1. Buddhism Main Idea Reading Focus
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.
Reading Focus
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?

2. Buddha’s Enlightenment
The Life of the Buddha
In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in ancient India. That religion was Buddhism.
Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature
Gautama born 500s BC
Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal
Led sheltered life
Unaware of hardship
Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died
Early Life
Gautama resolved to find way to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suffering
Gave up possessions, left palace
Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years
Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment
Buddha’s Enlightenment

3. Gautama was determined to find way to end human suffering
The Life of the Buddha
Gautama was determined to find way to end human suffering
Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way
Stories say he meditated all night
Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations
At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One
Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places

4. The Teachings of Buddhism
After enlightenment achieved, Buddha meditated at Bodh Gaya seven weeks
Set out to spread to others what he had learned
Lessons became basic teachings of Buddhism
Among ideas learned in meditation, central truths, called Four Noble Truths
Buddhist Beliefs
Suffering part of human life
Suffering from people’s desires for pleasure, material goods
Overcoming desires during life eventually brings end to suffering
Desires can be overcome by following Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths

5. Eightfold Path Series of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation
Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths
Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things
Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words
Right action, or treating others fairly
Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others
Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself
Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one
Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while meditating

6. Nirvana
The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could attain nirvana
State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering forever
Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of suffering again
Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in search for nirvana

7. Divisions of Buddhism Theravada Mahayana Tibetan
After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the correct teachings and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main Buddhist traditions formed—Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.
“Way of the Elders”
Oldest tradition
Best way to attain nirvana: be monk, nun, meditate
Find one path to enlightenment; very much an individual religion
Theravada
Teaches people can help each other find enlightenment
Not necessary to be monk, nun
Bodhisattvas, enlightened people not yet passed to nirvana, help others
Mahayana
Shares many Mahayana teachings
Also believes special techniques can harness spiritual energy, lead to nirvana in single lifetime
Tibetan

8. The Spread of Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism spread into other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million people are Buddhists, most of them concentrated in Asia. Relatively few people in India are Buddhists today.
Buddhist community in India grew throughout Buddha’s life
Followers spread teachings after Buddha’s death
Teachings not written down until first century BC; helped preserve, spread teachings throughout India
Buddhism in India
200s BC, Buddhism reached peak in India during reign of emperor Ashoka
Ashoka became Buddhist, helped spread Buddhism into all parts of India
Ashoka
Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message to lands outside of India.

9. Buddhism Beyond India Traders
Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s southern coast, and north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands of Southeast Asia
Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, islands of Indonesia
Traders
Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India
200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia introduced Buddhist teachings
Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into China, slowly spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies

10. Leading Asian Religion
From China, Buddhism eventually diffused into Korea, Japan
AD 300s, first introduced to Korea
Korean travelers took religion to Japan 200 years later
By this time, Buddhism had become leading religion in East, Southeast Asia
Korea and Japan
As Buddhism encountered other religious traditions outside India, it changed, developed
Blending caused smaller traditions within Theravada, Mahayana
Zen, branch of Mahayana, emphasized self-discipline, meditation
Today Buddhism very diverse
Change, Development