Transcript Chapter 5 Section 3 - Elmwood Park Public Schools

Chapter 5 Section 3
Origins of Buddhism
Origins of Buddhism
The Big Idea
Buddhism began in India
and became a major religion.
Main Ideas
• Siddhartha Gautama searched for wisdom in many ways.
• The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding peace.
• Buddhism spread far from where it began in India.
Siddhartha
Quest for Answers
Enlightenment
• Siddhartha was born a
prince, but he questioned
the meaning of life.
• Found it under the Tree of
Wisdom while meditating
• Determined to find
answers using:
• Meditation
• Fasting
• Learning from
different teachers
• Called the Buddha
(Enlightened One)
• Spent the rest of his life
traveling and teaching his
ideas
Teachings of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
1.
Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one
can escape sorrow.
2.
Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material
goods.
3.
People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach
nirvana, a state of perfect peace.
People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an
4. eightfold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and
salvation.
1. Right Thought
Believe in the nature of existence as suffering and
in the Four Noble Truths
2. Right Intent
Incline towards goodness and kindness
3. Right Speech
Avoid lies and gossip
4. Right Action
Don’t steal from or harm others
5. Right Livelihood
Reject work that hurts others
6. Right Effort
Prevent evil and do good
7. Right Mindfulness
Control your feelings and thoughts
8. Right Concentration
Practice proper meditation
Buddhism began in India and then became a major religion.
Buddhism branches out
• Asoka, one of the most powerful kings in India, became a
Buddhist and spread Buddhism in India and foreign lands.
• Buddhist missionaries traveled the world to teach
enlightenment.
Buddhism splits
• Buddhism split into two main sects: Theravada and Mahayana.
• Members of the Theravada followed the Buddha’s teachings
exactly.
• Members of the Mahayana believed that individual
interpretation was important.
Chapter 5 Section 3 pages 136-141





Spread Beyond India
Powerful kings in India,
Asoka became Buddhist in
200 BC and began to work
on spreading Buddhism to
areas outside India
Buddhist missionaries
spread the religion to other
kingdoms in Asia
Eventually Buddhism spread
via the Silk Road into China,
Korea, and Japan
South east Asia near
Himalayas
Other Areas: Sir Lanka,
Myanmar, Persia, Syria, and
Egypt




Origins of Buddhism
Spread in India
After Buddha’s death
around 483 BC, 500
followers gathered
together. They wanted to
make sure Buddha’s
teachings were
remembered
Buddha’s followers spread
his teachings throughout
India
Within 200 years of
Buddha’s death, his
teachings had spread
through most of India
Largest Buddhist
population was around the
city of Bodh Gava in
Northeast India near the
Ganges River Delta










Basic Ideas
Basic ideas came from the
Vedas
Rituals were necessary for
enlightenment
Fasting
Meditation
Reincarnation
Nivarna – state of perfect peace
Opposed Caste System (The
Varnas)
Buddhism made people feel
they had the power to change
their lives
The Noble Truths page 138
The Eightfold Path page 139