Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Chapter 8, Lesson 3, Beginning of Buddhism (pp. 235-240)
I. Life of the Buddha
B. After much searching and meditation, Siddhartha reached a height of
understanding that Buddhists call enlightenment.
C. After his enlightenment, Siddhartha was called the Buddha. He preached
Buddhist dharma for many years until he died.
II. Teachings of Buddhism
B. The Buddha's teaching centered on how people should think and act.
C. The Buddha taught that the Eightfold Path leads to enlightenment.
D. Buddhism gradually traveled to China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Burma and other
areas of Southeast Asia.
III. A Great Buddhist Ruler
B. Asoka announced his Buddhist beliefs to his people in edicts, and ordered his empire
to follow them.
C. After Asoka's death the Mauryan Empire broke down into many little warring kingdoms.
Lesson at a Glance Outline
A. Siddhartha Gautama established Buddhism, one of the world's major religions.
A. The Buddha preached that everyone could find peace, without the Vedic priests
or animal sacrifices.
A. Asoka, a powerful emperor, converted to Buddhism and sent missionaries around and
beyond the subcontinent.
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