Major Figures

Siddharta Gautama
Ananda
King Ashoka
(Notable People in Buddhism)


Life of Buddha
566-480 BCE
Traveled around India
(The Buddha)


Major Events
c. 450 BCE Buddha enlightenment and first
sermon
272 BCE King Ashoka throned
(Buddhism Timeline)


Goal
Nirvana - extinguish
State of bliss or peace
Life or death
(Nirvana)
Cosmology
Branch of philosophy dealing with the
universe
Wheel of Life
Empty existence
Mount Meru (realms)
Kalpa
(Buddhist Cosmology)


Myths
Not all meditate
Not all vegetarians
Not philosophy
(10 Misconceptions about Buddhism)
Rituals
Triple Gem Ceremony Taking Refuge
Pledge to Buddhism
Seeks guidance from:
Buddha
Dharma
Sangha
(Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem)
Rituals
Meditation
Samatha
Vipassana
Mudras
Prayer wheels
Mantra
(Buddhist Rituals)

Daily Life
Wheel of Life
Birth
Growth
Death
Decay
(The Buddhist Wheel of Life)




Daily Life
Karma
Good, bad, & neutral
3 fortunate realms & 3 unfortunate realms
Demigods
Gods
Men
Animals
Ghosts
Hell
(A Way of Life)


Differences
Karma
No Creator God
Nirvana
(A Way of Life)



Community
Centered around sanghas
Leadership structures vary
Mahayana new features
Theravada original teachings
Five Precepts
(Leadership)

Community
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Vision, Emotion, Speech, Action,
Livelihood, Energy, Awareness, and
Samadhi
(The Eight-Fold Path)
Way of Life
Constant change
Deeper understanding of life
Positive states of mind
Simplicity
(What Does Buddhism Teach?)




Locations & Geography
Bodh Gaya
Sarnath
Lumbini
Kushinara
Schools Asia
Followers majorly Southeast and East Asia
(Major Buddhist Sites)
Locations & Geography
Worship
Monks
Temple
Regularly or on holidays
Shrines
Homes and small public areas
Prayers, incense, offerings, scriptures, and
vows
(Worship and Devotion in Daily Life)
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