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Buddhism. History of Buddhism. 380 million Buddhists worldwide 4 th largest religion in world Started by Siddhartha Gautama: 525 BCE in India Born into the Brahmin caste Saw suffering and wanted to change it Eventually achieved enlightenment. Four Noble Truths. Suffering is universal.
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History of Buddhism • 380 million Buddhists worldwide • 4th largest religion in world • Started by Siddhartha Gautama: 525 BCE in India • Born into the Brahmin caste • Saw suffering and wanted to change it • Eventually achieved enlightenment
Four Noble Truths • Suffering is universal. • Cause of suffering is desire. • The only way to end suffering is to crush desire. • Nirvana:Freedom from the cycle of birth and death. • The way to end desire is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. There is a path to the cessation of suffering, the “eightfold path” of right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
Elements of Buddhism • No gods. • Priests were not necessary. • No caste system. • Karma. • Reincarnation. • Teachings are located in the Three Baskets of Wisdom
Two types of Buddhism • Theravada:Stressed the monastic life as the way to reach nirvana • Respected Buddha as a teacher but not as a god • Ceylon, Myanmar, Thailand • Mahayana:Worshipped the Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods • China, Tibet, Japan, Korea
Death and Afterlife • Samsara: Living beings are trapped in a continual cycle of birth-and-death, with the momentum to rebirth provided by one’s previous physical and mental actions • The release from this cycle of rebirth and suffering is the total transcendence called nirvana