Click on the Note you need.  Clicking on my dog, Zoë, brings you back to the top of this page.

READ EVERYTHING, watch the embedded videos, and COMPLETE ALL STEPS! You can't learn what you need otherwise -- INCLUDING ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF YOUR GRADE!

Look for Step-by-Step directions on this page highlighted in Yellow!

Step 1: Read History of Buddhism in your text pp 258-265 and watch Little Buddha and/or the following video:

Watch the 5 part video on The Life of Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was born into the warrior caste in India during the sixth century before the Common Era. He was raised a prince, but upon seeing suffering on an outing, he gave up his earthly wealth and family and became an ascetic. One day under a Bodhi tree, Siddhartha was tempted by Mara, but to no avail. It was there under the tree that Siddhartha was enlightened. It was the Middle Way between asceticism and indulgences that brought moksha. He articulated his enlightenment in the Four Noble Truths, of which the fourth is the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, practices necessary for enlightenment. He formed a monastic community called the sangha and preached enlightenment to all who would listen.

Step 2: Read the Rituals of Buddhism in your text pp 266- 271 and watch the following:

The four major sites of pilgrimage related to the life of Siddhartha are Lumbini Gardens, the traditional site of the birth of Siddhartha; Bodh Gaya, the site of the Bodhi Tree; Sarnath, the Deer Park where the Buddha gave his first sermon; and Kushinara, the traditional place of the death of Siddhartha.

 

     Lubini Gardens                Bodh Gaya                  Bodhi Tree                Deer Park                           Kushinara
 

Step 3: Read about the Buddhist Community and Scriptures in your text pp 272-273 and watch a video on the Dalai Lama:

The head of Tibetan Buddhist monastic leaders is known as the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lamas ruled over Tibet until Communist Chinese forced the present Dalai Lama and thousands o f his followers to leave Tibet in 1959. He and his followers fled to Northern India and Nepal where they set up an exiled Tibetan government in Dharamsala, India. In Tibet, Vajrayana Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, emerged in the seventh century CE. Vajrayana Buddhism puts a great emphasis on the person doing mantras, rituals, and meditations as a way to strive for enlightenment. In the fourteenth century Tibetan Buddhists came to believe that the leaders of their monasteries were reincarnations of great bodhisatvas who literally paused in the door before nirvana to muse over the suffering of those left behind.

The Theravada monastic order tends to be much more traditional than the Mahayana monastic order. Theravada monks are celibate and provide spiritual nourishment to the laity. The laity provide physical nourishment to monks who seek their daily food through begging at the households of Buddhist devotees. Mahayana monks abide by the same rules as Theravada monks. However, they add to the rules by witnessing about Siddhartha Gautama, his way of life, and emulating his attitudes of peace and compassion to others.

The Tipitaka is the sacred scripture of Theravada Buddhism. Mahayanas also use the Tipitaka, but their main authoritative scriptures are sutras, a word meaning "sacred teaching." Vajrayanas use Mahayana scriptures but add to them their own tantric texts from India and China. The more popular scripture, however, is the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Theravada Buddhism is the only original sect that survives today. Theravada means "School of Elders." Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes lay participation. Mahayana means "Great Vehicle." Vajrayana Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. This is the prominent form of Buddhism in Tibet. It literally means "Diamond Vehicle."

Theravada temples usually have images of the Buddha and stories about the life of the Buddha depicted in paintings or statues. Mahayana temples are likely to have a number of enshrined images of many people from the past who have become enlightened and thus are also called buddhas, but with a lower case "b."

Theravada Buddhists emphasize enlightenment during this festival. They celebrate by lighting colorful lanterns and candles around the monasteries where the celebrations occur. An image o f the Buddha is decorated and a monk gives a sermon on some aspect o f the life o f the Buddha. Mahayanas celebrate the life of Buddha on three separate days throughout the year. The celebration may entail a bathing o f the sacred image followed by a procession. The bathing not only signifies great reverence for the Buddha, it is also a reminder that there are faults in everyone's life that need to be washed away.

Step 4: Read about Buddhism Central Beliefs in your text pp 274-283 and read/do the following:

The Three Jewels of Buddhism are:

1) "I take refuge in the Buddha,"

2) "I take refuge in the Dharma," and

3) "I take refuge in the Sangha."

The Three Universal Truths of Buddhism are:

1) Anicca (Impermanence)

2) Dukkha (Suffering)

3)Anatta (Not Self)

 

Step 5: Submit the following:

1 Project (make a booklet that will help you learn Buddhism "by the numbers")

2 (sic) Mr. Walden (should be "to" but I liked the numbers theme!)

3 Jewels + 3 Marks of Existence (Describe each)

4 Noble Truths + 4 Communities of Buddhists (Describe each)

5 Precepts + 5 Values to Live By (Describe each)

6 Important Events from the History of Buddhism Timeline (use text page 265)

7 Key Terms: ascetic, enlightenment, karma, mandala, mantra, nirvana, samsara (make a glossary)

8 -fold Noble Path (use page 269 to make the Wheel of Dharma)

Due Date: ____________________

A Practice Test!