Escaping the Wheel of Life: The Religious World of Ancient India

Buddhism

Directions: Close read pages 52-56 in your textbook. Be sure to read the primary source, “The Sermon at Benares” on p. 54. You should know the significance of the following vocabulary terms:

Buddhism	Siddhartha Gautama
Nirvana	bodhi
Varanasi / Benares	Four Noble Truths
Middle Path / Eightfold Way	egalitarianism
enlightenment	stupa
Jainism	Mahavira
Ashoka	rock edicts / stone pillars

Be prepared to write about and discuss the following guiding questions:

Big Overarching Question: How are Hinduism and Buddhism similar and different?

Buddhism: The Middle Path

The Life of Siddhartha Gautama

1. Who is Siddhartha Gautama? What aspects of Hinduism did he keep?

2. What aspects of Hinduism did Siddhartha reform? Why? Be specific here!

3. How does one “escape the wheel of life” in Buddhism?

Primary Source: The Sermon at Benares

4. What are the “two extremes”? Why should one avoid them?

5. What is the Middle Path? Why should one follow it?

6. What are the four noble truths? Describe them in your own words.

Jainism

7. What is Jainism? How is it similar to and different from Buddhism?

Ashoka, a Buddhist Monk

8. Who war Ashoka? How did he rule? Why do you suppose he converted to Buddhism?

9. Why is his Buddhist legacy a great one?