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Buddhism's Origins and Founder

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Buddhism's Origins and Founder

Read the short account, then solve the clues and respond to the questions. Buddhism began in the ancient world, more than 2,500 years ago. Some details of Siddhartha Gautama’s life are told in traditional stories, and historians debate exact dates.

A prince begins a search

Siddhartha Gautama was born in the region of the ancient Indian subcontinent, near present-day Nepal. According to Buddhist tradition, he grew up in a wealthy family and lived as a prince. Outside his sheltered life, he saw people grow older, experience sickness, and reach the end of life. These experiences made him ask why people suffer and whether there was a way to live with greater understanding and compassion. As a young adult, Siddhartha left his comfortable life to search for answers. After years of learning and reflection, tradition says he reached enlightenment: a deep understanding of the causes of suffering and how people might move beyond it. He became known as the Buddha, meaning “awakened one”. He shared teachings that included the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. His followers helped these teachings spread, and Buddhism developed into a world religion.

Check the clues

Use the account above to answer questions 1–8.

1.Where did Buddhism begin? Choose the best answer.

In the ancient Indian subcontinent
In ancient China
In ancient Greece
In ancient Egypt

2.Who was Siddhartha Gautama before he began his search?

3.Which experiences made Siddhartha question life beyond his sheltered world? Choose all that apply.

Ageing
Illness
Death
Learning to sail

4.True or false: Siddhartha left his comfortable life because he wanted to understand suffering.

TrueFalse

5.Complete the sentence: After reaching enlightenment, Siddhartha became known as the , meaning “awakened one”.

6.Match each term to its meaning.

Enlightenment
Buddha
Eightfold Path

“Awakened one”
A deep understanding, according to Buddhist tradition
A set of teachings shared by the Buddha

7.Name one teaching included in the Buddha’s teachings, besides the Eightfold Path.

8.According to the account, what did Siddhartha hope to understand by leaving his sheltered life?

Build the story

Put the events in order, then think about how a search for answers became a set of teachings.

9.Number these events from 1 (first) to 4 (last): Siddhartha shared teachings; Siddhartha encountered ageing, illness and death; Siddhartha reached enlightenment; Siddhartha left his comfortable life.

10.Explain one reason it is useful to learn that Buddhist traditions describe some details of the Buddha’s life, while historians debate exact dates.