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Reformer who founded Buddhism.
His teachings of Buddhism eventually spread across Asia to become the core beliefs of one of the world'd most influential religion. He was born around 566 B.C. He became aware of human suffering and set out to discover a realm of life where there is neither death nor suffering. He fasted and meditated and when he rose, he was the buddha, the "Enlightened One". |
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"Right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right contemplation".
A middle way between a life devoted to pleasure and one based on harsh self-denial. Following the eight-fold path will lead to nirvana, union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth. |
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Four truths that the Buddha explained in his first sermon after reaching enlightenment.
1. All life is full or suffering, pain, and sorrow.
2. The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions, such as riches, power and long life.
3. The only cure for suffering it to overcome desire.
4. The way to overcome desire is to follow the eight fold path. |
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Smaller group of Buddhism that closely followed the Buddha's original teachings.
It required a life devoted to hard spiritual work. Only the most dedicated seekers, such as monks and nuns, could hope to reach nirvana. This sect, or small group, spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. |
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Smaller group of Buddhism that made Buddhism easier for ordinary people to follow.
Even though the Buddha didn't allow people to worship him, they pictured him and other holy beings as compassionate gods. They believed in an afterlife filled with many heavens and hells. This sect spread to China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan. |
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The Tripitaka, a sacred text filled with Buddha's teachings.
It was written after Buddha's death by some of his followers who collected his teachings. Some of this book included sayings that gave the Buddha's version of the golden rule "Overcome anger by not growing angry. Overcome evil with good. Overcome the liar with truth". |
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The religious and moral duties of an individual.
To escape the wheel of fate, Hinduism stresses the importance of dharma. The duties of dharma vary according to class, occupation, age and gender. By obeying one's dharma, a person acquires merit for the next life. These helped ensure the social order of society. |
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Union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.
Nirvana was the final goal of a buddhist. To achieve nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path and live a life full of honesty, charity, and kindness to all living creatures. |
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All actions of a person's life that affect his or her fate in the next life.
People who live virtuously earn good karma and are reborn at a higher leval of existence. Those who do evil acquire bad karma and are reborn into suffering. In Indian art, this endless cycle of death and rebirth is symbolized by the wheel. |
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