Buddhism-+Group+5

=Period 4= = = =http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/four-holy-sites.html=

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1347735.stm
= = = **RESEARCH GUIDE: BUDDHISM** = **1. What are the religion's followers called?** Buddhists a. Sutras- A large collection of text written by Buddhist masters after the first Buddha. These texts describe the key concepts of Buddhism.
 * 2. Religious Text:** (What is it made up of? Give a short explanation.)

b. Tripitaka- A large collection of scriptures describing Buddhist theology, discourses, and laws for the monks and nuns to follow.

a. Wesak Festival- Celebrates the first Buddha's (Siddhartha Guatama) birthday. Festivities involve putting colorful decorations on houses and releasing caged birds.
 * 2. Special Days:** (What are they celebrating? Are there any special activities?)

b. Dharma Day- Celebrates the first day that the first Buddha began teaching the path of enlightenment. People celebrate this day with reading from Buddhist scriptures.

c. Kathina- The nomadic Buddhist monks leave on this day after spending three months in one place. To celebrate the restart of the monks' travels, people where they are give them an offering of cloth. The cloth is then sown together and given in the form of a robe to a chosen monk the next day.

Siddhartha Guatama- Founder of Buddhism; Born in Kapilavatthu, near the border of India and Nepal; Achieved Enlightenment in 535 BCE under a Bodhi tree
 * 3. Person:** (What was this person's role?)

Dalai Lama- Leader of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism); Current leader- Tenzin Gyatso; Used to be Leader of Tibet until China took over in 1951. The Dalai Lama now lives in exile in India.

-Lumbini Nepal:Place where the Buddha was born into a wealthy tribe as a prince. He later gave up this lifestyle.
 * 4. Sacred Sites:** (Where is this site and why is this site special?)

- Bodh Gaya- Bihar, India: Where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

-Sarnath- Uttar Pradesh, India: Where the Buddha delivered his first sermon to his friends/ disciples.

-Kusinara- Uttar Pradesh, India: Where the Buddha died. Death of the Buddha is referred to as Mahaparinirvana.

a. Theraveda Buddhism- Atheistic in nature, focuses on meditation as a means to achieve enlightenment, purify soul, and break the cycle of reincarnation.
 * 5. Major Branches:** (what are the differences in beliefs and actions between these sects?)

b.Mahayana Buddhism- Still focuses on meditation, but incorporates deities. Involves more ritual than Theraveda.

Buddhism exists primarily China, Indochina, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, India, it is also increasingly popular in western nations.
 * 6. Primarily Located in the following countries:** (give numbers/percentages if available)

a. What are the 4 Noble Truths? 1. Dukkha: suffering exists. 2. Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering. 3. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. 4. Magga: In order to end suffering you must follow the eightfold path.
 * 7. Core Beliefs:** (What are the central ideas to the religion?)

b. What is the Middle Way? The Middle way states that you should be middle class, not overly rich or overly poor.