2. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama was a prince born in Nepal in 560 BCE. –Raised in palace & was never allowed to leave. –One day he decides to leave palace walls w/out his dad’s permission –he sees disease, poverty. Realizes there is suffering in the world. –Decides to give up being a prince & tries to find cause of suffering/ misery. Searches for 6 yrs. –Finally sits under bodhi tree & meditates & reaches enlightenment

3. He takes the name Buddha = a person who is awakened. Once he knew what causes suffering, he began to teach about it.

4. Teaches The 4 Noble Truths: 1) life is suffering (everyone experiences pain) 2) Source of suffering is desire 3) You can end suffering by ending desire 4) Way to end desire is by following the 8 Fold Path (A list of 8 ways to live based on right actions & right attention)

7. 8 Fold Path summarized:

8. Siddhartha Gautama was previously Hindu so religion is somewhat similar. –Belief in reincarnation & karma. Buddhists believe in the anatman = no soul. Instead of a soul you have karmic residue that gets reincarnated. You can’t have an unchanging soul b/c the entire universe is in a constant state of change. Nothing is permanent. Goal of Buddhists is to reach nirvana= a passing out of existence & a freedom from suffering. You can only reach nirvana once you have become enlightened.

9. Buddha denied existence of god. There is no divine help. Work it out on your own through determination Buddha did not accept the caste system. Buddha= the man/ prince Siddhartha buddha= anyone who has reached enlightenment

10. The 3 Jewels of Buddhism I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the dharma (the truth Buddha taught) I take refuge in the sanga (the nuns & monks)

11. Buddhism: The spread & division Theravada- stressed monastic life as a way to reach enlightenment; Buddha is teacher, not god. Spread to Burma & Thailand Mahayana- Buddhism & enlightened ones are god- like. Spread to Tibet, Japan, China, Korea

13. Statues of Buddha