MY LEARNING
JOURNEY THROUGH
BUDDHISM
DON’T BELIEVE THE
REST
BE BUDDHIST…BE
BEST!
FORGET GOOGLE…
ONLY BUDDHA HAS THE
ANSWERS!
CONVERT NOW AND
FIND THE BETTER
PATH
END YOUR SUFFERING…
BECOME BUDDHIST
NO…WAIT…
THAT’S NOT WHAT BUDDHISM IS ABOUT!
• BUDDHISM IS ABOUT ACCEPTANCE
• BUDDHISM IS ABOUT TOLERANCE
• BUDDHISM IS ABOUT RESPECT
• BUDDHISM TEACHES…IT DOESN’T TRY TO
CONVERT
HERE’S WHAT I HAVE LEARNT…
I HAVE LEARNT THAT…
• Buddhism began in North-Eastern India about 2500 years ago.
• Many people think Buddhism is more of a ‘way of life’ than a
religion.
• Buddha is not known as a God but as a teacher who guides people to
make the right decisions.
• Buddhists worship at home and in temples.
• At home they will often have a shrine with a statue of Buddha,
candles and an incense burner.
• About 6% of the world is Buddhist.
• The word comes from ‘BUDHI’ which means ‘to awaken’.
I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS…
• DUKKHA: The truth of suffering.
Life is suffering: it involves pain (physical and emotional), disappointment, aging, disease and ultimately
death. Even pleasure ends in suffering because satisfaction is only temporary.
• SAMUDAYA: The truth of the cause of suffering.
Suffering is caused by wanting things, so rather than trying to get what you want, Buddhism teaches that
you should appreciate what you have.
• NIRODHA: The truth of the freedom from suffering.
Suffering can be overcome and happiness achieved by being mindful and living in the moment rather than
thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
• MAGGA: The truth of the path to freedom from suffering
The Noble Eight Fold Path is the path which leads to the end of suffering.
I’VE LEARNT ABOUT
THE EIGHT FOLD PATH…
• …and that it is about
being moral through
what we say and do,
being aware of our
thoughts and actions,
and developing wisdom
by understanding the
Four Noble Truths. It is
list of eight things
Buddhist should try to
achieve.
I’VE LEARNT WHO BUDDHA WAS…
• Buddha was Siddhartha Gotama – a prince whose father tried to
protect him from suffering.
• When he realised suffering existed and that wealth did not mean you
would be happy, he decided to give up his royal position and go out
into the world to find out the truth about coping with suffering.
• After 6 years he found the ‘Middle Path’ – a path between living in
luxury and giving up all pleasures.
• It is said he achieved ‘enlightenment’ – an awakening to the truth
about life and the world.
• Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching about what he had learnt
and taking a balanced approach to life.
I’VE LEARNT ABOUT BUDDHIST
SYMBOLS…
The Wheel of Life –
A symbol of the cycle of life:
birth, death and rebirth
The Lotus Flower –
A symbol of the purity of life
and the life cycle
• It grows in mud at the bottom of a
pool but rises to the surface and
becomes a beautiful elegant flower.
• Buddhist teaching is that, although
a flower may be very beautiful, it
soon dies. This shows nothing in
life is permanent.
• Pink=history of Buddha
• White=purity of mind and spirit
• Blue=wisdom and creativity
I’VE LEARNT THAT BUDDHIST MONKS
ARE VERY PATIENT!
• I can’t believe that they take so long to make beautiful SAND
MANDALAS which they then end up sweeping away…
• But I also learnt that the reason behind this is to symbolise the fact
that nothing in life is permanent.
I’VE LEARNT THAT THE 3 SIGNS OF
BEING ARE VERY COMPLICATED!!!!
• 1 - DUKKHA: Suffering. Nothing brings lasting satisfaction.
THERE ARE
JAFFA CAKES
OOO…I’M
ALLOWED
ANOTHER
JAFFA CAKE
(HAPPINESS)
I’VE FINISHED
THE JAFFA
CAKE (LOSS /
SADNESS)
I WANT A
JAFFA CAKE
(DESIRE)
I EAT A JAFFA
CAKE
(SATISFACTIO
N)
• 2 - ANNICA: Nothing is permanent. Things constantly change.
When a leaf dies it decomposes and becomes part of the soil from
which new things grow…therefore nothing ever stops ‘being’.
• 3 – ANATTA: There is no permanent self or soul…but I really don’t
understand what this means yet. Do any of you?
WHAT I HAVE FOUND INTERESTING…
• I noticed that there are loads of different images of
Buddha. This seemed a bit strange to me…
• Different images have different symbols, for example…
• Buddha with a big belly – Buddhists believe it brings good
luck when you rub it.
• Buddha with a bump on his head is a symbol that he has
special talents.
• Buddha with a round mark on his forehead represents a
third eye to show he could see things other people can’t
see
Buddhist bow to images of Buddha as a sign of gratitude for
his teachings rather than to worship or to ask for
something.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS…
• To me Buddhism seems like a very peaceful religion.
• I read that there have never been any wars fought in the name of
Buddhism.
• It seems that Buddhists respect other peoples views, and I think that
that’s just how it should be.
I THINK…
• I could use some Buddhist teachings in my everyday life –
–
–
–
–
–
Acting peacefully and kindly
Trying to keep my thoughts positive
Not causing any harm
Being aware of my thoughts and feelings
Speaking the truth (although this would be very difficult as I do believe in using
‘white lies’ to avoid hurting people’s feelings.
I HAVE TRIED…
Meditation
and Mindfulness
• I found them very calming…and I even fell asleep quite a few times!
Buddhism v Christianity
• I have brought up in a Christian family.
• I think some of the Buddhist teachings are fairly similar because
basically to me they both seem to teach about doing the right thing,
caring about people, being kind and not causing any harm.
Is It Easier To Be a Buddhist?
• I think that following any religion is a challenge.
• I don’t think you could say that one is easier than the other.
• What I like about Buddhism is that it is more about a way of life
rather than strict rules about what you should believe in.
ANY QUESTIONS?