BY: LAURA IDLEMAN Buddhism An Active Ancient Religion

Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha was born into a kingdom around 563 B.C. His father made sure he was surrounded by all he wanted. Siddhartha was in the royal gardens when he saw a man that had no idea if he was going to be able to find a meal, even though, he was peaceful. This man was a monk. Siddhartha’s founding lead to the creation of the Four Noble Truths, the beginning of a new religion, Buddhism.

The Four Noble Truths The Budda became a monk in order to find out how to end suffering. A monk is someone who gives their life to a religious group. The Budda gave up all the fortunes and wealth he had, to become a monk.

The Middle Way The Middle Way was a way of life the Budda created that wasn’t too easy nor too hard. It was in the “middle”. The Budda described “The Middle Way” like keeping a stringed instrument tuned, it can’t be too tight or too loose, it has to be just right.

Buddhist’s Beliefs Karma – A force that is caused by someone’s life and their acts. Reincarnation – The belief that when you die, your spirit lives on and is born into a different body.

Bibliography World Adventures in Time and Place, New York: MacMillan/McGraw Hill Co., 1997