Buddhism Basics

1. A Tour of Buddhism
By Avery Childress
For AP World History
Sep 2017

2. What is it?
• A religion or philosophy that can be summed up as:
• 1) Leading a moral and right life
• 2) Be mindful and aware of ones thoughts and actions
• 3) Develop wisdom and understanding
• Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and
inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life
that leads to true happiness.

3. History
• Originate about 2500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, now known as
Buddha, was enlighten at the age of 25.
• Buddha did not claim to be a god he just taught the path to enlightenment
• Budhi means to awaken
• About 300 million practice this religion.

4. The Four Noble Truths
• The essence of Buddha’s teaching that is left much unexplained they are:
• --The truth of suffering
• --the truth of the cause of suffering
• --the truth of the end of suffering
• --the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering

5. After Life
• Buddhist believe in life and after death being a continuous cycle, which they
call samsara.
• Through karma and enlightenment, they hope to escape samsara and achieve
nirvana, an end to suffering.

6. Traditions (only a few of MANY)
• Meditation- person uses to separate themselves from their thoughts and
feelings in order to become fully aware.
• Painting Mandalas- symbolic of the universe
• Dharma Day- Celebrates the beginning of Buddha’s teachings
• Losar- Tibetan New Year, 3 day festival of celebrations.

7. The End of Basic Buddhism!

8. Sites Used.
• http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/
• https://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm