1. Powerpoint by Jad Saleh, Alex Petrallo, and Max Lee
Buddhism
Powerpoint by Jad Saleh, Alex Petrallo, and Max Lee

2. Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
An Indian prince born to an extremely affluent family
Didn’t see the outside world until he was 29, when a charioteer took him around the countryside. He saw old age, sickness, and death. However, he also saw a monk, and discovered that life was about inescapable grief and sorrow, thus beginning his quest for enlightenment.
He first became an ascetic, someone who practices strict self-denial.
After sitting under a fig tree, known as the Bodhi Tree, for seven days and seven nights, he finally reached enlightenment at the age of 35.
Buddha delivered his first sermon in a place called Sarnath
The Buddha tirelessly traveled and taught hundreds of disciples throughout his life until his death at the age of 80

3. Beginnings
Dharmic Wheel
Buddhism is centered around Dharma, the teachings of Buddha.
Spawned out from Hinduism because underclass citizens didn't like a strict caste system
Many converted because of the hope of a looser caste system under Buddhism
induwebsite.com/hinduism/h_buddhism.asphttp://

4. Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble truths State that greed is the source of all suffering, and the only way to end suffering is to take the middle path, or the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold path is the a teaching that tells people take the right actions, speech, work, effort, mindfulness, meditation, etc.
Reincarnation and Karma
Buddhism teaches that your actions in your current life affect what you will be born as when you are reborn
Symbol of Reincarnation

5. How was the religion originally practiced?
The Buddha did not initially allow women to be ordained and join the Buddhist monastery, but was convinced by one of his first disciples, Ananda, to allow them
Women could not become Buddhas or become enlightened
Buddhism did not have sects
The Buddha explained the middle way between ascetism and a life of luxury, the four noble truths, and the impersonality of all beings
Ananda

6. The Major Turning Points of Buddhism
The first major turning point of Buddhism is the incorporation of Buddhism into Ashoka’s empire
The second major turning point of Buddhism is the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road
The third major turning point of Buddhism is its interaction with Taoism and Confucianism after reaching China

7. First Turning Point: Incorporation of Buddhism Into Ashoka’s Empire
Stupa
Ashoka made Buddhism the official religion of the Mauryan Empire
After the Battle of Kalinga, Ashoka was very remorseful and guilty due to the high number of deaths on both sides. As a result, he converted to Buddhism
He is the only king in the history of the World that gave up conquering after winning a war
As a result of many subjects practicing Buddhism, Ashoka’s new empire was successful and prosperous
Large stupas were constructed in the town centers of the Mauryan empire. Written on them were the beliefs of Buddhism
Legend has it that Ashoka built tens of thousands of stupas

8. Consequences of First Turning Point
Rulers of other countries, including China, followed the example of Ashoka's tolerant, Buddhist-based government.
The peaceful state of Ashoka’s Mauryan empire lead to great economic prosperity because there was very little fighting because of Ashoka’s peaceful rule
In addition to this, previous kings of the empire had been feared by surrounding rulers who had learned not to attack a Mauryan King.
Made the religion very apparent to outsiders and a part of everyday life to citizens living in the empire.

9. Second Turning Point: Spread Along the Silk Road
First Encounter
A record described a man named Chang Ch'ien
On his return from Ta-hsia, Chang Ch’ien heard about the teachings of Buddhism in India
Buddhism’s spread into China
One night, the Han emperor, Mingdi, dreamt of a golden Buddha
He sent people to learn about Buddhism and to tell him of it
They returned with two Buddhist monks
A few years later a Buddhist community was founded in the capital of Loyang
Buddhism combined with other Chinese religions, forming new and different sects of Buddhism
Buddhism was extremely popular with traders, which played a key role in its spread along and across the silk road

10. Third Turning Point: Interactions Between Different Religions
There were interactions between three religions from different Asian countries; Taoism and Confucianism, religions originating in China, and Buddhism, a religion originating in India
There were some diffusions between Taoism and Buddhism.
Some Taoists created Buddhist-like monasteries, and adopted Buddhism's burning of incense.
They shared common communal festivals.
Local Taoist saints blended with Buddhist saints.
Books by Taoists revealed Buddhist and Confucianist influences, such as dialogues between a teacher and his disciples, not known in China before Buddhism's arrival.
Rumor appeared among Taoists that Buddhism had been created by Taoism's founder, Laozi.
This story held that after disappearing on a long journey into India, Laozi had taught Taoism to the Buddha.

11. Consequences of Third Turning Point
Buddhism turned away from traditional Buddhism and blended, creating different sects of Far East Asian Buddhism, such as Zen and Huayan Buddhism
As Buddhism became steadily more popular in the Far East, it much less popular in India
Buddhist temples became large powerful landowning enterprises, and as a result, Buddhism was looked down upon by other Far East Asian religions
Zen Buddhist Monks
Huayan Buddhist Carvings

12. Different Types of Buddhism
Mahayana (Eastern)
Beliefs are that a person must practice universal compassion and the altruistic quest of the bodhisattva is to attain the “Awakened Mind”. There are many sects, including Zen and Pure Land Buddhism.
Theravada (Southern)
Translates to “the Doctrine of the Elder’s” and their biggest aim is to use meditation to to train the mind and free the mind of suffering. By following this they believe they can reach Nirvana.
Tibetan (Northern)
Is considered to be a type of Mahayana Buddhism but it more open to other teachings and there are some practices that are uncommon both Mahayana and Theravada sects but also uses uses practices from the other two. It is practiced primarily in Tibet.

13. How the religion is practiced today
Today, there are many monasteries for nuns, which operate nearly the same as monasteries for monks
It is possible for women to reach enlightenment in the same way as men
Many of the beliefs that the Buddha held are still held by practitioners of Buddhism today, but there are different sects of Buddhism

14. Would the Buddha recognize how it is practiced now?
Answer: Yes
The beliefs of Buddhism have remained relatively the same since the founding of the religion
It still teaches to practice moderation and find the middle path
It still teaches the three basic principles
Sila
Samadhi
Panna
It still teaches self-discipline
It still teaches the Four Noble truths
It still teaches the Eightfold Path
The underlying principles of Buddhism has remained relatively unchanged since it’s founding, despite the introduction of new sects

15. Other Works Cited http://www.ajanta-ellora.com/origin-of-buddhism.html