- Buddhism originated from Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who was born in Nepal and lived a privileged life until seeing human suffering led him to abandon wealth and become an ascetic seeking enlightenment. - After years of extreme asceticism and meditation, Gautama realized this path was futile and instead found enlightenment under a bodhi tree through concentrated meditation and insight into relieving suffering. - Gautama then taught the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path to help others reach nirvana, or relief from suffering, founding a monastic order but preaching that individuals must seek their own understanding rather than rely on rituals or authority.

1. Buddhism

2. Hinduism Review According to Hinduism, what do people really want? What are the two types pathways? Why aren’t pleasures enough to keep people happy forever? What are the four pathways?

3. Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama born circa 563 BC in Nepal Prince Privileged life Sees the four sights and leaves cushy life for the life of an ascetic at age 29 Great Going Forth

4. Buddha’s Journey to Enlightenment 6 years in forest Seeks and learns from Hindu masters Commitment to deprivation extreme 6 grains of rice a day Ultimately finds asceticism futile Failed experiment leads him to seek the middle path

5. Buddha’s Journey to Enlightenment Last Phase: Rigorous thought and concentration Sits down under the Bo tree and meditates Temptation The evil one attempts to keep Buddha from completing his task Kama- god of desire Three Women Mara- Lord of Death Hurricanes, storms, and flaming stone with no effect Challenges Buddha’s right to achieve Nirvana

6. The Great Awakening Sits and contemplates until the enlightenment comes Enjoys complete bliss for 7 days Attempts to move on the 8 th but is once again overtaken and remains for another 49 days The Last temptation Mara appeals to his reason “ Who could be expected to understand truth as profound as that which Buddha had laid hold of?”

7. Buddha’s Ministry Started an order of monks to minister to the people and help others find Nirvana Cyclical lifestyle 9 months in the world and 3 months in seclusion Meditate 3 times a day to retreat from the world

8. Buddha: The Man Possibly the most rational person Combination of rational and warmhearted Not sentimental but also not indifferent Self sacrificing

9. Reactionary to Hinduism Brahmin Hereditary and Exploitative Horded religions secrets Charging for ministering Rituals become mechanical Tradition becomes a barrier Sanskrit still used as the official language even when the masses no longer understood Karma confused with fatalism Lack of personal responsibility Mystery of religion confused with mystery-mongering and mystification Obsessions with miracles, the occult, and the fantastic

10. Buddha Creates a Unique Religion Preached a religion devoid of authority Making as much accessible to as many as he could Each individual must seek their own religious understanding No Ritual in Buddhism No Speculation about the unknown No Tradition Taught in the vernacular of the people No Fatalism Intense self-effort required No supernatural No fortune telling or horoscopes etc

11. Characteristics of Original Buddhism Empirical Scientific Pragmatic Therapeutic Psychological Egalitarian Individualistic

12. Four Noble Truths Most considered convictions about life Life is Dukkha (Suffering) Tanha (Desire for private fulfillment ) – which is the cause of suffering Release from Tanha would relieve the suffering The way to overcome Tanha is through the Eightfold Path

13. The Eightfold Path Right Views Right Intent Right Speech Right Conduct Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration

14. Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism In small groups of 3-4 discuss the following questions and prepare answers to share with the class. Is Buddhism a distinct religion, or is it just a form of the knowledge yoga. If it is a form of Hinduism, explain what characteristics it shares, if it is not, explain what differences make it a unique religion. Cycles are a major part of both of these religions. How are their cycles similar? How are they different? Identify AT LEAST 5 common themes that you see developing in these religions that you believe will be present in the other religions we investigate.