Buddhism
The Buddha OhdM
Important Figures
The Bodhi tree
Dalai Lama Ocean of Wisdom The current Dalai Lama is 76 years old 1937Current date
Choosing of the Dalai Lama Reincarnation High Lamas Dream Smoke Oracle Lake Belongings of the previous Dalai Lama
The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the Bodhi tree. 1.The truth of suffering 2.The truth of the origin of suffering (the cause of suffering) 3.The truth of the cessation of suffering (realising there is a cure to suffering/making it stop) 4.The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (the eightfold path, the journey to stop suffering)
Buddhist Meditation A form of mental concentration that leads ultimately to enlightenment and spiritual freedom. There are two main types of Buddhist meditation: o Insight o Tranquillity. Buddha Day
The Eight Fold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is extremely important in Buddhism since it impacts on how people live. Following the Noble Eightfold Path means that believers try and live better lives in accordance with the morality enclosed in it. 1.Harming things 2.Taking what is not given 3.Sexual misconduct 4.Lying or gossip 5.Taking intoxicating substances (drugs, alcohol)
The Wheel of Life
Represents the Buddhists view of the universe. There are 5 sections on the wheel which a soul can be reborn into. The wheel is held by a demon known as Yama the Lord of death. Yama symbolises the impermanence of everything. Buddhism teaches to not be afraid of death and that it is not the end. The Three Fires – the 3 main causes of suffering. Greed, ignorance and hatred represented in a pig, rooster and snake. The realm of humans – the most fortunate state. They have the best chance of enlightenment. They suffer the least but are not in total bliss like the Gods. The realm of Gods – live in a state of bliss in the realm of heaven. They live for a long time but they too will die. At the bottom there are angry Gods known as the Titans who dislike the other Gods. The realm of hungry ghosts – stuck between mortal realms full of their unfulfilled desires. Symbolised by their huge bellies and tiny mouths that cannot be satisfied. The realm of animals- animals are considered to lack the awareness to become enlightened. Buddhists do not believe it is a good thing to be reborn as an animal although they do believe in treating every living thing with kindness. Hell- at the bottom of the wheel. People here get tortured but only until their bad karma has been worked off.