founding Buddhism • Born in 563 B.C. Siddhartha Gautama • Born in the Brahmin Caste (he was a prince) • He led an extremely sheltered life in the royal compound One Day… • At the age 25 he left the walls of the palace • He saw 4 men –Old man –Sick man –Dead man –Poor man What Did It Mean? • This made him understand that every living thing experiences old age, sickness and death •BUT! ONLY religious life can save someone from suffering What Did He Do? • For the next 6 years he wandered the forests of India looking for ENLIGHTENMENT • Enlightenment means wisdom. • He becomes Buddha. Four Noble Truths
First Noble Truth:
Everything in life is suffering or has Sorrow. Second Noble Truth
• What causes suffering is people’s desire for material things Third Noble Truth
The only way
to end suffering is to give up all desires Fourth Noble Truth: The way to get over these desires is to be Enlightened by following the Eight Fold Path Eight Fold Path * Steps you must take in order to reach NIRVANA • Nirvana – Release from all selfishness and pain • Eightfold Path: – Right view - Right action – Right intention - Right effort – Right speech - Right mindfulness – Right livelihood - Right concentration Reincarnation • Buddhists believe in reincarnation • Different from Hindu belief: –Buddhists may be reincarnated as many times as it takes until Enlightenment and Nirvana are reached. –Hindus believe in reincarnation as a means of rising up the caste to reach moksha. There is the risk of being reincarnated in a lower caste. Nirvana Pictures Cited • Slide 1 – www.religionfacts.com • Slide 2 – http://jyotisha.00it.com/Buddha2.jpg • Slide 3 – http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/38/300px-Buddhafilm2.jpg • Slide 4 – http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39214000/jpg/_39214365_old_ind_bbc2.jpg • Slide 6 – http://p.webshots.com/ProThumbs/56/59556_wallpaper280.jpg • Slide 7 – http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/buddhist%20monk%20on% • Slide 8 – http://www.sacredsites.com/shop/images/asia/sri-lanka/buddhist-monk-venerating- 750.jpg • Slide 9 - http://ttsworld.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/buddha.jpg • Slide 10 – • Slide 11 – Personal file picture • Slide 12 – Personal file picture • Slide 16 – http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/146043327_43147bbdf3.jpg