9. • 563 BCE- N. India
• Siddhartha Gautama becomes the Buddha
– Buddha means “The Enlightened One”
• Believed in reincarnation
• Denied the importance of the Caste System
– Anyone in any caste could reach Nirvana.
• Gained followers. Opposed by Brahmins.
• Understand the Four Noble Truths and the
Eight Fold Path is the key to reaching Nirvana.
10. Teachings of the Buddha
4 Noble Truths:
1. All people suffer and know
sorrow
2. People suffer because their
desires bind them to the cycle
of rebirth
3. People could end their
suffering by eliminating their
desires
4. One could eliminate desire by
following the Eightfold Path
11. Eightfold Path
1. Right Views: seeing life as it really is
2. Right Intentions: living a life of good will, striving
towards perfection
3. Right Speech: avoid lies and gossip
4. Right Action: trying to be law abiding and honest
5. Right Concentration: direct the mind in meditation
6. Right Living: avoid actions that harm others
7. Right Effort: seek to prevent evil
8. Right Mindfulness: constant awareness of one’s self
12. Create a biographical poem about the Buddha that follows this format.
Line 1: First and last name
Line 2: Four adjectives describing the
Line 3: Relative (son, father, husband) of . . .
Line 4: Resident of (city and/ or country) . . .
Line 5: Who lived from (year to year)
Line 6: Who searched for . . .
Line 7: Who taught . . .
Line 8: Who is remembered for . . .
Line 9: Final name meaning . . .
Editor's Notes
The religion called Buddhism is based on the teaching of the Buddha. The Buddha is a man who lived in the 5 th century. This man was Siddhartha Guatama. He was a prince who lived a very lavish life. At the age of 35 he experienced an “enlightenment”- he had figured out the end of human suffering. The story of his enlightenment if often told in the form of a legend. Today we are going to learn about the legend.
After he became “awakened” one he was afraid that no one would understand what he had experinced under the Bodhi tree. The gods begged him to teach to other what he had learned. So he left and taught his ways. Soon others joined them . individually
