Life of the Buddha
Life-of-the-Buddha

The Buddha was unique amongst the world’s religious leaders insofar as he was a human being, not a prophet and not divine, so the story of his life and of his enlightenment serves as a model for all human beings to emulate.

Materials: 13
Image: Terton Sogyal Trust

For Buddhists, the life story of the Buddha is a source of inspiration and learning whereas for modern historians it is a thorny puzzle that mixes fact and legend almost inextricably. The Buddha was unique amongst the world’s religious leaders insofar as he was a human being, not a prophet and not divine, so the story of his life and of his enlightenment serves as a model for all human beings to emulate.  The main episodes of the Buddha’s life are part of traditional story telling in Buddhist communities, and they are part of the cultural heritage of Buddhism that children grow up with. Furthermore, many of the main festival days in the Buddhist calendar commemorate major events in the Buddha’s life.

Buddhist Stories

DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Angulimala
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Devadatta
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Life of the Buddha cards
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Victory over Mara

Detailed Subject Knowledge

DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Festival days in the Buddhist calendar
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
How Buddhists see the Buddha
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Life of the Buddha in brief
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Life of the Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism
DOCUMENT   (.jpg, .png)
Life of the Buddha Map

Lesson Activities and Reflections

DOCUMENT   (.pptx)
Buddha's life sheets to print
DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Ten acts of the Buddha

Lived Experience

VIDEO   (Youtube)
What the Buddha means to me
Play Video

Worksheets

DOCUMENT   (.pdf)
Life of the Buddha worksheet 1