Buddhism

Context By the time Buddhism developed, Aryan invaders had been in India for 500 years The caste system was well established Suffering, poverty, and inequality were widespread This was justified by the Brahmins as the result of karma

Siddhartha Gautama Born 563 BC into the Kshatriya (warrior) caste He lived in luxury and never saw suffering because he was isolated in a palace by his father Gautama began to question his father and the teachings of the Brahmins

The Great Awakening Gautama secretly left the palace grounds for a chariot ride He saw what are now known as the “Four Signs” A sick man An old man A dead man A holy man Gautama, stunned by the suffering in the world, renounced his old life and pursued wisdom One day, he achieved enlightenment, and became known as Buddha, the enlightened one

Buddha’s Teachings Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching followers His teachings begin with the four noble truths All existence is dukkha, unsatisfactory and filled with suffering Dukkha arises from tanha, craving or clinging, the desire to find something permanent Dukkha can cease totally-this is nirvana Nirvana can be achieved by following the Eightfold Path

Achieving Nirvana Buddhists believe in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth Unlike Hindus, they do not believe in a soul-only a rebirth of karma. There is nothing truly permanent to Buddhists. This cycle of suffering can be escaped by following the Eightfold Path and achieving nirvana The steps must be followed in order

The Eightfold Path

The Lotus Flower The Lotus is an important symbol in Buddhism A lotus rising out of mud represents Buddha achieving a state of enlightenment, despite the pain and suffering in the world around him

The Three Cardinal Faults Buddha taught that the three cardinal faults of humans are greed, hatred, and delusion These are represented by the pig, the snake, and the rooster “Consumed by craving, enraged by hatred, blinded by delusion, overwhelmed and despairing, man contemplates his own downfall, that of others, and both together.”-Buddha

Gods in Buddhism Buddhists do not deny the existence of gods; however, while gods exist in a form above humans, they are not equal to the wisdom of Buddha There are a number of demons, such as Yama and Mara, who tested the Buddha throughout his lifetime

Buddhist Worship In Buddhism, there are two groups Bhikkhu, or monks Sangha, or laypeople There is a tradition of the laypeople offering support to the monks Monks often reside in monasteries, where they contemplate Buddha’s dhamma, or teachings The “Three Jewels of Buddhism” are Buddha, his teachings, and the monks

Forms of Buddhism Buddhism has spread across Asia, and developed its own unique practices in Tibet, China, and Japan The two main branches are Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism Mahayana-Emphasizes compassion, many people can achieve nirvana through the teachings of bodhisattvas Theravada-Emphasizes wisdom, relatively few can achieve nirvana