Siddhartha Gautama as a historical figure | Religious education

Starter quiz

Which religious worldview is also known as Sanatana Dharma?
- the Buddhist worldview
- the Hindu worldview ✓
- the Sikh worldview
- the Christian worldview
Which name is often used to refer to God or the 'ultimate reality' in Hindu Dharma?
- Allah
- Brahman ✓
- Waheguru
What does the term 'dukkha' refer to in Buddhism?
- the belief that all life involves suffering ✓
- the belief that nothing is permanent
- the aim of gaining enlightenment
- the belief that there is no fixed self
Who founded Sikhi?
- Guru Granth Sahib
- Guru Ram Das
- Guru Gobind Singh
- Guru Nanak ✓
How many Noble Truths did the Buddha teach?
- 'Four' ✓
Match the dharmic worldviews below to the correct meanings of 'dharma/dhamma' in these religions.
- Hindu dharma
  
  ⇔
  
  the true essence of all living things ✓
- Buddhist dhamma
  
  ⇔
  
  the teachings of the Buddha ✓
- Sikhi dharma
  
  ⇔
  
  living with a good moral code and honouring God ✓

According to Buddhists, who is Siddhartha Gautama?
- a prophet
- a God
- a historical figure ✓
Where was Siddhartha Gautama born?
- Thailand
- India
- Nepal ✓
Why might Buddhists go on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya?
- it is the place of Siddhartha Gautama's birth
- it is the place where Siddhartha Gautama's lived as an ascetic
- it is the place of Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment ✓
Why is meditation an important practice for most Buddhists?
- it is how Siddhartha achieved enlightenment ✓
- it is how Siddhartha relaxed when he lived inside the palace
- Siddhartha learnt how to meditate when he saw the fourth sight, the holy man
Many Buddhists interpret the stories of Siddhartha Gautama as mythical. What does this mean?
- the stories are based on factual information
- the stories are interpreted as symbolic ✓
- the stories contain spiritual truths ✓
- the stories are based upon scientific evidence

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There are different interpretations of the story of Siddhartha Gautama's life.
There are key events in his life story that link to Buddhist practices and beliefs.
There are places of pilgrimage associated with his life that Buddhists may visit today.
The first of the three jewels is the Buddha.

The Buddha is God/a God.

The Buddha is a historical figure.

Buddha - refers to 'the enlightened one'
Siddhartha gautama - the founder of Buddhism; he became known as the Buddha
Lumbini - the birthplace of Siddhartha, in what is now Nepal
Bodh gaya - located in north east India; considered to be the place of the Buddha’s enlightenment