Monks
Buddhist monks
give up most
possessions. They
keep only their
saffron yellow robes,
a belt, a needle, a razor,
a water strainer, and a bowl
to receive alms (gifts). Monks spend
their time praying, teaching, and
meditating. Each day they go out
to collect food. In some Buddhist
countries, boys spend a short
time at a monastery as part
of their schooling.84
Buddhism
GoldEn paGoda
Buddhist temples usually
contain relics of the Buddha,
such as robes or a sandal.
some, such as the Golden
pavilion in kyoto, Japan, are
magnificent buildings inlaid
with gold and decorated
with diamonds.WhEEl of lIfE
Buddhists share with
hindus a belief in the
Wheel of life, also called
the Wheel of the law.
This is the continuous
cycle of birth and
rebirth that traps
people who have not
yet achieved nirvana.
The spokes of the wheel
remind the Buddhist
of the Eightfold path.onE of ThE World’s great religions, Buddhism, began in India about
2,500 years ago. It grew and spread, and today there are more than 488 million
Buddhists worldwide, mainly in asia. all Buddhists follow the teachings of the
Buddha, a name which means “Enlightened one.” The Buddha himself was
born in about 563 bce. he was originally called siddhartha Gautama and was a
wealthy prince who became horrified at the suffering in the world. he left his
wealth and family, and began to meditate (think deeply). after three years, he
achieved enlightenment—complete understanding— became a monk, and
traveled extensively to pass his ideas on to others.
Buddhists believe that everyone is reborn after their old body has died.
The quality of their new life
depends on their karma. karma is
the total of all the good and bad
deeds they did in the life they
have just left. Buddhists aim to
achieve absolute peace—a
state they call nirvana.
The Buddha taught
that nirvana could
be achieved by
following the
Eightfold path:
rightness
of views,
intention,
speech, action,
livelihood,
concentration,
mindfulness,
and effort.Festivals
Bodhi Day – the day
Gautama became
the Buddha.
Parinirvana – passing of the
Buddha into nirvana.
Wesak or vesakha Puja –
a three-day festival to
celebrate the main events of
the Buddha’s life.
Dharmachakra Day – when
the Buddha gave his
first sermon.asia
China
hinduism
Japan
religionsFind out more
Buddhists burn
incense at the shrine
and leave offerings
of flowers.Buddhas
although they vary
greatly in size, images
of the Buddha all look
similar. They represent the
Buddha sitting on a lotus
flower. In the home a small
Buddha forms part of a
shrine. The image reminds
followers of the goodness
of the Buddha and
helps them
meditate and pray.US_084_Buddhism.indd 84 20/01/16 4:34 pm