Buddhism

1. Buddhism

2. Siddhartha Gautama • Buddhism appeared in northern India and soon became a rival of Hinduism. • The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, or the “Enlightened One.” • How did Siddhartha Gautama become Buddha?

3. Siddhartha came from a small kingdom in the Himalayas (southern Nepal). • He was born around 563 B.C. and he was a son of a ruling family. • When Siddhartha Gautama was born, a seer (fortune teller) predicted that he would either become a great king or he would save humanity. Fearing that his son would not follow in his footsteps, his father raised Siddhartha in a wealthy and pleasure-filled palace in order to shield his son from any experience of human misery or suffering. This, however, was a futile project, and when Siddhartha saw four sights: a sick man, a poor man, a beggar, and a corpse, he was filled with infinite sorrow for the suffering that humanity has to undergo. • After this sight how did Siddhartha change?

4. Meaning of Life • At first he followed the example of ascetics, people who practiced self-denial to achieve an understanding of ultimate reality. The abuse of his physical body, however only led to a close brush with death from not eating. • He would then turn to meditation. Why did Hindu’s meditate? • One evening while meditating he reached enlightenment as to the meaning of life. He spent the rest of life preaching what he had discovered.

5. Basic Principles of Buddhism • Nirvana • Four Noble Truths • Ordinary life is full of suffering • Suffering if caused by our desires • The way to end suffering is to end desire • The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path • Eightfold Path (Middle Path)

6. Painting of Buddha. • How do you envision Buddha? • How as the figure of Buddha changed over time?

9. in folklore Buddha is admired for his happiness, plenitude, and wisdom. One belief, popular in folklore not Buddhist doctrine, maintains that rubbing his belly brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity.