment is the root of all suffering.” ~Buddha
The Eightfold Path
The Buddha’s Teachings
The Buddha taught people that following the Eightfold path
could lead to nirvana (the end of suffering). Reaching nirvana
broke the cycle of reincarnation that the Buddhists, as well as
Hindus, believed in.
The Buddha believed in the practice of ahimsa
(nonviolence). He didn’t worship Hindu gods and goddesses. He
also rejected the idea that people in the upper castes were holier
than others.
“Gripped by fear, men go to the sacred mountains, sacred
trees, sacred groves and shrines.” ~Buddha
Many Buddhists do not believe in a god or gods.
They believe that the idea of a higher power brings
fear to the minds of men, and thus, brings suffering.
In essence, Buddhism is a religion that believes you don’t have
to believe in anything….you just have to see and accept reality
for what it is, not what you want it to be or what you’re told it
is.
Buddhism Changes
http://safeshare.tv/w/LUDzKaMAsP
After the Buddha’s death in 483 B.C., his followers gathered
his teachings to pass on to others. These collected teachings are called
the Dharma, which means the true nature of things. Dharma is often
shown symbolically as a wheel.
Monks and nuns – men and women who live in religious
communities – helped develop the formal religion of Buddhism. Other
Buddhists became wandering holy men and tried to live as Buddha had.
Over time, Buddhism split into many branches. Some
branches stressed the importance of being a monk and studying the
Buddha’s life. Others stressed meditation. Some Buddhists taught that
ordinary people could become Buddhas. Such holy people could work to
save others through acts of mercy and love. Most Buddhists worshiped
the Buddha as a divine being.
Buddhism is the worlds 4th largest religion, with 7.1% of
the world’s population following the teachings of the
Buddha.
Only an estimated 3% of India today is Buddhist.
Buddhism spread east and is the primary religion in
many eastern Asian countries. China alone has an
estimated 110,000,000 people who follow Buddhism.