Global I: Spiconardi

The Prophecy: At Siddhartha’s birth it was predicted that he had the signs of a great man. If Siddhartha stayed at home, he was destined to become a world ruler. If he left home, he was destined to become a universal spiritual leader (a Buddha). Siddhartha’s father isolated him in his palace

This made Siddhartha curious about the outside world

At age 29, Siddhartha left the palace walls 4 times with a guide as per his father’s request

Siddhartha realized that every person experiences: Old age Sickness Death

The EnlightenmentSiddhartha decided to search for religious

truth & an end to sufferingThe search lasted 6 yearsIn his sixth year, after 49 days of meditation

Siddhartha came to a realization about suffering…

The Four Noble Truths All life is suffering

Suffering is caused by desire for things that bring temporary pleasures

The way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire

The way to eliminate suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold PathRight

UnderstandingRight

Belief/IntentionRight SpeechRight

Behavior/Conduct

Right OccupationRight EffortRight

ContemplationRight Meditation

Nirvana A state of enlightenment in which one has

freed himself from selfishness and desire Releasing from the cycle of death and rebirth

Similar to what concept in Hinduism?

Mass Religion/Popular worship Stricter/Individual worship

Mahayana The “Greater Vehicle” Worship Buddha as a

deity Have many religious

rituals Venerate saints

known as Bodhisattvas

Nirvana is achieved with others and could be given up for Salvation through

good works

Theravada The “Lesser Vehicle” Believe Buddhism is

for monks; for individuals it’s a philosophy

View Buddha as a teacher

Avoid rituals Achieving nirvana is

individualistic through meditation

Buddhism:Denies existence of atmanDoes not believe there is a caste systemDespite Mayhana beliefs, no deities in

Buddhism Buddha refused followers to worship as a god

Stupas stone mounds containing the relics of the Buddha

Ascetic

Answer on the next slide