Many people in India used to be Buddhist, but now the main religion is Hinduism.
Siddhartha Gautama
Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu prince. A priest predicted that Siddhartha would be a holy man. To prevent this from happening, Siddhartha's father gave him luxurious things and always sheltered him. Siddhartha was never aware of old age, illness death, poverty, fighting, (etc.) until he was 29 years old. When Siddhartha did see these things, it made him very upset and surprised. He left his home to try to find peace. For 6 years Siddhartha starved himself as a sacrifice, but this did not help him find the answers he wanted. Later, Siddhartha sat under a fig tree and meditated until he found the answer he was looking for. This gave him the understanding into reality, and Siddhartha called this "The Four Noble Truths". Siddhartha Gautama is now known as The Buddha or enlightened one.
Dharma
minds are not at ease. This condition comes from wanting what one doesn't have or wanting a different life. People can stop suffering by not wanting. People can stop wanting by following Eightfold path
People Suffer because their minds are not at ease.
This condition comes from wanting what one doesn't have or wanting a different life.
People can stop suffering by not wanting.
People can stop wanting by following Eightfold path
Eightfold Path
.Having the right opinions, desires, speech, actions, job, concentration, and meditation
This path could lead to nirvana
Nirvana is the end of suffering
Nirvana breaks the cycle of reincarnation
Reincarnation is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Dharma After the Buddha passed away, his followers collected his teachings and passed them on to others. The followers named his teachings the dharma. The dharma is all of the collected teachings of the Buddha. Dharma means the true nature of things. Dharma is often symbolized as a wheel
Four Noble Truths
.
People suffer because their minds are not at ease.
This condition comes from wanting what one doesn't have or wanting a different life.
People can stop suffering by not wanting.
People can stop wanting by following Eightfold path.
Eightfold Path
Having the right opinions, desires, speech, actions, job, concentration, and meditation
This path could lead to nirvana
Nirvana is the end of suffering
Nirvana breaks the cycle of reincarnation
Reincarnation is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Branches of Buddhism
There are three main branches of Buddhism:
Theravada
Mahayana
Vajrayana
Theravada Today, Theravada Buddhism is mainly practiced in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and parts of Vietnam and Malaysia.
Mahayana Mahayana Buddhism is mainly practiced today in China, Korea, Japan, and most of Vietnam.
Vajrayana Last but not lest, Vajrayana Buddhism. This branch of Buddhism is mainly found in Tibet, Mongolia, and Nepal
Buddhist Influence: Mohandas Gandhi
Used ahimsa (nonviolence) to fight against the British
Inspired U.S Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King JR.