Buddhism Basics

Buddhism

• Buddhism originated in India around 2,500 years ago and is the fourth-largest religion in the world.

The Buddha

• The word "Buddha" means "the enlightened one" or "the one who knows".
• Buddhists do not believe in a God who created the world and everything in it.
• The Buddha was a man named Siddhartha Gautama (or Siddattha Gotama) who was born in northern India (modern-day Nepal).
• Siddhartha lived as a prince and was protected from the sadness and suffering of life by his father, the king.
• At the age of 35, Siddhartha sat under a bodhi tree by a full moon, meditating, and became Enlightened.

The Buddha's Teachings

• The Buddha's teachings are known as dharma.
• The Four Noble Truths are:
  • Life always involves suffering (dukkha).
  • Suffering happens because people are greedy and not satisfied with what they have.
  • Greed and selfishness can be overcome.
  • The way to overcome them is to follow the Eightfold Path.
• The Eightfold Path is a way of life that includes:
  • Right viewpoint (accepting the Buddha's teachings)
  • Right values/thought (using the power of the mind in the right way)
  • Right speech (making sure that your words are kind and helpful)
  • Right actions (treating yourself and others well)
  • Right livelihood (having a job that does not harm others)
  • Right effort (doing good things and avoiding bad things)
  • Right mindfulness (training the mind to see things in the right way)
  • Right meditation (learning to concentrate and calm the mind)

Buddhist Practices

• Meditation is a very important part of Buddhism, used to calm and clear the mind.
• People show their love of Buddha by meditating, lighting candles, and making offerings of flowers and incense.
• Buddhists worship at shrines at home and in temples and monasteries (viharas).
• Some Buddhists chant mantras or sacred words as part of their meditation.
• Some Buddhists write mantras and prayers on coloured prayer flags or prayer wheels in temples.

Buddhist Monks and Nuns

• Some Buddhists choose to leave their families and live as monks (if they are men) or nuns (if they are women) and dedicate their lives to sharing the Buddha's teachings.
• Buddhist monks and nuns wear orange robes and shave their heads.
• In some Buddhist countries, it is common for boys to spend a few months or years living as monks when they are growing up.