BUDDHISM. Warm Up Page 52 Describe what you think the Buddha looks like.

BUDDHISM

Warm Up Page 52

Describe what you think the Buddha looks like

THE ORIGINS OF BUDDHISM The story of

Buddhism began in the mountains of northern India in the year 563 BCE.

A baby was born into a royal family. His name was Siddhartha Gautama.

Siddhartha was a much loved and pampered child. His father sheltered him, and even into adulthood Siddhartha knew nothing of pain, misery death or famine. He married, had a child, and never left the palace grounds.

One day, Siddhartha decided to venture beyond the walls of the palace. His father begged and pleaded for Siddhartha to stay, but he insisted.

When Siddhartha encountered the world outside of the palace grounds, he was amazed by the poverty and suffering he encountered.

He resolved to find the key to human happiness.

He left his family, leaving behind his parents, wife and child, to sit at the feet of religious teachers to find the remedy for human suffering.

After six years of study and meditation, he arrived at an understanding of human misery and discontent.

From that time on, he was called the Buddha, or Enlightened One. Enlightenment is a state of total awareness and understanding.

For the next 45 years until his death, the Buddha traveled all over India teaching others what he had discovered.

Buddha is not a name, but a title -- meaning the Enlightened One.

The Teachings of the Buddha The Buddha set forth a series of truths in his

first sermon. These ideas are known as the Four Noble Truths:

All life is suffering.Desire is the cause

of all suffering.

The way to end suffering is to end desires.

The way to obtain enlightenment is to follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path In order to achieve Enlightenment, the

Buddha encouraged his followers to follow the Eightfold Path. The Path is a series of steps, and after all the steps are followed, a believer could achieve Nirvana, or release for all of life’s selfishness and pain.

The Eightfold Path

The Giant Buddha, Kamakura, Japan

Right Views

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right ConductRight Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration

Reincarnation

As in Hinduism, Buddhism also follows the doctrine of reincarnation. Enlightenment, or Nirvana, may take many, many lifetimes to achieve.

Prayer Flags, Lhasa, Tibet

Religious figures in Buddhism

Different branches of Buddhism have a variety of religious leaders, but the most common in Buddhism is the monk. Many monks begin their religious journey in childhood.

Young monk with prayer wheels, Lhasa. Tibet.

The appeal of Buddhism

Buddhism held appeal for the people of India because it rejected the caste system. Many of the first followers were crafts people and laborers.

Monks in Jokhang Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet

The Role of Women

The Buddha reluctantly accepted women into the religious order as nuns. He was concerned that the presence of women would distract the monks from their duties. . .

Buddhist nuns in Myanmar. Women shave their heads upon entering the order.

Common Misunderstandings about Buddhism

1. Was the Buddha a god?

No, he was not. He never claimed he was a god, or even a messenger of God. He was a human who perfected himself and tried to set an example.

2. Do people worship the Buddha? For the most part, Buddhists do not believe

that he will hear and answer their prayers. The best way to explain the devotion of his followers is to say that they are expressing the greatest of respect.

3. Do Buddhists worship idols?

Since the Buddha is not a god, a statue statue of the Buddha is not an idol. Many Buddhists use it as an object of respect

and devotion, but do not worship

it as a god.

4. Is Buddhism really a religion? Buddhism is not a religion, but a

philosophy that encourages people to live their life with love, kindness, and compassion.

Buddhism spreads throughout Asia

The philosophy of Buddhism spread throughout Asia through cultural diffusion and trade. This is why the Buddha is represented in many different ways.

Reclining Buddha, Cambodia Thailand

Korea Giant Buddha, Kamakura, Japan

Why does the Buddha have large earlobes?

Elongated earlobes: these stretched earlobes are a result of wearing heavy golden earrings. Upon Enlightenment, the earrings were removed, but the symbol remains to remind others to renounce attachment to worldly possessions.

What holidays do Buddhists celebrate?

There are many festivals, but almost every country celebrates Buddha’s Birthday. IN JAPAN IT IS CELEBRATED WITH A FESTIVAL on April 8.

The streets are decorated with white lanterns that have black and red writing on them, and streamers made to look like cherry-blossoms.

There is a parade in the streets which has floats that are sometimes carried by several men, other floats are on large, wooden, golden wheels that are pulled instead of carried. One of them is always a huge white elephant bearing a small image of Buddha.

The small statue of Buddha is found inside. The children come up to the statue and bow and pour sweet tea

(hydrangea leaf tea) on the head of the infant. Some believe that it rained tea on the day that Buddha was born.

Children pouring sweet tea over the statue of the infant Buddha.

Buddhists in the World Today Buddhists make up about six percent of the

world’s population or approximately

250 - 300 million followers.

Create the following Venn diagram on page 53

Buddhism

Hinduism

Processing Page 52 Create a poem to describe the Buddha using the

following format:– Line 1: First and last name– Line 2: Four adjectives describing the person– Line 3: Relative of . . .(son, daughter, wife,

husband, etc . . .)– Line 4: Resident of . . . (city and/or country)– Line 5: Who lived . . . (when? year to year)– Line 6: Who searched for . . .– Line 7: Who taught . . .– Line 8: Who is remembered for . . .– Line 9: First and last name