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Global History & Geography I	Mrs. Valdes	Ancient India

ORIGINS OF BUDDHA
· 	  Siddhartha Gautama (Prince) – Became known as the “Enlightened One”
· 	Spent the rest of his life teaching others what he learned

· 	Four Noble Truths are considered the heart of Buddhism

SACRED TEXTS

Tripitaka, “Tree Baskets
of Wisdom”

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1. All life is full of pain, suffering, and sorrow.

2. The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions (riches, power, and long life).

3. The only cause for suffering is to overcome desire.

4. The way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path.

Nirvana: union with the universe and release from reincarnation

TWO SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM

Theravada vs. Mayahana

(T) Followed Buddhism's original teachings; life is devoted to spiritual work; only monks and nuns could achieve nirvana

(M) Made Buddhism easier; Buddha pictured as "god;" supposed to help people achieve nirvana