Buddhism

Also known as:

The Middle Path

Current Population:

364 million

LocationOriginally began in India

(only 1% of the population in India today)

Has spread throughout the world: mostly China, Japan and Southeast Asia

OriginsFounded by Siddhartha

Gautama (528BC)Aka: Buddha

Challenged ideas of the Brahmin Priests

Saw life as an endless cycle of pain- -only way to escape was

through wisdomGain wisdom through

fasting, harsh discipline and sufferingEnlightenment came to

him after meditating deeply for 49 days

BeliefsFour Noble Truths

1. Everything in life is suffering and sorrow

2. The cause of suffering is people’s self centered desire

3. The way to end suffering is eliminate one’s desire

4. Follow the eightfold path

The Eightfold Path

Buddha’s guide for behavior

Movement through path is like a staircase

each step must be mastered before moving on to the next (can take multiple lifetimes)

Eightfold Path

right knowledge

right purpose

right speech

right action

right living

right effort

right mindfulness

right meditation

Eightfold Path

by following the Eightfold Path, ANYONE could reach nirvana

Buddha taught followers to treat all living things with loving kindness

Enlightenment

Nirvana- release from selfishness and pain; becoming one with the universe

Religious LeadersBuddhist monks

and nunsMost famous

leader- Dalai Lama- leader of Tibetan

Buddhism

Places of Worship

Buddhist monks and followers tend to worship in temples

-Stupas- religious shrines established that contain the relics of Buddha. Many make pilgrimages to stupas and other religious sites

Famous Writings

Tripitaka (Three Baskets of Wisdom)

- earliest written scriptures based on Buddha’s teachings

Religious Sects

Theravada BuddhismStressed monastic

life as the way to reach nirvana

Respected Buddha as a teacher, but not as a god

Spread to Ceylon, Burma, Thailand 

Mahayana BuddhismWorshipped

Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods

Spread to China, Tibet, Japan and Korea