BuddhismSarah Allen

To do no evil;

To cultivate good;

To purify one's mind:

This is the teaching of the Buddhas.

--The Dhammapada

Buddha

Buddha, or “enlightened one” became the figurehead of the movement

Originally named Siddhartha Gautama

A prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately 566 BC

After six years of self-abuse as a Hindu mystic, he discovered what he believed to be the true way and began spreading his ideas

He was often seen as divine

Ashoka

Ashoka, emperor of India, was greatly disturbed by the carnage of his reign

A meeting with the monk Nigrodha convinced him to convert to Buddhism

For the rest of his term, Ashoka strove to spread peace, love, and Buddhism to the world

He became one of Buddhism’s greatest assets

Beliefs

Nirvana

A realm where suffering and decay are no more

A world literally beyond existance itself

Individuals could regulat their lives and aspirations toward this goal

Karma

A volitional act (something you decide to do, say, or think)

Any act has a moral consequence

Karma is the sum of all the acts in a person’s life

Pancha Shila

The Pancha Shila, or five moral precepts:

1. Avoid killing, or harming any living thing.

2. Avoid stealing -- taking what is not yours to take.

3. Avoid sexual irresponsibility, which for monks and nuns means celibacy.

4. Avoid lying, or any hurtful speech.

5. Avoid alcohol and drugs which diminish clarity of consciousness.

To This, Monks add:

6. One simple meal a day, before noon

7. Avoid frivolous entertainments

8. Avoid self-adornment

9. Use a simple bed and seat. 10. Avoid the use of money.

Traditions

Meditation

Lotus position

Controlled breathing

Emptied mind/intense focus

Often compared to praying, though they do not pray to a higher power

Prostration

Different forms of prostration designed to create harmony between body and outside world

Works Cited

Stearns, Peter N. "Religion and Culture." World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007. Print.

Boeree, C.George. "An Introduction to Buddhism." Shippensburg University (2000): n. pag.

Shippensburg University. Web. 21 Sep 2011. <http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/buddhaintro.html>.