Siddhartha Gautama’s journey Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama’s journey

What makes you happy?

What is Buddhism? A way of life, based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddha means ‘the enlightened one’ or ‘the one who is fully awake’. Buddhist teachings start with the questions: “Why is there suffering and unhappiness? Can these be overcome?” Buddhist believe everyone wants to be happy, but they do not know how to achieve true happiness.

What is Buddhism? Buddhist teachings aim to help people overcome suffering and promote happiness. Buddhist teach people to look carefully at life and reflect on what makes them happy. Believe that careful reflection and mediation will make them wiser and kinder towards all living things.

What is Buddhism? What is its purpose? To make you happier. Gain a real understanding of yourself. Buddhism trains the mind to be calm & peaceful, contented & happy.

What is Buddhism? Similarities with other religions: Temples & Shrines Quiet meditation – chanting Teachings about life & guidelines Ancient texts Differences with other religions: Not asked to believe anything on trust or faith. Free to examine teachings and draw their own conclusions Does not teach belief in god or that there is no god.

Who is Buddha? Siddhartha Gautama Born in the foothills of the Himalayas (modern day Nepal). Born to the ruler (Shuddhodana) of the Shakyas clan. Brought up in a life of luxury. Father sheltered him from the suffering and death of the world. Not completely happy, wanted to see the outside world.

Who is Buddha? Siddhartha’s Quest When Siddhartha would go out in his chariot, his father would send servants ahead to hide all the blind, sick & old people. Despite his father’s best efforts Siddhartha witnessed the old, sick and dead. Lead to him questioning his life of luxury and realizing that everything changes. The last person he saw was a Sadhu – a holy man who had given up all his possessions. This caused Siddhartha to reflect on his life. One night Siddhartha asked his chariot driver to take him out of the city where he got out, cut his hair and left his fine clothes. He began his journey as an ascetic.

Who is Buddha? Siddhartha’s Quest Wanted to find meaning & purpose in life. Wanted to overcome suffering. Lived an Ascetic life for six years. Accepted hardships and followed strict disciplines of religion of his day (Hinduism). Settled on the River Nairanjana with five other holy men. Fasting – trained himself to have no food for long periods of time and eat only what was necessary to survive. Realized fasting was not helping him find the truth about life. Holy men deserted him.

Who is Buddha? The Enlightened One Realized that fasting was not helping him achieve what he was seeking, Siddhartha went and sat at the foot of a tree. Vowed not to get up until he found the truth. He sat under the tree thinking on a variety of images that went through his mind. Images that tempted him. Eventually as the night passed, it is said the Siddhartha saw the truth about life. The word of enlightenment is ‘Bodhi’ Someone who has become enlightened is called ‘Buddha’

What did he see? It is believed that he saw everything that had happened in the past. That he saw creatures being born, living and then dying. He saw that thing come into being because of the conditions surrounding it. He saw that people suffered because they were always craving thing that were subject to change. He saw that individual people are not separate from the world, but part of it.