The Birth of Buddhism

The Founder of Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama grew up as a prince. Gautama began to search for wisdom after living a life without sadness or ugliness. In his search for wisdom, he spoke with Hindu priests, but he could not accept their answers. He traveled across northern India for six years, begging for food and seeking truth. He tried to focus his thoughts by refusing to eat, or fasting. He began to eat again when he nearly starved to death. After meditating for several days, great understanding came to the prince as he sat under a fig tree. Buddhist texts tell us that the wisdom he received that day made him the Buddha, or “Awakened One.”

The Beliefs of Buddha The Buddha used some Hindu ideas and changed others. Like Hindus, the Buddha believed that all people went through cycles of birth, death, and rebirth called reincarnation. He also accepted the Hindu idea of Karma. Karma is a force caused by a person’s good and bad acts. Karma is said to affect future lives.

Beliefs of Buddha Unlike Hindus, however, Buddha did not search for the one powerful force believed to connect all of life. He believed that the most important task in life was to reach peace by ending suffering.

The Four Noble Truths The Buddha decided that life is ruled by Four Noble Truths. 1. Life is filled with suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by people wanting more pleasure, more power, or a longer life. 3. Suffering can end if people stop wanting things. 4. People must follow eight basic laws if they are to stop wanting things.

The Eightfold Path The Buddha explained the Four Noble truths to his followers. He called the way to end suffering the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is a set of instructions on the proper way to live. These laws were neither too strict nor too easy. They represent a Middle Way of living.

The Eightfold Path 276. You yourself must make the effort. The (Buddha) can only point the way…. 277. Temporary are all…things; he who sees the truth of this becomes disgusted with the world of suffering. This is the path to purity.

Buddha Travels and Teaches There were thousands of Buddhists in northern India by the time the Buddha died at the age of 80. Buddhist monks, like the Buddha, gave up all they owned and depended on other Buddhist believers to give them food each day. They tried to live peacefully and to love all living things.

The Spread of Buddhism Buddhism spread to what are today China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Different Schools Some followers believe that the Buddha was a god. Others thought that he was a person who found a way to end suffering. Buddhists also argued about how to live the Middle Way. These differences continue among Buddhists today.