Origins and Beliefs of Buddhism

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Origins and Beliefs of Buddhism p.151-157

VOCABULARY


meditate

to calm or clear the
mind, by focusing on
a single object

VOCABULARY


enlightenment

a state of perfect
wisdom

VOCABULARY


nirvana

a state of blissful
peace without desire
or suffering

VOCABULARY


monastery

secluded religious
community

VOCABULARY


Theravada Buddhism

Buddhist sect that
focuses on the
wisdom of the
Buddha

VOCABULARY


Mahayana Buddhism

Buddhist sect that
focuses on the
compassion of the
Buddha

VOCABULARY


consequences

result of an action,
effect

VOCABULARY


widespread

common, spread
across a large area

Origins and Beliefs of Buddhism
Lesson Summary
Buddhism is one of the world's major religions.
It is based on teachings of a man who came to be known as the Buddha, who searched for a way to free himself of the suffering of life.

Multiple Choice

What word means "common, spread across a large area"?

• consequences

• widespread

• enlightenment

• nirvana

Multiple Choice

What word means "result of an action, effect"?

• consequences

• widespread

• enlightenment

• nirvana

Multiple Choice

What Buddhist sect that focuses on the "compassion" of the Buddha?

• Mahayana Buddhism

• Theraveda Buddhism

Multiple Choice

What Buddhist sect that focuses on the "wisdom" of the Buddha?

• Mahayana Buddhism

• Theraveda Buddhism

Multiple Choice

What do you call a secluded religious community?

• meditate

• nirvana

• enlightenment

• monastery

Multiple Choice

What word means "to calm or clear the mind, by focusing on a single object"?

• meditate

• nirvana

• enlightenment

• monastery

Multiple Choice

What word means "a state of perfect wisdom"?

• meditate

• nirvana

• enlightenment

• monastery

Multiple Choice

What word means "a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering"?

• meditate

• nirvana

• enlightenment

• monastery

The Life of the Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was a
pampered, wealthy prince born in the 500s BCE, in what is now Nepal.

Siddhartha was always protected from pain and discomfort. But one day, he discovered the suffering and
death that was all around him.

The Life of the Buddha

He set out to find the true meaning of
life. He tried various solutions but was dissatisfied with all.

Buddhists believe that by learning to meditate, Siddhartha finally achieved
enlightenment, a state of perfect wisdom.

The Life of the Buddha

He became the Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One,” and spent the rest of his life traveling across India sharing his message and learning.

What Are Buddhist Beliefs?

Buddhists believe in and try to follow the knowledge that Buddha gained during his life. They try to follow the Middle Way between lives of luxury and suffering.

What Are Buddhist Beliefs?

Buddhists accept the Four Noble Truths: life involves suffering, selfish desires cause this suffering, this suffering can be ended by giving up selfish desires, and the way to give up selfish desires is to follow the Eightfold Path.

What Are Buddhist Beliefs?

This path consists of eight steps:

The goal of a person who follows the Eightfold Path is to reach nirvana, a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering.

How Did Buddhism Spread?

Over time, the Buddha's followers collected his teachings to create the
sacred scriptures of Buddhism.

Buddhist monasteries became centers of study and meditation.

How Did Buddhism Spread?

Missionaries, meanwhile, spread Buddhism across India and then throughout Asia into Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.

As Buddhism spread, its followers split into two major branches, or sects.

How Did Buddhism Spread?

One branch is Theravada
Buddhism, which focuses on the wisdom of the Buddha and believes that the Buddha’s greatest achievement was his enlightenment and entry into nirvana.

How Did Buddhism Spread?

Mahayana Buddhism focuses on the Buddha’s
compassion and his return from nirvana to share his wisdom out of concern for others.

What Is Jainism?

Mahavira, another successful
wandering teacher around the same time as Siddhartha, was a teacher of Jainism. A main characteristic of Jainism was the idea of ahimsa, which is nonviolence to all life. The
path to enlightenment in Jainism
comes through nonviolence.

Quiz

Multiple Choice

Who was Siddhartha Gautama before he became the Buddha?

• a guru

• an ascetic

• a Brahmin

• a Hindu prince

Multiple Choice

How did the Buddha achieve enlightenment?

• He fasted

• He meditated

• He suffered

• He studied with gurus

Multiple Choice

What did the Buddha believe following the Eightfold Path could lead to?

• oneness with God

• knowledge of the Four Noble Truths

• the Middle Way

• an end to desires and suffering

Multiple Choice

Which belief or practice is not shared by Buddhism?

• reincarnation

• caste system

• cycle of life

• karma