Gr. 9, SS Buddhism Notes

Dear Student,

Below are the notes for the Buddhism Section.

Please find the assignments list and quiz announcement  on a separate note.

Note that these notes are subject to change before the quiz; I might be adding a few points based on how much we explain on class next Monday.

Chp 19. 

Section 3 - Origins of Buddhism 

SIDDHARTHA’S SEARCH FOR WISDOM 

The Quest for Answers

• Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who grew up in luxury, born a Kshatriya (warrior class), wasn’t satisfied. 
• He questioned the meaning of human life when he saw that everyone suffered and grieved during his or her life. 
• Before he reached age of 30, he left home and family to look for answers. He traveled to many regions in India having many discussions with priests and people known for their wisdom yet found no convincing answers. 
• The event where prince Siddhartha leaves his home looking for answers for his questions is known as the Great Departure. 

The Buddha Finds Enlightenment 

• Siddhartha wanted to free his mind from daily concerns; for a while he didnt wash himself, started fasting and devoted much of his time to meditation or the focusing of the mind on spiritual ideas. 
• According to legend, after 6 years of traveling around India Siddhartha meditated under a tree for seven weeks where he reached answers to his questions. 
• Siddhartha realized that human sufferings come from three things: 

1. Wanting what we like but do not have 
2. Wanting to keep what we like and already have 
3. Not wanting what we dislike but have 

• Siddhartha later explained his ideas to his followers under the same tree which was later called the Tree of Wisdom. 
• Siddhartha was about 35 years old when he found enlightenment and was given the name Buddha (or the enlightened one). 

TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM 

• Buddha spent the rest of his life traveling across India to spread his ideas. 
• Many of his teachings reflected Hinduism because he himself was raised a Hindu; he believed that people should act morally and treat others well.

Four Noble Truths

• The four guiding principles for Buddhism were: 

1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow. 
2. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods. 
3. People can overcome their desires and ignorance to reach nirvana or a state of perfect peace. Reaching nirvana would free a person’s soul from suffering and from the need for further reincarnation. 
4. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an Eight Fold Path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment and salvation. 

The Eightfold Path 

1. Right Thought
2. Right Intent 
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood 
6. Right Effort 
7. Right Mindfulness 
8. Right Concentration 

CHALLENGING HINDU IDEAS 

• Some Buddha’s teachings challenged traditional Hindu beliefs, for example: 

1. Challenged authority of the priests, Brahmins. He didnt believe their authority was necessary to find enlightenment and that every person should work for their own salvation.
2. Opposed the Caste system which won him the support of the masses. He didnt think that people should be confined a particular place in society.
3. He believed that the Eightfold path would get you to nirvana no matter which caste you belonged to. 

• after Buddha’s death, missionaries or people who work to spread religious beliefs helped spread Buddhism beyond India.