1) Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in 563 BC in India and after witnessing suffering in the world, he left his home to find a way to end suffering. He tried many spiritual practices before achieving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and becoming Buddha. 2) The core teachings of Buddhism include the Four Noble Truths about the nature of suffering and its cessation, and the Eightfold Path to end suffering through right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. 3) Buddhists believe that enlightenment can end the cycle of rebirth and suffering, and that meditation and following Buddhist principles can help one achieve nirvana

1. BuddhismBuddhism

2. I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism
A.A. In 563 B.C. Prince Siddhartha GautamaIn 563 B.C. Prince Siddhartha Gautama
was born and it was foretold that he hadwas born and it was foretold that he had
two possible futures.two possible futures.
1. He would unite India and be it ruler1. He would unite India and be it ruler
2. He would be a great spiritual leader2. He would be a great spiritual leader
B. Siddhartha’s Father wished him toB. Siddhartha’s Father wished him to
become the ruler of India so he tried tobecome the ruler of India so he tried to
hide him from all evil.hide him from all evil.

3. I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism
C.C. Despite his father’s efforts SiddharthaDespite his father’s efforts Siddhartha
eventually discovers an elderly man,eventually discovers an elderly man,
someone sick with disease, and asomeone sick with disease, and a
corpse.corpse.
D. Siddhartha decides to leave his home toD. Siddhartha decides to leave his home to
find an end to all suffering in the world.find an end to all suffering in the world.

4. I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism
E.E. Siddhartha triesSiddhartha tries
many differentmany different
techniques to endtechniques to end
suffering includingsuffering including
yoga andyoga and
asceticism.asceticism.

5. I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism
F.F. Eventually while sittingEventually while sitting
under the Bodhi tree,under the Bodhi tree,
and resisting theand resisting the
temptations of the eviltemptations of the evil
god Mara, Siddharthagod Mara, Siddhartha
discovers the end todiscovers the end to
suffering, reaches thesuffering, reaches the
stage of enlightenment,stage of enlightenment,
and becomes theand becomes the
reincarnation ofreincarnation of
Buddha.Buddha.

6. I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism
G. Siddhartha is really the 24G. Siddhartha is really the 24thth
reincarnationreincarnation
of Buddha, but none of the otherof Buddha, but none of the other
reincarnations of Buddha (Thereincarnations of Buddha (The
Enlightened One) have been during theEnlightened One) have been during the
history of man.history of man.

7. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
A. Wheel of Dharma – all human beings areA. Wheel of Dharma – all human beings are
caught in cycle of life and death which iscaught in cycle of life and death which is
based on their moral behavior (dharma)based on their moral behavior (dharma)

8. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
B.B. The 4 Noble TruthsThe 4 Noble Truths
1.1. The Noble Truth of SufferingThe Noble Truth of Suffering
-life is full of suffering, pleasure is only-life is full of suffering, pleasure is only
temporarytemporary
2.2. The Noble Truth of the Cause ofThe Noble Truth of the Cause of
SufferingSuffering
-suffering exists because of desire,-suffering exists because of desire,
which is never satisfiedwhich is never satisfied

9. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
B.B. The 4 Noble TruthsThe 4 Noble Truths
3.3. The Noble Truth of the End of SufferingThe Noble Truth of the End of Suffering
-it is possible to end suffering if you are aware-it is possible to end suffering if you are aware
of your desires and put an end to themof your desires and put an end to them
4.4. The Noble Truth of the PathThe Noble Truth of the Path
-By changing your thought and behavior (the-By changing your thought and behavior (the
Eightfold Path) you can reach a newEightfold Path) you can reach a new
awakening.awakening.

11. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
C. The Eightfold Path/Wheel of LawC. The Eightfold Path/Wheel of Law
Right Understanding
Right Speech
Right Livelihood
Right Concentration
Right Awareness
Right Effort
Right Action
Right Thought

12. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
D. The 5 Precepts – They are notD. The 5 Precepts – They are not
commandments but vows to ensure rightcommandments but vows to ensure right
behavior.behavior.
1. Do not harm any living thing.1. Do not harm any living thing.
2. Do not steal. Take only what is given.2. Do not steal. Take only what is given.
3. Avoid over-stimulation.3. Avoid over-stimulation.
4. Do not say unkind things.4. Do not say unkind things.
5. Do not take alcohol or drugs.5. Do not take alcohol or drugs.

13. II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha
E.E. The Goal/ Purpose of BuddhismThe Goal/ Purpose of Buddhism
-The goal of Buddhism is to end all-The goal of Buddhism is to end all
suffering, reach enlightenment, and entersuffering, reach enlightenment, and enter
into nirvana.into nirvana.

14. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
A.A. Reincarnation – the constant cycle of theReincarnation – the constant cycle of the
‘soul’ through birth, life, and death.‘soul’ through birth, life, and death.
-your next stage of reincarnation-your next stage of reincarnation
depends on your actions in your previousdepends on your actions in your previous
life (Your Karma)life (Your Karma)

15. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
B. Karma – the essenceB. Karma – the essence
of yourselfof yourself
–– can be good or badcan be good or bad
- this is what- this is what
determines your nextdetermines your next
stagestage
- ‘what goes around- ‘what goes around
comes around’comes around’

16. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
C. Nirvana (‘extinguishing’)– a state of mind,C. Nirvana (‘extinguishing’)– a state of mind,
eternal bliss, which finally ends the cycle ofeternal bliss, which finally ends the cycle of
reincarnationreincarnation

17. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
D.D. Meditation – focusing ones thoughts toMeditation – focusing ones thoughts to
influence behavior and actionsinfluence behavior and actions
–– it is how one reaches enlightenment.it is how one reaches enlightenment.
-Once one is enlightened one can-Once one is enlightened one can
enter nirvana upon death.enter nirvana upon death.

18. Mandala – used to focus duringMandala – used to focus during
meditationmeditation
Sand MandalaSand Mandala

24. • A man was in a small town for the day,A man was in a small town for the day,
and needed a haircut. He noticed thatand needed a haircut. He noticed that
there were only two barbers in town, andthere were only two barbers in town, and
decided to apply a bit of logical deductiondecided to apply a bit of logical deduction
to choosing the best one. Looking at theirto choosing the best one. Looking at their
shops, he saw that the first one was veryshops, he saw that the first one was very
neat and the barber was clean shavenneat and the barber was clean shaven
with a nice haircut. The other shop was awith a nice haircut. The other shop was a
mess, and the barber there needed amess, and the barber there needed a
shave and had a bad haircut besides.shave and had a bad haircut besides.
Why did the man choose to go to theWhy did the man choose to go to the
messy barber?messy barber?

25. • A farmer was going to town with a fox, aA farmer was going to town with a fox, a
goose and a sack of corn. When he camegoose and a sack of corn. When he came
to a stream, he had to cross in a tiny boat,to a stream, he had to cross in a tiny boat,
and could only take across one thing at aand could only take across one thing at a
time. However, if he left the fox alone withtime. However, if he left the fox alone with
the goose, the fox would eat the goose,the goose, the fox would eat the goose,
and if he left the goose alone with theand if he left the goose alone with the
corn, the goose would eat the corn. Howcorn, the goose would eat the corn. How
does he get them all safely over thedoes he get them all safely over the
stream?stream?

26. • A man had twelve toothpicks in front ofA man had twelve toothpicks in front of
him. He took one away. Now he had ninehim. He took one away. Now he had nine
in front of him. How is this possible?in front of him. How is this possible?
• A man once kept a goose in a bottle. TheA man once kept a goose in a bottle. The
goose grew larger until it could notgoose grew larger until it could not
escape. The man, not wishing to harm theescape. The man, not wishing to harm the
goose, could not break the bottle. Howgoose, could not break the bottle. How
would you remove the goose?would you remove the goose?

27. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
E. BodhisattvaE. Bodhisattva
1. An enlightened1. An enlightened
being who choosesbeing who chooses
to forgo nirvana into forgo nirvana in
order to help othersorder to help others
becomebecome
enlightened.enlightened.
Bodhisattva of
Compassion
Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva

28. III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment
D.D. BodhisattvasBodhisattvas
2. Bodhisattvas are seen as2. Bodhisattvas are seen as
reincarnations of differentreincarnations of different
aspects/characteristics of Buddha (likeaspects/characteristics of Buddha (like
compassion, wisdom, patience…).compassion, wisdom, patience…).

29. Reaching NirvanaReaching Nirvana
1.1. Realm of DesireRealm of Desire
-innumerable hells, animals, humans, lesser-innumerable hells, animals, humans, lesser
gods, a few paradisesgods, a few paradises
2.2. Realm of FormRealm of Form
-no taste, touch or smell-no taste, touch or smell
-use hearing, sight, and mental impressions-use hearing, sight, and mental impressions
- 16-18 heavens- 16-18 heavens
3.3. Realm of Non-FormRealm of Non-Form
-4 heavens-4 heavens
-No sight, no hearing-No sight, no hearing
4.4. NirvanaNirvana

30. Buddhism vs. ChristianityBuddhism vs. Christianity
– The Prodigal Son– The Prodigal Son
• CharactersCharacters
• Meaning of the son’s departure from homeMeaning of the son’s departure from home
• The son’s miserable conditionThe son’s miserable condition
• The son’s decision to return homeThe son’s decision to return home
• Father’s attitude toward the son’s returnFather’s attitude toward the son’s return
• Who pays for the damage of the lost fortuneWho pays for the damage of the lost fortune

31. IV. Other Basic BuddhistIV. Other Basic Buddhist
BeliefsBeliefs
• SalvationSalvation
• AfterlifeAfterlife
• CreationCreation
• End timesEnd times
• GodsGods
• TipitakaTipitaka
• SymbolsSymbols
• StupaStupa
• MudraMudra

32. Tipitaka – Buddhist ScripturesTipitaka – Buddhist Scriptures
• Literally means “basket of law”Literally means “basket of law”
• Has three partsHas three parts
1. laws governing monks1. laws governing monks
2. teachings of Buddha2. teachings of Buddha
3. commentary on Buddha’s teachings3. commentary on Buddha’s teachings

33. Buddhist ‘Salvation’Buddhist ‘Salvation’
• ‘‘Salvation’ is up to the individual – youSalvation’ is up to the individual – you
make your own karmamake your own karma

34. Buddhist view of CreationBuddhist view of Creation
• There is no all powerful creator god. TheThere is no all powerful creator god. The
universe has always existed but it is notuniverse has always existed but it is not
permanent.permanent.

35. Buddhist view of the end timesBuddhist view of the end times
• Usually seen as coinciding with theUsually seen as coinciding with the
coming of the 25coming of the 25thth
Buddha. But this worldBuddha. But this world
will only be reincarnated into a new world.will only be reincarnated into a new world.

36. StupaStupa

37. MudraMudra

38. Lotus FlowerLotus Flower

41. Bodhi TreeBodhi Tree

42. Wheel of LawWheel of Law