Buddhism

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Buddhism
By Shereen, Chloe, Kathy, Rachael, Aine and Ciara
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Introduction

• The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince
  of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in 566 BC.
• When he was 29 years old, he left his home.
• After six years of training, he left the way of
  self-punishment and instead sat in meditation
  beneath a bodhi tree.
• On the full moon of May, Siddhartha Gautama
  became the Buddha, the enlightened one.
• He taught the path he had realized in that
  moment. Around him developed a community of monks
  and, later, nuns.
• In 486 BC, at the age of 80, the Buddha died. His
  last words are said to be...

Impermanent are all created things Strive on
with awareness.
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Worship
Buddhists can worship both at home or at a
temple. Buddhists will often set aside part of
a room as a shrine. Buddhist temples are
designed to symbolise the five elements Fire,
Air, Earth, Water, Wisdom. All Buddhist temples
contain an image or a statue of
Buddha. Worshippers may sit on the floor
barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting.
They will listen to monks chanting from religious
texts, perhaps accompanied by instruments, and
take part in prayers.
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Initiation Rites
Initiation To become a Buddhist there is no
special ceremony although one is often held.
After this acceptance one follows the Buddha's
teaching. Marriage Some Buddhist marriages are
arranged. A simple ceremony takes place in the
home. The bride and groom exchange vows.
Funerals Buddhists may be buried or cremated.
For Buddhist people, death is only a passage to
next life.
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Places of Pilgrimage

• Lumbinibirthplace of the Buddha
• Bodhgayasite of Buddha's enlightenment
• Sarnathfirst turning of the Wheel of Dharma
• Rajgirsecond turning of the Wheel of Dharma
• Shravastiteachings in the Jetavana Grove
• Sankashyawhere Lord Buddha descended from
  Tushita Heaven
• Nalandasite of the great monastic university
• Kushinagarwhere Buddha entered mahaparinirvana

Sarnath
Lumbini
Bodhgaya
Rajgir
Sankashya
Shravasti
Nalanda
Kushinagar
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Festivals
The Buddha advised his followers that if they
were to thrive they should meet together
regularly and in large numbers. So festivals are
central to the life of the Buddhist community.
They provide an opportunity for celebration and
the expression of devotion and gratitude to the
Buddha and his teachings.
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Women In Buddhism
In Buddhism the Buddha allowed both monks and
nuns. He taught that both could become
enlightened. Hundreds of years after Buddha there
were no nuns. This was because in India few women
were involved in religion outside the home. Even
to day there are no nuns in some Buddhist
countries, where women are expected to be wives
and mothers. In the countries that they have both
monks and nuns they are both treated as equals.
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Facts!!
Nirvana, the early 90s grunge band fronted by
Kurt Cobain took their name from the Buddhist
term for enlightenment and escape from the
illusions of this world.
Joanna Lumley, Tina Turner, Orlando Bloom, Steven
Seagal, Tiger woods, Keanu Reeves, Penélope Cruz,
Fabien Barthez, Richard Gere and Jackie Chan are
all Buddhists!
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THE END