1. Buddhist Populations

2. Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama

3. Siddhartha Gautama (563-483)
Born in Nepal just north of India
Raised in a palace of luxury to be a king
At 29 he rejected his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and the source of suffering
Lived a strict ascetic life for 6 years
Sat in meditation and found Nirvana
Became the Buddha and known as the Enlightened One at 35

4. Essence of Buddhism
Desire is the fundamental cause of all suffering and Buddhism sees this through “Four Noble Truths”
Truth of Suffering – Life has inevitable suffering
Cause of Suffering – Craving and Fundamental ignorance
Path of Suffering – Contained in the eight fold path
End of Suffering

5. Essence of Buddhism Meditation is used to transcend worldly desires
Buddhists follow an “Eight Fold Path” to reach Nirvana
Nirvana is an “Enlightened State”