A presentation by:
Mr. Tsolomitis

What is Buddhism/ the
Buddha?
Simply put…

 Buddhism is a religion of ancient India, created by
Siddhartha Gautama
 The Buddha is the title given to Siddhartha Gautama
and it means “Awakened One.”
Prince Siddhartha’s Birth

 Around 563 B.C.E. in northern India, near the
Himalaya Mountains, to King Suddhodana and
Queen Maya.
 According to legend, before Siddhartha was born,
his mother had a strange dream.
 When she asked the Brahmins to explain the dream,
they interpreted it as showing a split path
 He could be a great king and rule the universe OR, if
he left royal life and saw the suffering of the world, he
would become the Buddha.

 Wild, fantastical tales about when he was born,
like…
 After his birth, a soft, warm rain of heavenly flowers
fell on the baby and his mother
 The infant prince already looked a few years old,
could walk and speak.
 Apparently his first words were, “I am the leader of
the world and the guide to the world.”
What do you think his parents did?

 Turn to your neighbors and quietly discuss.
The Prince’s Royal Life

 His father, the King, wanted his son to be a great and
powerful ruler.
 In order to keep his son from seeing the world’s
suffering, he raised Siddhartha in a world of perfect
health and beauty.
 Always felt curious about the outside world, but was
content with his easy life for quite a while.
 When he was 16, he married a beautiful
noblewoman and they lived happily… well, not ever
after.
 12 years in perfect peace
 When Siddhartha turned 29, they had a son.
The Prince Discovers
Something…

 After Siddhartha became a father, the King gave him
more freedom and so Siddhartha began traveling
outside the palace walls.
 It was at this time that Siddhartha discovered three
forms of suffering… and it deeply troubled him.
What suffering do you think
Siddhartha witnessed?

The First Type of
Suffering

 The prince and his
driver saw a thin man
who walked with the
aid of a stick.
 Siddhartha, never
having seen the effects
of aging, asked why the
man looked so terrible.
 His driver replied that
everyone’s body
weakens as it ages.
The Second Type of
Suffering

 On the second trip, the
prince and his driver saw a
man crying out in pain.
 The driver informed
Siddhartha about pain and
sickness.
 REAL pain, not like this. Not
a cry for attention. ACTUAL
PHYSICAL PAIN.
The Third Type of
Suffering

 On the third trip, they
saw a group of people
walking down the road,
carrying a body
wrapped in white cloth.
 The driver informed
Siddhartha that, “Death
came for that man. One
day it will come for
you, too.”
The Prince Meets an Ascetic

 Unable to sit in his palace with the thoughts of aging,
sickness and death, Siddhartha went out a fourth time.
 This time, however, he met a man who glowed with inner
peace and calm. The man was an ascetic.
 An ascetic is a person who gives up worldly possessions
and pleasures like fine clothes, money, and even shelter.
 Siddhartha asked him how he could be at peace while
surrounded by so much suffering.
 The ascetic replied, “To be free of suffering, one must give
up the desires, pleasures and comforts of the world. I find
peace by helping others find peace.”
The Prince Becomes an
Ascetic

 Royal life seemed empty now and he wanted to find
the happiness and peace the ascetic had found.
 Decided to give up his old life and find
enlightenment (finding deep truth and being free of
suffering).
 One night, he fled the palace with his faithful driver.
He removed his fancy clothes and cut his hair off.
 He kept only a simple robe and a small bowl for
alms (goods given to the poor).
(continued)

 Met many other ascetics who
wanted to understand the
nature of the world.
 Frequent meditation was said
to be the path towards
enlightenment.
 Another path was through selfdenial and denying their body
many of its basic needs, like
food, sleep, shelter.
 Siddhartha continued until he
was dangerously thin and was
unhappy with these practices.
The Prince Becomes the
Buddha

 Siddhartha learned that giving up bodily pleasures did not bring
enlightenment, but neither would self-indulgence.
 Instead, he sought a “middle way” as the path to enlightenment.
 On his 35th birthday, Siddhartha bathed and rested by a river.
When he awoke, he had a strong feeling that he was close to
enlightenment.
 He met a “grass cutter” who gave him eight handfuls of soft
grass to use as a pad to sit upon.
 Walked until he reached a tree that would be known later as the
Bodhi Tree (Tree of Enlightenment).
 He sat on those handfuls of grass and began meditating and
vowed he would not stop until he reached enlightenment.
While meditating…

 A wicked deity, Mara, tried to frighten him, but Siddhartha
was not swayed.
 Mara then tried to tempt Siddhartha with his three daughters;
Discontent, Delight and Desire.
 Again, Siddhartha resisted.
 Trying to reach nirvana, an ideal state of happiness and peace.
 Saw his past lives and the great cycle of rebirth, as well as the
importance of karma.
 Eventually he saw how to gain freedom from the endless cycle
and so end all suffering.
 By morning, he had become the Buddha and set out to spread
the word on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
The Buddha’s Teachings

 Behind the Four Noble Truths is the idea that
everything changes: even when one finds pleasure, it
does not last forever, and one suffers when it is lost.
 To end suffering, people should follow the Buddha’s
“Middle Way,” also known as the Eightfold Path.
 The Buddha spent the rest his life teaching others
about the path he had found.
 In time, his followers would spread his teachings
throughout India, China, and other parts of Asia.
They would even eventually reach Japan!
The Four Noble Truths

 Suffering is present in all things, and nothing lasts
forever.
 Suffering is caused by cravings (our desires and
wants, but not our needs).
 The way to end suffering is to give up all cravings.
 The way to give up all cravings is to live life
according to the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path

 Right…








Understanding
Purpose
Speech
Action
Way to earn a living
Effort
Mindfulness
Concentration
Right Understanding

Develop a deep understanding of
the Four Noble Truths.
Right Purpose

Live a life of selflessness, love
and nonviolence
Right Speech

Be careful and truthful in what
you say.
Do not lie or gossip.
Right Action

Do not kill, steal or lie.
Right way to earn a living

Do not work at a job that causes
harm to people or living
creatures.
Right Effort

Promote good actions and
prevent evil actions.
Right Mindfulness

Be aware of, but not attached to,
your emotions, thoughts and
feelings.
Right concentration

Focus your mind with practices
such as meditation.