Questions and Answers
What was the predominant faith of India during the sixth century BC?
What was the occupation of Siddhartha Gautama's father?
Why did Siddhartha's father try to keep him isolated?
What did Siddhartha encounter when he left the palace grounds?
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What attracted Siddhartha to the holy man he saw?
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What did Siddhartha try to find after leaving his life of luxury?
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Where did Siddhartha finally sit down to meditate?
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What was the title given to Siddhartha after he achieved enlightenment?
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What was the state that Buddha achieved after 49 days of contemplation?
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What is the ultimate goal of following the Noble Eightfold Path?
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What is the result of achieving enlightenment in Buddhism?
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What is the reason for suffering according to the Four Noble Truths?
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What is the concept in Buddhism that determines the status of rebirth?
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What is the concept that Buddha used to illustrate the idea of finding a middle ground?
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How many guidelines are in the Noble Eightfold Path?
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Study Notes
India before Buddha
- The sixth century BC was a time of significant change in Northern India, with extended contacts with the greater world and the presence of Aryan invaders, who influenced Hinduism.
- This period also saw the emergence of a new faith tradition, Buddhism, which would challenge mainstream Hindu thought.
Early Life of the Buddha
- Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha, was a member of the Brahmin caste of Indian priests and princes.
- His father, warned about the dangers of human suffering, kept Siddhartha sheltered from the outside world, but he eventually discovered suffering and death.
- This encounter led Siddhartha to abandon his life of luxury and seek answers to the meaning of life, first through extreme asceticism and later through meditation.
Enlightenment
- Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under a great tree after 49 days of meditation, escaping the cycle of reincarnation.
- He realized that living a life of extremes was not the path to truth and that a middle way was necessary to achieve enlightenment.
Teachings
- The Buddha's teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths, which state that life is filled with pain and suffering caused by unfulfilled desires and wants.
- The Eightfold Noble Path provides guidelines for ending suffering, including recognizing the Four Noble Truths, committing to self-improvement, speaking truth, doing no harm, and striving for enlightenment.
- Buddhism retained some Hindu ideas, such as the concept of enlightenment (Nirvana) and the cycle of reincarnation based on karma.
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Description
Explore the 6th century BC in Northern India, a time of great change with the Aryans' influence on Hinduism and the emergence of a new challenger to mainstream thought.
