• 10/10 Focus:
– Buddhism teaches that people can escape
the suffering of the world by following the
teachings of the Buddha
• Do Now:
– Describe the ultimate goal of Hinduism
– How might the concept of reincarnation
control people’s social behavior?
• 10/14 Focus:
– Buddhism developed in India but later
spread into other areas, such as China.
• Important Terms:
– Enlightenment, Nirvana, 4 noble Truths,
Eightfold Path
• Do Now:
– What judgment would someone who
practiced Hinduism make about the past
life of an untouchable?
Buddhism
Buddhism
• Developed in India
– Spread to other
parts of Asia
• Approx. 2,500
years old
• Founded by
Siddhartha
Gautama (Buddha)
Siddhartha Gautama
• Founder of
Buddhism
• Born a Hindu prince
in N.E. India
– Nepal today
– Approx. 500 BC
• Lived a sheltered
life in great luxury
• At the age of 29 he
became of aware of
the hardships in life
Siddhartha Gautama
• Leaves his kingdom to seek
enlightenment and source of
suffering in the world
• Lives an ascetic life for 6
years
– Rejected all material things;
begged for food; lived in the
forest
– Studies with gurus and monks
– Rejects this approach and
goes on his own
• Sits under the Bodhi tree
and meditates
– Becomes enlightened
– The Buddha
• “The Enlightened One”
The Four Noble Truths
• All Life is Suffering
– Buddha discovered this when he left his
sheltered world and saw death and
suffering in others
The Four Noble Truths
• Suffering is caused by
self centered desire and
attachment for things
that are illusions
The Four Noble Truths
• The way to eliminate suffering is to
eliminate desire
The Four Noble Truths
• Desire can be overcome by following the
Eightfold Path
– “The Middle Way”
– Moderation in all things
The Eightfold Path
• Series of steps that
lead to enlightenment
and Nirvana
• Nirvana
– Union with the universe
– Release from the cycle
of reincarnation
The Eightfold Path
• Right Understanding
• Right livelihood
• Right intention
• Right effort
• Right speech
• Right mindfulness
• Right Action
• Right Concentration
– Accepting the reality of
the four noble truths
– Rid yourself of qualities
you know are wrong or
immoral
– Avoiding lies, boasts,
hurtful words
– Treating others fairly
– Avoiding jobs that bring
harm to others
– Try to abandon wrong and
harmful thoughts, words,
and actions
– Awareness of the world
around you
– Ignoring temptation and
discomfort during
meditation
• Mandala
Types of Buddhism
• Theravada
– The best way to achieve nirvana is to become a monk and
devote your life to mediation
– “The small vehicle”
– Southern Asia
• Mahayana
–
–
–
–
Not necessary to be a monk or nun
Northern Asia and Japan
“The Great Vehicle”
Bodhisattvas
• People who have found enlightenment
• Tibetan Buddhism
– Mix of Theravada and Mahayana
– Led by the Dali Lama
• 10/15 Focus:
– In Buddhism, the Eightfold Path provides a
way to reach nirvana.
– The Eightfold Path is also known as the
“middle way”.
• Do Now:
– Identify one of the Four Noble Truths of
Buddhism.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Similarities
• Karma
• Dharma
• Reincarnation
Differences
• Buddhists don’t accept Hindu
Gods, priests, and rituals
• Buddhism rejects the caste
system
–
" Birth does not make one a priest or an
outcaste. Behavior makes one either a priest
or an outcaste".
• Goal of Buddhism is nirvana
• Goal of Hinduism is moksha
Closure
• What is the series of steps that
Buddhists believe lead to
enlightenment?
• Why is the referred to as the “middle
way”?