Buddhism

-The “middle way of wisdom

and compassion.”
-fourth-largest religion in the
world
-Originated in Northern India
-5 century B.C.E
th
-Founded by
Siddhartha
Gautama
•Born as a prince in Lumbini (Nepal)2500
years ago
•Son of the King Shuddhodana and
Queen Maya of Shakyan clan
•Raised in great luxury to be a king
•At 29 he rejected his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of suffering
• He saw 4 men (Four Passing Sights)
• Old man
• Sick man
• Dead man
• Poor man
• For the next 6 years he wandered the forests of
India looking for ENLIGHTENMENT
• Enlightenment means wisdom.
• He becomes Buddha means “enlightened one”
 BUDDHA’S TEACHING
- Pathway to understand the nature of suffering and
how it can be overcome
- Individual is responsible for his/her own
enlightenment
- Avoid:
• Authority
• Ritual
• Tradition
• Supernatural
 Four Noble Truths
•Life is suffering(Dukkha)
•There is suffering because there is
desire(Samudāya)
•In order to get rid of suffering, one has to
get rid of desire(Nirodha)
•There is a path that leads from
suffering(Magga)
 Eightfold Path
The PATH MEANING
Right View Awareness of the law of Karma and Four Noble Truths
Right Thought Avoiding thoughts of anger, greed, and illicit desire
Right Speech Avoiding lies, unkind speech, and frivolous talk
Right Action Avoiding evil acts, those against the five precepts
Right Livelihood Avoiding lifestyles and occupation that harm oneself and others
Right Effort Doing one’s best in doing good things at the right time
Right Mindfulness Learning to be attentive to the present moment
Right Training the mind to be focused and calm
Concentration
 MONK
Spiritual leaders
of Buddhism
responsible for
the preservation
and sharing of
the Buddha's
teaching.
 THE FIVE PRECEPTS
1. I take the precept to abstain from destroying
living beings.
2. I take the precept to abstain from taking things
not given.
3. I take the precept to abstain from sexual
misconduct
4. I take the precept to abstain from false speech.
5. I take the precept to abstain from any thing
that causes intoxication or heedlessness
 BELIEFS/
TRADITIONS
 Meditation
important in
nearly all forms of
Buddhism, and it
derives directly
from the Buddha's
experiences and
teachings
 CHANTING
Helps Buddhists learn
texts, focus the mind,
and internalize key
Buddhist ideas.
Buddhism is unique in
that it does not
consider chanting to
be prayer.
 MANTRAS
 are syllables and
words chanted
repetitively as part
of a centering,
consciousness-
shifting practice.
TRIPLE GEM OF BUDDHISM (RECITE
THIS EVERY MORNING)

Buddha, the teacher.

Dharma, the teachings.
Sangha, the
community
 MUDRAS
It is a positions of
hand oftenly
depicted in Buddhist
art and used in
practice to evoke a
particular state of
mind.
 Dharmachakra Mudra
also called as the gesture
of 'Teaching of the Wheel of
Dharma' that describes one
of the most important
moments in the Buddha's life
as he performed the
Dharmachakra mudra in his
first sermon in Sarnath after
he attained enlightenment.
Dhyan Mudra
It is also
known
as Samadhi or
Yoga mudra.
 his gesture is also
Bhumisparsa Mudra
known as “touching
the Earth”
which represents the
moment of the
Buddha's awakening as
he claims the earth as
the witness of his
enlightenment.
Vitarka Mudra
It signifies the
discussion and
transmission of
the teachings
of the Buddha.
Anjali Mudra It  is also
called 'Namaskara
Mudra' or ‘Hridayanjali
Mudra' that represents
the gesture of greeting,
prayer and adoration. 
Buddhist Monks and
Nuns shave
their hair 
It’s a symbolic gesture
that shows that the
monk and nun are
ready to commit and
leave the past behind.
 BUDDHISTS BELIEVE IN
KARMA
Karma is the belief that
every act has a consequence
later on in life.
- There is no holy bible to follow, but many
important texts
- Heaven and hell are not eternal places
according to Buddhist teachings
- Buddhism can exist without Buddha, he
simply found a way to become Enlighted,
and shared his findings with others
- Buddha (Siddharta Gautama) never
claimed to be a prophet or god
- Buddhism is not a religion. It’s a way
of life, and shouldn’t be confused as
a religion as there is no god or
supreme being to worship. The goal
is to reach the state of Nirvana
•Buddhists believe in reincarnation
•Different from Hindu belief:
• Buddhists may be reincarnated as many times as
it takes until Enlightenment and Nirvana are
reached.
• Hindus believe in reincarnation as a means of
rising up the caste to reach moksha. There is the
risk of being reincarnated in a lower caste.
 BUDDHIST SYMBOLS
•The Wheel of Dhamma – Representing the
eightfold path
•The Lotus flower – Symbol for the journey to
enlightenment
•The symbol for “Om”
•The riderless horse represents renunciation