Buddhism

1. Buddhism

2. Words to Know • Siddhartha Gautama • Ascetic • Middle Way • Buddha • Four Noble Truths • Eightfold Path

3. Ethnic group vs. Religious Group • Ethnic groups share many common characteristics such as language, physical features, customs, and traditions • Religious groups share a common belief system but are not necessarily composted of a single ethnic group.

4. Background Buddhism is often described as a religion and a collection of various philosophies, based initially on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha.

5. Gautama, is believed to have been born in the city of Lumbini, Nepal. Born a prince, his father, King Suddhodana, was supposedly visited by a wise man shortly after Siddhartha was born and told that Siddhartha would either become a great king or a holy man. Determined to make Siddhartha a king, the father tried to shield his son from the unpleasant realities of daily life. Despite his father's efforts, at the age of 29, he discovered the suffering of his people, first through an encounter with an elderly man then he saw the sufferings of a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These are often termed 'The Four Sights.'

6. Gautama, deeply depressed by these sights, sought to overcome old age, illness, and death by living the life of an ascetic. Gautama escaped his palace, leaving behind this royal life to become a beggar. For a time on his spiritual quest, Buddha "experimented with extreme asceticism, which at that time was seen as a powerful spiritual practice...such as fasting, holding the breath, and exposure of the body to pain...he found, however, that these ascetic practices brought no genuine spiritual benefits and in fact, being based on self-hatred, that they were counterproductive."

7. Graphic Organizer Siddhartha Gautama Became an ascetic

8. Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side) Why would someone think living an Ascetic life would be spiritual?

9. Enlightenment • After abandoning asceticism and concentrating instead upon meditation Gautama is said to have discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way—a path of moderation that lies mid-way between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. He accepted a little milk and rice pudding from a village girl and then, sitting under a tree ,he vowed not to arise until he had found the Truth. His five companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become undisciplined, left. After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained bodhi, also known as "Awakening" or "Enlightenment". After his attainment of bodhi he was known as Buddha or Gautama Buddha and spent the rest of his life teaching his insights. According to scholars, he lived around the fifth century BCE. He died around the age of 80.

10. Graphic Organizer Siddhartha Gautama Became an ascetic Enlightenment

11. Middle Way The primary guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way which was discovered by the Buddha prior to his enlightenment (bodhi). The Middle Way or Middle Path is often described as the practice of non-extremism; a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence. It also describes the state of nirvana and perfect enlightenment.

12. Graphic Organizer Siddhartha Gautama Became an ascetic Enlightenment Middle Way

13. The Four Noble Truths • According to the scriptures, the Buddha taught that in life there exists sorrow/suffering, that is caused by desire and it can be stopped by following the Noble Eightfold Path. • There is suffering • There is a cause of suffering—craving • There is the cessation of suffering • There is a way leading to the cessation of suffering—the Noble Eightfold Path

14. Graphic Organizer Siddhartha Gautama Became an ascetic Enlightenment Four Noble Truths Middle Way

15. The Noble Eightfold Path • The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. This is divided into three sections: • Śīla is morality—abstaining from unwholesome deeds of body and speech. Within the division of sila are three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path: • Right Speech—One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way • Right Actions—Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm • Right Livelihood—One's way of livelihood does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly • Samadhi is developing mastery over one’s own mind. Within this division are another three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path: • Right Effort/Exercise—One makes an effort to improve • Right Mindfulness/Awareness—Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness • Right Concentration/Meditation—Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion.

17. Interactive Notebook Question (Left Side) • How is Buddhism different from Hinduism? • How did Buddhism spread throughout Asia? • How is Buddhism different from Islam?

18. Bibliography Buddhism. Religious tolerance. http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm. January 2008 Buddanet. http://www.buddhanet.net/. January 2008