Curated OER
Buddhism
Pair this presentation about the tenets and philosophies of Buddhism with a lecture on world history or world religions.Viewers will appreciate the clarity of the information as well as the colorful maps and images that adorn each slide.
Curated OER
Historical People of Asia
In this Asian history learning exercise, learners respond to 17 questions that require them to identify historical figures from the continent and list biographical information about each of them.
Curated OER
Morality "Tails" East and West: European Fables and Buddhist Jataka Tales
Have your class explore Buddhist Jataka Tales to compare and contrast them to European fables. After defining fables, Jataka tales, and the elements of each, learners identify themes and patterns for both types of narratives and the...
Curated OER
BUDDHISM
Students engage in a variety of activities that investigates the religious and cultural practice of Buddhism. The emphasis is upon students comprehending the Eightfold Path of Buddhism.
Curated OER
The Buddha And His Many Different Forms
Students examine the historical Buddha and Buddhism through in-class discussions, visual artifacts, and the practice and performance of the play "The Enlightened One". Evaluation occurs after performance of the play.
Curated OER
The Four Religions of East Asia
Students compare and contrast the four main religions of Asia (Buddhism
Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto). This lesson is intended for use in the middle school Social Studies classroom.
Curated OER
Destruction in Bamiyan
Young scholars examine the destruction of the colossal statues of Buddha, carved into sandstone cliffs of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, that were recently demolished by the Taleban. They look for photos of local artifacts that represent the...
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg University: The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
A biography of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, complete with the story of his miraculous birth.
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg University: An Introduction to Buddhism
University-level introduction to Buddhism. Includes a biography of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), a general history of Buddhism, and a look at many Buddhist teachings, meditations, songs, poems, and more.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Introduction to Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the world's great religions, and has deeply influenced the character and evolution of Asian civilization over the past 2,500 years. It is based on the teachings of a historical figure, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived...
Other
Wikipedia: Simple English Wikipedia: Buddhism
An easy-to-read entry on Buddhism, from open-source encyclopedia Wikipedia, that answers basic questions about the religion and its practices. Explains the Buddhist belief system and what the word "Buddha" means. Also discusses Buddhist...
The British Museum
The British Museum: Ancient India: The Buddha
Richly illustrated life of the Buddha, told in a click-through storybook format with an embedded glossary. Includes an interactive tour of the stupa of Amaravati, an early Buddhist shrine, and a matching game designed to instruct players...
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Buddha
Encyclopedia entry for Buddha, from a leading peer-reviewed work hosted by the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Buddha Dharma Education Association
Buddha Net: Buddhist Information and Education Network
Comprehensive overview of Buddhism aimed at believers, but highly recommended by many academic libraries.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Images of Enlightenment: Aniconic vs Iconic Depictions of Buddha
Some of the earliest depictions of the Buddha reaching enlightenment appear as sculptural friezes on the exterior of sacred Buddhist monuments known as stupas. View pictures of these friezes and read the history of Prince Siddhartha in...
Other
University of Miami: The Life of Buddha, Part I
A detailed account of the Buddha's life and teachings written from a philosophical perspective.
PBS
Pbs: The Story of India: Buddha
Boxed inset describes the Buddha's life story, his quest for religious enlightenment, and his life of preaching his doctrine.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Philosophy of the Buddha
The Buddha's philosophy teaches us that our desires are at the root of our restlessness- and that calm can be achieved through willpower and spiritual exercise. [5:43]
Other
Interfaith Dialog Center: Buddhism
A brief history of Buddhism with a description of its beliefs (including a list of the Eightfold Path), its sects, and an explanation of Buddhism's presence in the West.
World History Encyclopedia
World History Encyclopedia: Buddhism
Reference page examines the Asian spiritual tradition of Buddhism starting with its origin through its expansion across Southern, Central, and East Asia. Includes key concepts, a timeline, and links to related content.
Read Works
Read Works: A Big Birthday Celebration
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Lotus Lantern Festival celebrating Buddha's birthday. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Historical Buddha
Among the founders of the world's major religions, the Buddha was the only teacher who did not claim to be other than an ordinary human being. Read about his life in this article.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Standing Crowned Buddha With Four Scenes of His Life
This is an image of a crowned and bejeweled Buddha, standing on a lotus pedestal, surrounded by four other figures representing four famous scenes from the life of the historical Buddha. It dates from approximately 1050-1100 C.E. The...