Origins of Buddhism

Lesson 3
 The Big Idea
Buddhism began in India
and became a major religion.

Main Ideas
• Siddhartha Gautama searched for wisdom in many ways.
• The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding peace.
• Buddhism spread far from where it began in India.

Origins of Buddhism
Siddhartha

Quest for Answers Enlightenment

• Siddhartha was born a • Found it under the Tree of

prince, but he questioned Wisdom while meditating
the meaning of life.
• Called the Buddha
• Determined to find (Enlightened One)
answers using:
• Spent the rest of his life
• Meditation traveling and teaching his
ideas
• Fasting
• Learning from
different teachers
Teachings of Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one

1.
can escape sorrow.

Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material

2.
goods.

People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach

3.
nirvana, a state of perfect peace.

People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an

4. eightfold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and
salvation.
The Eightfold Path
Challenging Hindu Ideas

Ancient Ways Changing Society Caste System

• The Buddha • A more • Opposed caste

taught that individualistic system
following the approach to
Vedic texts was enlightenment • The Eightfold
unnecessary. Path could lead
• Rebirth as a any individual to
• Challenged the means to evolve nirvana.
authority of
Hindu priests • The Buddha’s
teachings
reached all
classes.
Buddhism began in India and then became a
major religion.
Buddhism branches out
• Asoka, one of the most powerful kings in India, became a
Buddhist and spread Buddhism in India and foreign lands.
• Buddhist missionaries traveled the world to teach
enlightenment.
Buddhism splits
• Buddhism split into two main sects: Theravada and Mahayana.
• Members of the Theravada followed the Buddha’s teachings
exactly.
• Members of the Mahayana believed that individual
interpretation was important.
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Wheel of Dharma
Tripitaka (Three Basket) - Bible

*Vinaya Pitaka, (contains early Buddhist

monastic regulations for both monks
and nuns)
*Sutta Pitaka, (contains discourses of the
Buddha and his disciples)
*Abhidhamma Pitaka, (contains early
philosophical commentary on the
Buddha's teachings)
Sutras – Text included in Tripitaka