• Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature
• Gautama born 500s BC
• Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal
– Led sheltered life
– Unaware of hardship
– Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died
THE LIFE OF BUDDHA
• Gautama resolved to find way to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suff ering
• Gave up possessions, left palace
• Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years
• Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment
Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way
Stories say he meditated all night
Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations
At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One
Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places
BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT
There is suffering in the world
The cause of self suffering is self centered desire
The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments
To reach nirvana you must follow the Eightfold Path
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
BELIEFS OF BUDDHISM
A major change in Gautama’s thinking was when he decided to stop looking outwardly to understand the cause of suff ering. Instead, he decided to look within his own mind.
Instead of worshipping gods or a god, Buddha taught his followers that the answer to human suff ering was in right thinking and self-denial.
A big diff erence between Buddhism and other major religions is that in Buddhism you do not worship many gods or even one god.
According to Buddha, human suff ering happens because of our selfi sh desires for things like power, wealth, and pleasure. The way to be happy was to give up those selfi sh desires.
He called this path to happiness the Middle Way = MODERATION
In Buddhism, people are to act unselfi shly , treat people fairly , tell the truth all the time, avoid violence and the killing of any living thing
When people learned to follow this Buddhist Middle Path, they would fi nd lasting peace, called nirvana . Once a person reached this point, that person would no longer need to go through reincarnation
GIVING UP DESIRES
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
SPREAD OF BUDDHISM
Theravada Buddhism The oldest school of Buddhism.
The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”
Found in southern Asia. The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana. Focus on wisdom and meditation. Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”
Over 100,000,000 followers today.
Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism The “Great Vehicle.”
Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
Buddhism “for the masses.” Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas,
wise beings. Goal: Not just individual escape from
the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those enlightened few.
Tibetan Buddhism The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.
A mix of Theravada and Mahayana. Boddhisatvas include
Lamas, like the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead[Bardo Thodol].
Zen Buddhism
The “Meditation School.” Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori]
through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata].
Use of meditation masters [Roshi]. Beauty, art, and aesthetics:
Gardens. Archery. Tea ceremony. Calligraphy.