By: Kyle Gresh

Brenna Diehl

Ashley Begley

Mike Pronin

Megan McConnell

Origins• Started around 500 B.C.E.• Emerged out of Hinduism in India• Spread throughout central, eastern, and

southeastern Asia• It questioned the reality of the earthly

world and proposed the existence of other worlds.

Founder of Buddhism• Siddhartha Gautama – born 563 B.C.E. near Nepal• Died in 483 B.C.E. around the age of 80 • He searched for a remedy for sorrow.• Searching for sorrow, he began meditation.• On the 49th day of meditation, he became enlightened in Bodh Gaya and called himself: The Buddha “He Who Has Awakened” “The Enlightened One”

Spread of Buddhism200 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E.

• Beginning in India, Buddhism spread as Buddhist merchants traveled and explained it to others along the Silk Road to Iran, Central Asia, China, and Southeast Asia

• Goes to Japan in 552 C.E. from Korea• Monasteries developed along the silk road and Buddhism became the prominent faith.

Texts: Tripitaka- The Three Baskets

• Vinaya- proper conduct of monks and nuns

• Sutta – discussions attributed to the Buddha

• Abhidhamma – Supplementary doctrines

Texts:The Mahayanas-“Greater Vehicle”

• Writings associated with

the school of Buddhism

• the Lotus Sutra

• The Buddhist Parable

of the Prodigal Son

Texts: Milindapanha

• Dialogue between Greek

King Milinda and the

Buddhist monk Nagasena

about philosophy of

Buddhism.

Texts: Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma

Buddha’s Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering is present in all life.

2. Desire is the cause of suffering.

3. The elimination of desire will end suffering.

4. The Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire.

The Eight Fold PathLeads to Nirvana

1. Right Views 5. Right Livelihood

2. Right Resolve 6. Right Effort

3. Right Speech 7. Right Recollection

4. Right Conduct 8. Right Meditation

Nirvana: Salvation or Paradise• All Buddhists want to achieve Nirvana.

• A kind of blissful nothingness and peace

• Combining discipline in the mind and ethical relationships

• Right living could release the

cycle of mortality and pain

• There is no “being”-

everything is transient

• No immortal soul or god

Sangha :Worship/Practices

• The order of monks• Open to all men regardless of caste• Wore saffron robes and shaved their

heads• Practiced celibacy and renounced alcohol• Intellectually and spiritually free• They studied, disciplined their spirits,

meditated, did physical work

Buddhism in Everyday LifeBeliefs and Values

• No need for material goods.• Relationships and Responsibilities to one another are important.• Practical advice to husbands, wives, friends, employers, and employees

-Husbands should respect wives-Wives should be thorough

in their duties-A man should be generous

to his friend-Employers should treat their

servants and workers decently

Appeal of Buddhism• Buddhists did not recognized social distinction based on

caste or jati.• Used a language that reached a larger audience• It appealed to members of the lower classes.• Buddhists recognized holy sites that were focal points for devotion.• Ashoka supported Buddhism.

Supreme Being/Important FigureThe Buddha: Imagined in Art

Picture of Teaching Buddha from

Sarnath,India (The Mudra: the hand

gesture here represents teaching)

Supreme Being/Important FigureThe Buddha: Imagined in Art

• Picture of Guanyin, Buddhist deity from Northern Song Dynasty.

• (an enlightened being who remains in this world to relieve human suffering)

• Spiritual qualities of both genders

Symbols of the Buddha

• Lord Buddha was not very comfortable with accepting images of himself. He never wanted to be respected as a person, but be known for His principles and His teachings. The following symbols of Buddhism are used to signify Lord Buddha.

• Eight Spoked Wheel • The Bodhi Tree • Buddha's Footprints • An Empty Throne • A Begging Bowl • A Lion

Mahayana Buddhism“the greater vehicle”

• Between 3rd century B.C.E. and 1st century C.E. the tenets (rules) for Buddhism changed.

• Sacrifice was no longer required.• Buddhists began to worship the Buddha.• Boddhisatvas or enlightened beings

delayed their entry to Nirvana so they could help others.

• Buddhists could accept gifts in return for a promise of salvation.

• It had a wider audience and became the most popular religion in India.

• It taught religious merit from good deeds could be transferred to others.

Buddhist’s Motto

• “I seek refuge in the Buddha; I seek refuge in the Doctrine; I seek refuge in the Sangha.”

Decline of Buddhism (In India 320-550 C.E.)

• Declined at the end of the Gupta empire

• Rulers chose Hinduism

• Too much like Hinduism

• Too small a role

for women

The Decline of Buddhism(In China 840-846 C.E.)

• Muslim forces defeated Chinese in battle of the Talas River in 751 C.E.

• Chinese power in central Asia was broken• Only popular in Tibet in later years• Emperor Wuzong of Tang destroyed Buddhist monasteries• Chinese Buddhism never recovered

Comparing Buddhism to Hinduism

Early Characteristics of Buddhism 1

• People who led simple, non-materialistic lives and came from all parts of the Ganges valley.

• People who dedicated themselves to contemplation and meditation

• Self-denial for religious reasons• Individuals should lead a balanced and moderate

life• Quiet contemplation, thoughtful reflection, and

disciplined self-control• This would lead to personal salvation or Nirvana and escape the cycle of incarnation and attainment

Early Characterizations of Buddhism 2 • Monasteries and Monks• No social distinctions based on caste• Buddhists recognized holy sites, like Bodh Gaya• Converts to Buddhism joined monasteries and

monks preached the Dharma.• Following Buddha’s death, monasteries had

great social, cultural, and economic influence.• Supported by the Mauryan Dynasty and Ashoka

Siddhartha Gautama was born563 B.C.E. -

Gautama leaves his wife, family and home in search of enlightenment .

- 534 B.C.E.

Buddha publicly announces his doctrine and sets forth the Four Nobel Truths for the first time at Deer Park, Sarnath, in a sermon called, “Turning of the Wheel of the Law”.

528 B.C.E. -

Siddhartha Gautama dies at the age of 80 years. - 483 B.C.E.

Ashoka adopts Buddhism after the war against Kalinga

260 B.C.E. -

- 3rd Century B.C.E.Buddhism was well established in India and Ashoka helped to spread it to Bactria and Ceylon.

Buddhism Timeline slide 1

Three new developments in Buddhist thoughts. 1. Worshiped the Buddha as divine 2. Boddhisatvas served as examples of spiritual excellence 3. Buddhist monasteries could accept gifts.

Between 3rd century B.C.E and 1st century C.E -

Buddhism Timeline slide 2

Oasis towns along the silk roads adopted Buddhism - introduction of Buddhism to central Asia

2nd century B.C.E. -

- 200 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E.Buddhism was the most prominent faith of Silk Road merchants.

1st century B.C.E. -Buddhism established a foothold in China. Earliest Buddhists were foreign merchants.

- 4th century C.E. Buddhism spreads throughout much of central Asia

552 C.E.- Buddhism spreads to Japan

-

Buddhism declined in India as Gupta Empire declined. Hinduism favored - 320 - 550 C.E

Buddhism Timeline slide 3

Between 600 and 1000 C.E.-

Buddhists built hundreds of cave temples in the vicinity of Dunhuang, western China, and decorated them with murals, depicting events in the lives of the Buddha.

- 840-846 C.E. Wuzong of Tang dynasty in ChinaAttacked Buddhism

700 C.E. - Buddhism established in Japan

-1000 C.E. Muslims invade India and Buddhism institutions close -

- March 2, 2011

Buddhism is 4th most popular religion With 381,610,979 followers. It is a Worldwide religion, but mainly in Asian countries.

21st century - Buddhism moves west

-5th century C.E.Chinese began to respond to Buddhism and it became the most popular religion throughout all of east Asia.

Present Characteristics of Buddhism 1

• It is the 4th most popular religion with 381,610,979 followers in 2011.

• Found throughout the world, but still mostly Asia• The foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice

are the Three Jewels: • 1. the Buddha (to worship),

2. the Dharma (the teachings),

3. the Sangha (the community). • Meditation and Yoga

Present Characteristics of Buddhism 2

• Buddhism was split into modified forms depending on location: Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism

• The Buddha is now divine and worshipped• Individuals stay on Earth to inspire others• People could be wealthy and still obtain salvation

by donating to monasteries.• Three main beliefs- • 1. Life is suffering-due to craving and ignorance 2. Self does not exist 3. All things are impermanent

Buddhism Moves West (21st Century)• Although Buddhism spread throughout Asia, it

remained unknown in the West until modern times. • Knowledge of Buddhism has come to the West in 3

ways. 1. Western scholars 2. The work of philosophers, writers and artists and 3. The arrival of Asian immigrants who have brought

various forms of Buddhism with them to Europe, North America and Australia.

• With the growth of easy travel and communications, the West has been able to find out more about Buddhism in this century than anytime before.

Changes

• The major change was the elimination of the Ascetic Lifestyle.

- You no longer had to give up monetary items and comforts of the world.

- You could now be wealthy and achieve salvation.

• Buddhist Monasteries accepted gifts • Buddhism was split into three different

categories based on geography and strictness.• Buddhism is worshiped throughout the world. • Now 4th largest religion in the World.

Reasons for Changes

• It was easier to follow Buddhism because more people could achieve salvation whether they were wealthy or not.

• Before only ascetic monks could follow the strict guidelines of Buddhism.

• Travel and communication has exposed people to a wider variety of people.

Continuities

• Life is still suffering • Still believe in Nirvana• Still use the Dharma; with the Four Noble Truths

and the Noble Eightfold Path.• Still meditate and contemplate• Goal is to find peace • Lead responsible and moral lives.• Worship the Buddha• No distinction among classes

Buddhism Most Prevalent Today

Countries Prevalent in Buddhism