Buddhism: Part 1

Buddhism: Origins

Objectives

• To understand how Buddhism became so popular throughout the Asian continent

• To understand how Buddhism began

• To understand some of the basic beliefs of Buddhism

• To understand how his death caused a split within Buddhism

Open Ended

Review: Describe karma

Open Ended

Review: Describe reincarnation

Important terms:

• Karma-what goes around comes around; your good actions are rewarded & bad ones are punished

• Reincarnation-idea of rebirth; reborn into a new life depending on the actions of your previous life

• What does suffering mean?

• What does nirvana mean?

• What does enlightenment mean?

Open Ended

After a while, people wanted to abandon Hinduism. Why?

Hindus sought out Buddhism for a change

• Ordinary Hindus were seeking a simpler and more spiritual religion and/or way of life

• They also disliked the caste system

• Saw the Hindu priests as caring more for themselves than for the people

• There was a civil war so a new perspective was refreshing

Buddhism: Origin Story (6th century BC)

• It started with a prince named Siddhartha Gautama from Nepal

• He was wealthy, handsome and a royal. He had it all right?

• He was always curious about the idea of death, the end, suffering, sickness and old age

• His experiences were limited to his palace life-wife & a son

• One day, he decided to see what life was like outside the palace walls. He had never done this before

• What do you think he saw?

Open Ended

What do you think Siddhartha saw/experienced outside the palace walls?

He saw true suffering for the 1st time

• He saw hungry peasants, beggars, people who were ill, old and homeless

• He met many who had very few possessions, but were happy

• This made him think: "why did people suffer & how could it be cured"?

Open Ended

What do you think he did next to answer his questions "why did people suffer & how could it be cured"?

He decided to leave his family & all he owned to experience it

• He lived his life as a hermit

• He focused on meditation (under a Bodhi tree) for 49 days

• Lived a simple life (few possessions)

• Upon reaching his answer, he became enlightened. What does it mean to be enlightened?

Multiple Choice

Enlightenment means

• to physically see everything

• to achieve a special understanding

• to gain a high level of education

• to meditate

He achieved a special understanding

• He spent the rest of his life traveling & talking about the nature of suffering

• He became known as Buddha or "Enlightened One"

• But what was his solution about how to end suffering?

Open Ended

What do you think he said caused suffering? What did he tell people to do in order to end their suffering? It has NOTHING to do with ending their lives

His view was very simple

• Founded Buddhism around 500BC

• He believed that the cause of our suffering is our possessions

• He encouraged others to recognize that the only way to be free of suffering is by giving up your possessions (living a simple life)

• Think about it: our possessions control us, clog our minds and can make us selfish-focus on money, fame, etc

• He believed that if you could remove the cause of suffering, then you would be at peace

• After all, he did this and he was very happy and content

• Could you honestly do this??

He believed that this strategy would lead one to nirvana

• What does the term nirvana mean?

• Nirvana-to reach a state of wisdom

• Also, "blown out or blowing out the candle"-reaching peace

How else could one reach enlightenment and/or nirvana?

• Following the Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path (important guidelines)

• Self-motivated philosophy: your future depended on you as a person, not by your status, class or job

• Goal of Buddhism: the key was to live a simple life with few possessions, that your soul would no longer reincarnation & it would reach nirvana

• This also gave hope to Hindus stuck in the caste system

Teachings of Buddhism

• He would tell stories to get his point across (morals, parables)

• His followers passed down his stories

• After his death, his followers began to write them down

• His message was spread with the greatest amount of respect & tolerance. What does tolerance mean?

• Tolerance-to deal with something different than your own beliefs especially if you don't agree with it

• But how do you think Siddhartha Gautama died?

Poll

How do you think Siddhartha Guatama aka Buddha died?

• old age

• food poisoning

• no clear answer

It is unknown how he died exactly but old age & food poisoning have been theorized

• Upon his death, he told his followers not to follow a leader but to "be your own light"

• His legacy has been divided

Two Buddhist "Schools"

• His death caused there to be a split amongst Buddhists

• Mahayana Buddhists-see Buddha as a god (see him as heavy set)

• Theravada Buddhists-see Buddha as a teacher (see him as thinner)

• Hint: remember "T" in Theravada for "T" in teacher

Review:

• People of the Indus River Valley sought a philosophy/religion focused on the people & self-worth

• Siddhartha Gautama was a wealthy prince who saw suffering, gave up his royal life & sought to understand suffering

• Buddhists believe that living a simple life, giving up possessions, having good karma & following the Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path will help them achieve nirvana

• After his death, Buddhists split into two groups Mahayana & Theravada

Your task:

• Be sure to have the following assignments completed AND turned in:

• 1) The Caste System Google Form 2) Hinduism god/goddess pic & 10 facts 3) Hinduism Worksheet (front and back)

• Tomorrow-Buddhism tasks!

• Later this week: We are going to explore the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path & how Buddhism connects to other religions