Founder of Buddhism  Siddhartha Gautama  Noble of prince of Kapilavasta, Nepal  When he was born there was a prophecy  If he stays inside the palace he will become a world ruler  If he ventures out he will become a great spiritual leader.

His Spiritual Journey At age 29, he went out of the castle for the first time, and saw four things: – An old man – A sick man – A funeral procession – A holy man at peace with himself He came to understand that all of life had these problems, and tried to answer these problems

Path to Enlightenment Enlightenment, or wisdom First he debated other religious leaders Then he fasted, eating only six grains of rice a day – He was able to touch his stomach and could feel his backbone. Finally he meditated – Meditated for 49 days and achieved enlightenment

Buddha  The Enlightened One

Four Noble Truths  Everything in life is suffering  The cause of suffering is people’s selfish desire for temporary pleasure  The way to end suffering is to end all desires  To overcome such desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the eight fold path, or Middle Way between desires and self denial

The Eightfold Path Right View – Is the true understanding of the four noble truths Right Aspiration – Desire to free oneself from attachments, ignorance and hatefulness Right Speech – Abstaining from lying, gossiping, or hurtful talk Right Action – No hurtful behaviors, like killing, stealing, ect.

The Eightfold Path continued  Right Livelihood  Avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals  Right Effort  Right Mindfulness  Overcoming craving, hatred, and ignorance  Right Concentration  Meditating realize your problems

Things not to do  Do not harm any living thing  Do not steal  Avoid over-stimulation  Do not say unkind things  Do not take alcohol or drugs

Buddhist Practices  Meditation  Prayer  Belief in Karma  Belief in reincarnation and enlightenment  Trying to achieve Nirvana  Or release from all of the problems of the world

Symbols of Buddhism  Bodhi Tree  Where it is said Buddha attained enlightenment

Literature of Buddhism  Sermons of Buddha  Dialogues of Buddha

Spread of Buddhism  Spread along the Silk Road

Disappearance of Buddhism  In India it disappeared  Because of the Hindu beliefs. It was swallowed by the religon of Hinduism