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43
come fashionable in the west, where it is seen as a spiritual contrast to the
materialistic lifestyle.
Celebrities such as the singer Tina Turner, the actor Richard Gere
and the golfer Tiger Woods are all advocates of Buddhism. Buddhism is
not technically a religion as it is not centred on a god, but a system of phi-
losophy and a code of morality.
How it began
Buddhism was originated in northern India when Siddhartha Gau-
tama, an Indian prince born around 560 BC, achieved enlightenment.
When, as a young man, Siddhartha went outside the palace walls for the
first time, he was shocked by four things that he saw: an old man, a sick
man, a dead man and a holy man. He started to ponder the meaning of life
and, renouncing his riches, he set out to find an answer to why people suf-
fer. Believing that most human suffering was caused by people’s attach-
ment to their desires, he developed a way of life in which he looked after
the basic needs of his body, but did not seek any extra comforts or luxuries.
He called this the Middle Way. Siddhartha became a Buddha, or ‘Enlight-
ened One’. For the rest of his life he travelled around India on foot, teach-
ing and helping others to free themselves from the suffering. Siddhartha
died around 480 BC when he was 80 years old.
Karma and nirvana
There are three fundamental beliefs at the heart of Buddhism:
9 When people die, they are reborn into another life time after time.
9 People cause their own suffering through their attachment to
their desires, resulting in greed, jealousy, anger, hatred and other negative
feelings. This creates a force called karma.
9 If individuals can reduce these feelings, the force of karma be-
comes less strong and eventually disappears completely. When this hap-
pens, the individual is freed from the endless cycle of birth, death and
rebirth. This freedom is called nirvana. It is every Buddhist’s aim to
reach nirvana, even if it takes a thousand lifetimes.
The eight-fold path
Buddha taught that there was a path that anybody could follow
which would help them overcome suffering and be freed from endless rein-
carnation. This forms the basis of Buddhism today.
44
NIRVANA
Right views –
have a positive
mind and focus
on the good in
yourself and in
others.
Right thoughts –
care for others
and be understan-
ding and sympa-
thetic.
Right speech –
never lie or say
hurtful things.
Right liveli-
hood – do
work which
does not cheat
or harm any-
one.
Right effort –
work hard to
follow the
eightfold path.
Right mindfulness
– be aware at all
times of how your
thoughts and ac-
tions will affect
others.
Right concentra-
tion – have a
peaceful state of
mind as you
follow the eight-
fold path.
Right action –
never kill,
cause injury
or steal.
3) In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.
a. Which of the ideas of Buddhism are similar to those of your relig-
ion, or the religions of your country? If you are Buddhist, can you
explain more about it?
b. Which ideas of the eight-fold path do you feel are the most impor-
tant?
c. How did your religion, or the religions of your country, originate?
For more information about Buddhism, visit the following websites:
home.earthlink.net/~srama/
www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm
www.buddhanet.net/budnetp.htm
10. Work in pairs. Student A
: You know that Student B is interested in
Buddhism. Which questions would you ask him/her about this relig-
ion? Student B
: Read some additional information about Buddhism.
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH OF BUDDHISM
Buddhism – a religion and philosophic system of central and eastern
Asia, founded in India in the 6
th
century B.C by Buddha, a religious phi-
losopher and teacher who supposedly lived in India in 563–483 B.C. Bud-
dhism teaches that right living, right thinking and self-denial will enable
one to reach Nirvana, a divine state of release from earthly and bodily pain,
come fashionable in the west, where it is seen as a spiritual contrast to the NIRVANA
materialistic lifestyle.
Celebrities such as the singer Tina Turner, the actor Richard Gere Right views – Right thoughts – Right speech – Right liveli-
and the golfer Tiger Woods are all advocates of Buddhism. Buddhism is have a positive care for others never lie or say hood – do
not technically a religion as it is not centred on a god, but a system of phi- mind and focus and be understan- hurtful things. work which
losophy and a code of morality. on the good in ding and sympa- does not cheat
yourself and in thetic. or harm any-
How it began others. one.
Buddhism was originated in northern India when Siddhartha Gau- Right effort – Right mindfulness Right concentra- Right action –
tama, an Indian prince born around 560 BC, achieved enlightenment. work hard to – be aware at all tion – have a never kill,
When, as a young man, Siddhartha went outside the palace walls for the follow the times of how your peaceful state of cause injury
first time, he was shocked by four things that he saw: an old man, a sick eightfold path. thoughts and ac- mind as you or steal.
man, a dead man and a holy man. He started to ponder the meaning of life tions will affect follow the eight-
and, renouncing his riches, he set out to find an answer to why people suf- others. fold path.
fer. Believing that most human suffering was caused by people’s attach-
ment to their desires, he developed a way of life in which he looked after 3) In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.
the basic needs of his body, but did not seek any extra comforts or luxuries. a. Which of the ideas of Buddhism are similar to those of your relig-
He called this the Middle Way. Siddhartha became a Buddha, or ‘Enlight- ion, or the religions of your country? If you are Buddhist, can you
ened One’. For the rest of his life he travelled around India on foot, teach- explain more about it?
ing and helping others to free themselves from the suffering. Siddhartha b. Which ideas of the eight-fold path do you feel are the most impor-
died around 480 BC when he was 80 years old. tant?
c. How did your religion, or the religions of your country, originate?
Karma and nirvana
There are three fundamental beliefs at the heart of Buddhism: For more information about Buddhism, visit the following websites:
9 When people die, they are reborn into another life time after time. home.earthlink.net/~srama/
9 People cause their own suffering through their attachment to www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm
their desires, resulting in greed, jealousy, anger, hatred and other negative www.buddhanet.net/budnetp.htm
feelings. This creates a force called karma.
9 If individuals can reduce these feelings, the force of karma be- 10. Work in pairs. Student A: You know that Student B is interested in
comes less strong and eventually disappears completely. When this hap- Buddhism. Which questions would you ask him/her about this relig-
pens, the individual is freed from the endless cycle of birth, death and ion? Student B: Read some additional information about Buddhism.
rebirth. This freedom is called nirvana. It is every Buddhist’s aim to
reach nirvana, even if it takes a thousand lifetimes. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH OF BUDDHISM
Buddhism – a religion and philosophic system of central and eastern
The eight-fold path Asia, founded in India in the 6th century B.C by Buddha, a religious phi-
Buddha taught that there was a path that anybody could follow losopher and teacher who supposedly lived in India in 563–483 B.C. Bud-
which would help them overcome suffering and be freed from endless rein- dhism teaches that right living, right thinking and self-denial will enable
carnation. This forms the basis of Buddhism today. one to reach Nirvana, a divine state of release from earthly and bodily pain,
43 44
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