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Buddhism

In this lesson, students will be able to identify significant beliefs of the Buddhist religion.

Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

The Four Noble Truths

The Noble Eightfold Path

Nirvana

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Around 563 B.C.,a prince named

Siddhartha Gautama

was born inIndia.

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Siddhartha Gautama

• Siddhartha was an Indian prince.

• He lived in a luxurious household. However, he longed to see the world beyond the palace.

• Upon leaving the palace, he saw a sick man, an old man, and a corpse.

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Upon leaving thepalace, Siddhartha

discovered theexistence of

suffering. He discovered that

we are born onlyto age and die.

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Siddhartha’s Decision• Upon learning of the existence of

suffering, Siddhartha decided to leave the palace and find the cause and cessation of suffering.

• Siddhartha lived among the Hindu ascetics and endured many hardships.

• However, he did not discover the cause or cessation of suffering among the Hindus.

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After leavingthe Hinduascetics,

Siddharthasat under the

Bodhi tree andmeditated until

he becameenlightened.

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When Siddharthaachieved

enlightenment,he became

the Buddha or the Enlightened

One.

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The Four Noble Truths• Siddhartha’s answer to the cause and

cessation of suffering can be found in his Four Noble Truths.

The Four Noble TruthsLife is suffering.

Desire and attachment cause suffering.Suffering can end.

Follow the Noble Eightfold Path

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Life is suffering but suffering can end.

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The Noble Eightfold Path

• The Buddha encouraged his followers to follow the middle path or to avoid extremes such as eating too much or eating too little.

• The Noble Eightfold Path are eight actions designed to help followers achieve enlightenment. They are right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

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Nirvana

• Nirvana is the end of suffering.

• By achieving nirvana, a person escapes samsara or the cycle of reincarnation.

• Siddhartha achieved nirvana when he became enlightened.

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Nirvana is the end of suffering.

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Questions for Reflection:

• Who was Siddhartha Gautama?

• Why did Siddhartha leave his palace?

• Explain the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

• What is samsara?

• Define nirvana.

• How does Buddhism differ from Hinduism?