Buddhism originated from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who lived in Nepal in the 6th-5th century BCE. He sought to find the source of suffering through asceticism and meditation, reaching enlightenment and nirvana. The core beliefs of Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths about the nature of suffering and its cessation, and the Eightfold Path to end suffering. There are several branches of Buddhism including Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, and Zen Buddhism, which have spread across Asia and to other parts of the world.

2. Buddhism

3. The essence of
Buddhism

4. The essence of
Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion.”

5. The essence of
Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion.”
 2,500 year old tradition.

6. The essence of
Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom
and compassion.”
 2,500 year old tradition.
 The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
 Buddha, the teacher.
 Dharma, the teachings.
 Sangha, the community.

7. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)

8. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).

9. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.

10. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of
suffering.

11. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of
suffering.
 Lived a strict,
ascetic life for 6 yrs.

12. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of
suffering.
 Lived a strict,
ascetic life for 6 yrs.
 Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found
nirvana.

13. Siddhartha Gautama
(563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life to
seek enlightenment
and the source of
suffering.
 Lived a strict,
ascetic life for 6 yrs.
 Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found
nirvana.
 Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

14. What is the
fundamental cause of
all suffering?

15. What is the
fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!

16. What is the
fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!
 Therefore, extinguish the self,
don’t obsess about oneself.

17. Four Noble Truths

18. Four Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in the
world. To live is to
suffer. (Dukkha)

19. Four Noble Truths

20. Four Noble Truths
2. The cause of
suffering is self-
centered desire and
attachments. (Tanha)

21. Four Noble Truths

22. Four Noble Truths
3. The solution is to
eliminate desire and
attachments.
(Nirvana = “extinction”)

23. Four Noble Truths

24. Four Noble Truths
4. To reach nirvana, one
must follow the Eightfold
Path.

25. Eightfold Path

26. Eightfold Path
Nirvana

27. Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.

28. Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate
spiritual reality.
 Escape from the cycle of
rebirth.

29. Types of
Buddhism

30. Types of
Buddhism
 Therevada Buddhism
 Mahayana Buddhism
 Tibetan Buddhism
 Zen Buddhism

31. Theravada Buddhism

32. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.

33. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”

34. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.

35. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.
 The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.

36. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.
 The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.
 Focus on wisdom and meditation.

37. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.
 The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.
 Focus on wisdom and meditation.
 Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or
“Enlightened One.”

38. Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small
Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.
 The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.
 Focus on wisdom and meditation.
 Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or
“Enlightened One.”
 Over 100,000,000 followers today.

39. Theravada Buddhism

40. Mahayana
Buddhism

41. Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”

42. Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).

43. Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”

44. Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”
 Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.

45. Mahayana
Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”
 Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.
 Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the
salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those
enlightened few.

46. Mahayana
Buddhism

47. Tibetan Buddhism

48. Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]

49. Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the
7c CE.

50. Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the
7c CE.
 A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.

51. Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the
7c CE.
 A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.
 Boddhisatvas include
Lamas, like the
Dalai Lama.

52. Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the
7c CE.
 A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.
 Boddhisatvas include
Lamas, like the
Dalai Lama.
 The Tibetan Book
of the Dead
[Bardo Thodol].

53. The
Dalai
Lama

54. Zen Buddhism

55. Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation School.”

56. Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation School.”
 Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation,
arriving at emptiness [sunyata].

57. Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation School.”
 Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation,
arriving at emptiness [sunyata].
 Use of meditation masters [Roshi].

58. Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation School.”
 Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation,
arriving at emptiness [sunyata].
 Use of meditation masters [Roshi].
 Beauty, art, and aesthetics:
 Gardens.
 Archery.
 Tea ceremony.
 Calligraphy.

59. Buddhism in America
(1999)

60. Buddhism in America
(1999)

61. Distribution of
Buddhism Centers in
the US, 2001

62. Relieve Stress &
Meditate:
Get a Mantra !

63. Relieve Stress &
Meditate:
Get a Mantra !

64. Relieve Stress &
Meditate:
Get a Mantra !
Ohm...mani...padme...hung...
Hail to the jewel in the lotus!