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Buddhism – Quick Facts. One of the four largest religions in the world today with over 350 million followers Followers are known as Buddhists Followers are located primarily in Asia ( China, Japan, Korea, Thailand , etc.) Based on pursuit of enlightenment (Nirvana) Key Beliefs:
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Buddhism – Quick Facts • One of the four largest religions in the world today with over 350 million followers • Followers are known as Buddhists • Followers are located primarily in Asia • (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc.) • Based on pursuit of enlightenment (Nirvana) • Key Beliefs: • The Four Noble Truths • The Eightfold Path
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama • Born in India, raised in luxury, was overcome with the suffering that exists in the world • Set out to find enlightenment through physical deprivation – found it didn’t work • Found enlightenment through the “Middle Path” – moderation and getting rid of desires • Got followers and became known as Buddha (“The Enlightened One”)
Main Beliefs • Goal: to end the cycle of rebirth and suffering : Attain Nirvana! • Attained by: discarding desires • How: Meditating on the Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths • 1. The world is suffering • 2.The cycle of reincarnation is a result of desires “The thirst for existence leads from rebirth to rebirth . . .” • 3. suffering ends by eliminating desires “Nirvana”literally means “Snuffing Out” as greed, hatred, desire, and delusion are all extinguished • 4. One can eliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path • RIGHT VIEW: Accepting Buddhist views. • RIGHT RESOLVE: A serious commitment to developing the right attitudes. • RIGHT SPEECH: telling the truth and speaking in a thoughtful and sensitive way. • RIGHT ACTION: Abstaining from wrongful behavior or over indulgence. • RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: Avoiding a livelihood that harms others. • RIGHT EFFORT: Controlling one’s thoughts and cultivating positive states of mind • RIGHT MINDFULNESS: Cultivating constant awareness • RIGHT MEDITATION: Developing deep levels of mental calm through various techniques which concentrate the mind and integrate the personality.
Places of Worship A Stupa in Thailand • Places of Worship include Stupas, Temples, and Shrines A Temple in Japan
Leaders • There are two types of leaders in Buddhism, priests and monks Bodhisatvas: Those who’ve attained enlightenment but experience rebirth to help others (a saint)
Symbols • Wheel of Life 8 spokes remind people of the Eightfold path and the wheel represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth • Lotus Flower symbolizes purity
Holy Book • The Tripitaka • Written down from what oral tradition said about Buddha’s sayings • When written in English, it is over 40 volumes!
Divisions • There are two main branches of Buddhism • Mahayana • Believes Buddha was divine • Theravada • Believes Buddha was a great teacher