Buddhism originated around 2500 years ago in India with Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, who achieved enlightenment at age 25. The core of Buddhism involves following a moral life, being mindful of one's thoughts and actions, and developing wisdom to escape samsara, the continuous cycle of rebirth and suffering, ultimately reaching nirvana. There are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide who practice in different traditions such as meditation, painting mandalas, or celebrating festivals like Dharma Day or Losar, but all are united in following the Four Noble Truths of suffering, its cause, its end, and the path to end it.

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