1. UNIT 2: WORLD RELIGIONS
EXPLORING THE 5 MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS
Hinduism * Buddhism * Judaism * Christianity * Islam

2. How does
religion
influence
individual
and social
identity?
UNIT 2
ESSENTIAL QUESTION

3. INTRO TO BUDDHISM

4. ORIGINS
• Siddhartha Gautama
• born in Nepal
• lived as a prince in a
wealthy family
• Exposed to misery in
four trips
• Old Man
• Sick Man
• Dead Man
• Begging Man, Who
Seemed Happy

5. FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. Life is suffering. (Dukkha)
2. We suffer because we want or crave.
(Sumudaya)
3. We can end dukkha by eliminating our
wanting or craving. (Nirodha)
4. The way we eliminate wanting is The
Eightfold Path (Magga)
The Four Noble Truths came to Gautama after an
experience of enlightenment following hours
of meditation under a Fig Tree (Bodhi Tree)

6. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
(THE MIDDLE WAY)
1. Right Understanding
Understanding things
2. Right Thought
Non-harmful thoughts
3. Right Speech
Non-harmful speech
4. Right Action
Non-violent actions
5. Right Livelihood
Non-harmful way to earn a living
6. Right Effort
Wholesome state of mind
7. Right Mindfulness
Clear consciousness and awareness of reality
8. Right Concentration
Meditation

7. CHARACTERISITCS
• Not polytheistic
or monotheistic
• Some consider it a Dharma
– a duty in life – but not a
religion
• Buddha means "The
Awakened One"
• The sacred texts are called
Sutras
• Spread throughout east
Asia (India, China, Japan,
Korea)

8. BELIEFS
• Reincarnation called
Samsara
• No Caste System
• Souls can be reborn in
forms other than human.
• Karma -- the good and bad
a person does in this life,
which determines their
fate in the next life.
• Nirvana is a stage of total
enlightenment attained
through meditation and
correct living.

9. PRAYER TO THE
THREE JEWELS
• I take refuge in my
Buddha
• I take refuge in my
Dharma
• I take refuge
in my religious community

10. HISTORY OF THE DALAI LAMA

11. Buddhist Temples
Ling Yen Mountain Temple, British Columbia, Canada
Buddhist Temple, Atlanta, Georgia
Bagan Temples in Myanmar

12. Summary: 5 key characteristics of
Buddhism are...
Religions help many people feel a
sense of purpose about life
because...