Chapter 4: Ancient India and China Section 3 - Buddhism Dharmachakra, the Wheel of Truth, represents the truth about our situation and the many ways of understanding it more clearly. The Buddha encouraged people to rely on their own experience, rather than depending upon or worshiping authority figures or gods. His teaching is often called "turning the wheel of the dharma."

Section 3 - Buddhism Main Idea Buddhism, which teaches people that they can escape the suffering of the world through the Buddha’s teachings, developed in India and spread to other parts of Asia and the world. Objectives How did the early life of the Buddha lead to the beginnings of Buddhism? What are the major teachings of Buddhism? What areas were affected by the spread of Buddhism?

Buddhism was founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama A. The Buddha Buddhism was founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha seeking enlightenment

A. The Buddha c. 563 BC – Born a prince, raised in luxury and shielded from the realities of life

A. The Buddha Age 29: left his palace and was shocked to see disease, old age, and death

A. The Buddha Gave up his life of luxury and left his loved ones - the Great Renunciation Prince Siddhartha looks at his wife and son before leaving the palace Prince Siddhartha leaves the city and starts a homeless life

A. The Buddha Spent 6 years wandering, meditating and fasting, in a search to understand suffering For months, Siddhartha underwent hardships by the banks of the Nairanjana River.  So great were his austerities that the ribs of his back could be seen.  He drank one drop of water a day.  He ate only one grain of rice a day and in this way achieved the highest meditative state

A. The Buddha Discovered the truth that forms the basis of life and became the Buddha - the “Enlightened One” Prince Siddahartha attained Enlightenment on the eighth of December under the Bodhi tree after realizing the true cause of suffering in this life

A temple was built at Bodh Gaya, the place where he sat and meditated A. The Buddha A temple was built at Bodh Gaya, the place where he sat and meditated Mahabodhi Temple Great Buddha Statue

B. The Buddha’s Teachings Enlightenment and salvation come from knowing the “Four Noble Truths” and following the “Eightfold Path” The Four Noble Truths: Suffering part of human life Suffering comes from the desire for pleasure and material goods Overcoming desires during life eventually brings end to suffering Desires can be overcome by following Eightfold Path

B. The Buddha’s Teachings Following the Eightfold Path led to nirvana; others lived through cycle of suffering again Nirvana is an eternal state of being. It is the state in which the law of karma and the rebirth cycle come to an end. It is the state of perfect peace in which the soul is freed from suffering forever, a state where there are no desires and individual consciousness comes to an end.

B. The Buddha’s Teachings Basic teaching of Eightfold Path is the Middle Way - living in moderation, avoiding extremes

C. The Spread of Buddhism After the Buddha’s death, three main Buddhist traditions formed

C. The Spread of Buddhism Theravada, the “Way of the Elders”, is oldest; nirvana attained by individual meditation The Spring Temple Buddha - located in Henan, China. The statue was completed in 2002. At 128 m (420 ft), which includes a 20 m (66 ft) lotus throne, it is the tallest statue in the world. When the 25 m (82 ft) pedestal/building it is placed upon is taken into account, the monument has a total height of 153 m (502 ft). .

C. The Spread of Buddhism Mahayana teaches that people, especially Bodhisattvas, help others find enlightenment Two of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas

C. The Spread of Buddhism Tibetan is similar to Mahayana, but believe nirvana can be achieved in a single lifetime Tibetan Buddhism derives from the confluence of Buddhism and Hinduism, which arrived in Tibet from India

C. The Spread of Buddhism Buddhism reached peak in India during reign of Emperor Ashoka

C. The Spread of Buddhism Buddhism spread from India and reached its greatest strength in other parts of Asia

Largest Lord Buddha Statues in the World

What is Buddhism Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B42bbRvYhRg Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dku88rM73zE

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th century monumental statues of standing buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in central Afghanistan. They were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001 by the Taliban .