BuddhismBuddhism

What are the world’s major What are the world’s major religions and who were their religions and who were their

founders? [6.1.3]founders? [6.1.3]

QuestQuest forfor AnswersAnswers Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama

– Grew up as a prince but still Grew up as a prince but still struggledstruggled with the meaning of human life.with the meaning of human life.

– After wandering for five years he After wandering for five years he found found enlightmentenlightment..

– After enlightment he as known as the After enlightment he as known as the BuddhaBuddha..““Enlighted One”Enlighted One”Spent his life spreading his ideasSpent his life spreading his ideas

EnlightmentEnlightment

Human suffering comes from 3 Human suffering comes from 3 things:things:– WantingWanting what we like but do not what we like but do not

havehave– Wanting to keep what we like Wanting to keep what we like

and already haveand already have– Not wanting what we dislike but Not wanting what we dislike but

have.have.

4 Noble Truths4 Noble Truths

Were the four Were the four guidingguiding principles of Buddahism.principles of Buddahism.

1. Suffering and unhappiness are 1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow.can escape sorrow.

2. Suffering comes from our 2. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and desires for pleasure and material goods. People cause material goods. People cause their own misery because they their own misery because they want things they cannot have.want things they cannot have.

3. People can overcome desire and 3. People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach nirvana; a ignorance and reach nirvana; a state of perfect peace. Reaching state of perfect peace. Reaching nirvana frees the soul from nirvana frees the soul from suffering and from the need for suffering and from the need for further reincarnation.further reincarnation.

4. People can overcome ignorance 4. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eight-and desire by following an eight-fold path that leads to wisdom, fold path that leads to wisdom, enlightment, and salvation.enlightment, and salvation.

EightfoldEightfold PathPath

Middle way between human Middle way between human desiresdesires and denying yourself. and denying yourself.

Believed in being Believed in being reasonable-reasonable- not not starve your body or cause starve your body or cause unnecessary harm.unnecessary harm.

Anyone who followed this path Anyone who followed this path would reach would reach nirvananirvana..

BuddhismBuddhism & & HinduismHinduism Some of Buddha’s ideas Some of Buddha’s ideas challengedchallenged

traditional Hindu ideas.traditional Hindu ideas.– Challenged Hindu priests.Challenged Hindu priests.– Was Was opposedopposed to the caste system. to the caste system.

Did believe in Did believe in reincarnationreincarnation– People who failed to reach People who failed to reach

nirvana would be reborn until nirvana would be reborn until they they achievedachieved it. it.