Minority Religions in India
Lesson #8
RELIGIONS in INDIA
LESSON #8
Buddhism
Questions to ponder1. When is the first year?2. What will be the last year?3. How high is up?4. How small is small?
Do you find these questions inane? Why?
Buddhists think trying to figure out the beginning and end is just as nuts.
Basics of Buddhism
1. Everything is infinity2. Happiness is not getting something, it’s
accepting what you get3. Love is meant to give, not to receive4. Satisfaction comes from giving all you can and
all you are, accepting whatever someone wants you to have, and loving who you are for what you are.
5. And, satisfaction and acceptance IS heaven.
Basics of Buddhism
1. Question: can a Buddhist, if he’s behaving like a Buddhist… can he get bad karma?
2. Why?3. What do you think Buddhists believe happens
when you die?4. Hindus believe you can eventually release yourself
from the cycle of reincarnation (and get to heaven) by
– Erasing bad karma by doing good deeds– Doing your Dharma
• What do you think Buddhists think of heaven?
Where did all this belief originate?• Siddhartha Gautama learned this when
reflecting• He “reached enlightenment” of nirvana
– He was totally happy and satisfied– But, to get there, he had to give up everything– This was hard, because he was very, very rich
• He became “awakened” by this realization• He learned that we suffer, because we are
greedy and demanding of MORE
5m
Enlightenment
• Can you remember a time when you were most happy?
• What got you there?• What did it feel like?• Why don’t you just stay there?• Do you need someone or something be “be”
there, in this happy bliss?
5m
BUDDHISM
SPOKES = _____________________
CIRCLE = _________________________
BUDDHISM• Began in the 5th Century B.C. • SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
BUDDHISM• Began in the 5th Century B.C. • SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA• NO BEGINNING• NO END• ENDLESS REINCARNATION• BLISS (HEAVEN) IS FOUND ON EARTH• BLISS – NIRVANAH = FULL SATISFACTION IN LIFE
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
• From Prince…
…To Ascetic
The Buddha
• Beyond the sheltered palace walls, what four things did Gautama see that troubled him?
• What did he realize, once he saw all of that?
Use text book p. 180
An old manA sick manA dead man, andA beggar
Life was full of suffering
The Buddha’ teachings
• What are the Four Noble Truths?
Use text book p. 180
Suffering is universal The cause of suffering is desireThe only way to crush suffering is to crush desireThe way to truth is the noble eightfold path (a guide to right conduct)
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
SKINNY BUDDHA
FAT BUDDHA
The Spread of Buddhism
• Name eight places Buddhism spread to, using the map on p. 181
Other Religions
JAINISM
ReincarnationAhimsa(non-violent)No meat
Sikhism
• Equality• Karma • Reincarnation• Loyalty• Singh & Khalsa
Guru Nanuk
3m
SIKHISM
• Monotheistic, but belief in reincarnation• Life’s Goal = Break free of the cycle of life and attain
unity with God
• Turbans symbolize social equality
• Don’t cut their hair orbeards to honor the human form as createdby God
Ba’haiTotally peaceful
(this is the Lotus Temple)