Buddhism was founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, who achieved enlightenment and taught the Four Noble Truths about suffering. Buddhism does not believe in gods but reveres enlightened beings known as bodhisattvas. The core teachings of Buddhism are recorded in sacred texts like the Tripitaka and Sutras. Buddhism spread across Asia through missionary work and trade, establishing monasteries, and some traditions began worshipping the Buddha as a god. It challenged the Hindu caste system and aspects of violence and intolerance.

1. BUDDHISM

2. Vocabulary to Know…
 Siddhartha Gautama
 Enlightenment
 Nirvana
 Four Noble Truths

3. Foundation
 Founded in India by Siddhartha
Gautama (the Buddha)
 Challenged the power of priests as well
as elements of caste and gender
structures in Hindu India.
 Four Noble Truths-Buddha’s
enlightenment as to why there is
suffering in the world

4. Life & Worship
Middle path of moderation (knowledge).
 life is suffering
 suffering is from desire
 the solution of suffering lies in ending
desire
 desire can be lessened by following the
8 fold path – actions and thoughts
toward perfection

6. Life & Worship
 ultimate reality is nirvana - breaking the
cycle of reincarnations after getting rid
of desires

7. GODS
 Neither rejected gods nor had use for
gods.
 Bodhisattvas - enlightened ones - were
revered as saints.
 Some followers of Mahayana Buddhism
worshipped the Buddha as a god as well.

8. Sacred Texts
 Tripitaka & Sutras- collection of the
Buddha’s teaching, commentaries on
his teaching , & rules for monastic life

9. Spread & Change
 Monasteries developed while Buddhism
spread.
 Some began to worship the Buddha as a
god or savior.
 Bodhisattvas were revered (those who
could achieve nirvana but chose to
remain as a guide to others).
 Statues and pictures of the bodhisattvas
were produced.

10. Effect on Society
 Rejected caste system-many early followers
were from the lower castes
 Monks and nuns took vows
for a life of poverty, nonviolence,
and to not marry
 Spread through missionary
activity and trade

11. Spread & Change
 In India, Buddhism was mostly absorbed
back into Hinduism. Buddhism spread
into and remained strongest in other
parts of Asia.
 Buddhism challenged elements of
violence, intolerance, and social
structures