1. buddhism

2. Founder/origin
Siddhartha Gautama
BCE
Present-day Nepal

3. Creation myth
Universe is cyclical
No god—no relationship with god

4. Holidays/clothing/ HOLy book
New Year’s Day
Birth of Buddha (Vesak)
Sangha Day
Dharma Day
Monks—saffron robes
Holy book: Tripitaka
Branches:
Theravada (Tibetan)
Mahayana
Zen
Vajrayana

5. Holy cities/hierarchy/today/women
Lumbini
Temple
Buddhist monks
Tibetan—Dalai Lama at top
376 million, mostly in Asia
Men and women equal

6. Basic beliefs 4 Noble Truths Dukkha—life is full of suffering
Suffering caused by desires
Ending suffering ends desires
Follow 8-fold path to end desire
People should become self-aware
Learn mental discipline
Avoid harming others
Abandon destructive feelings and behaviors
Act and think in constructive ways
“Buddha” — any fully enlightened person
Nirvana— ends cycle of reincarnation, achieve enlightenment

7. Rituals Meditation—breathing 8-fold path Five Precepts Do not kill
Do not steal
Do not engage in sexual misconduct
Do not lie
Do not take intoxicants

8. Salvation/afterlife 8-fold path
Right understanding, thought, speech, action, living, effort, mindfulness, meditation
Goal is to reach nirvana
Reincarnation until you reach nirvana