Buddhism

Siddhartha Gotama the 1st Buddha 563 to 483

Buddhism > Middle Path Deny Yourself somethings and give Yourself other things > 8 fold path
 * No matter how good your life is you still get old get sick and die
 * Reincarnation cycle, acheive Nirvana and stop your cycle. Reach Nirvana by being enlightened like Siddartha Gotama
 * People at this time, were trying to find answers about life
 * Buddhism doesn't care about class
 * Buddhists = anti - authoritative
 * Buddhism rejects Hinduism aka The Mainstream Religion

- Achieved by meditation ( said to free ones self from desire) life is suffering follow the middle path
 * Nirvana - Peace/ Snuffing out the candle**

- Achieving nirvana (enlightenment) is like snuffing out a flame: your freed from the cycle of life - main goal of buddhism

Buddhism doesn't need gods - it doesn't matter if there are gods - can be an atheist and a buddhist simultaneously -

No images of Siddhartha Gotama - not to be worshipped as a god

Hinayana and Mahayana two types of Buddhism that evolved over time:

-less strict Hinayana develops into a traditional Buddhist way of life - more strict
 * Mahayana** develops into less of a traditional religion buddhist sense\
 * Siddharta is thought as a god
 * More optimistic about acheiving nirvana
 * Becoming a monk
 * Nirvana is hard to obtain

Mahayana becomes more popular Hinayana not very popular in India