Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will examine key beliefs in Buddhism. They will examine key concepts such as dhamma and the idea of the human condition. They will gain an understanding of Buddhist ideas about suffering and the way to end it. They will also examine the story of Gautama Buddha.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain key events from the life of the Buddha, why they are important and how they influence Buddhists today.

Key Notes

• There are divergent beliefs about whether the life story of Gautama Buddha is factual or illustrative.
• Before birth, there were signs that Siddhartha Gautama would be important
• He gave up his life of luxury with his wife and son after seeing the Four Sights.
• The Four Sights included sickness, old age, death and an ascetic (holy man).
• He eventually reached enlightenment, became known as the Buddha, and established the Sangha.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Ascetic (holy man): a person who lives a life free from worldly pleasures
• Buddha: an awakened or enlightened person
• enlightenment: a state of wisdom that enables total clarity and understanding of the truths of existence
• the Four Sights: Siddhartha Gautama's experience of illness, old age, death and a holy man
• Buddhahood: reaching enlightenment

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• All Buddhists believe that the stories of the life of the Buddha are factual.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Arhat ideals Study Guide
• Bodhisattva ideals Study Guide
• Human personality Study Guide
• Karma and rebirth Study Guide
• Mahayana: the Six Perfections Study Guide
• The Buddhist Threefold Way Study Guide
• The Dhamma Study Guide
• The Four Noble Truths: suffering Study Guide
• The Four Noble Truths: the Eightfold Path Study Guide
• The Four Noble Truths: the Three Poisons Study Guide