Buddhism

By Dr Vipan Goyal
 Origin
• Buddhism started in India over 2,600 years ago as a way life that
had a potential of transforming a person.
• It is one of the important religions of South and South-Eastern
Asian countries.
• The religion is based upon the teachings, life experiences of its
founder Siddhartha Gautam, born in 563 BCE.
• He was born into royal family of Sakya clan who ruled from
Kapilvastu, in Lumbini which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.
(Rummendai pillar by Ashoka is there)
• He was born to Shudhodana and Mahamaya.(she belongs
to kosala dynasty)
• Suddhodhana was the chief of the Sakya clan. Due to this,
Buddha was also known as ‘Sakyamuni’.
• His mother died either giving birth to him or after seven
days. Siddhartha was brought up by his maternal aunt,
Prajapati Gautami. This gave him the name ‘Gautama’.
• He was married to Yashodhara and he had a son Rahula.
• In a series of encounters, known in Buddhist literature
as the four sights, he learned of the suffering of
ordinary people, encountering an old man, a sick man,
a corpse/dead man and, finally, an ascetic holy man,
apparently content and at peace with the world. These
experiences prompted Gautama to abandon royal life
and take up a spiritual quest.
• At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches
and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism, or extreme self-discipline.
• He left his palace at 29, with Channa- the charioteer and his
favourite horse, Kanthaka in search of ‘Mahabhinishkramana’
(truth).
• He initially meditated with Alara Kama.
• But he was not convinced that Alara Kama could help him obtain
liberation from sorrow by mental discipline and knowledge.
• Udraka Ramputra was his second teacher.
 Origin
• For six years, Siddhartha submitted himself to rigorous ascetic
practices, studying and following different methods of meditation
with various religious teachers. But he was never fully satisfied.
• One day, however, he was offered a bowl of rice from a young girl
(Sujata) and he accepted it.
• In that moment, he realised that physical austerities were not the
means to achieve liberation.
• From then on, he encouraged people to follow a path of balance
rather than extremism. He called this The Middle Way.
• After 49 consecutive days of
meditation,, At the age of 35,
Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree,
in the town of Bodh Gaya (Uruvella)
near Niranjana river (Modern Falgu) in
India, and meditated. He purified his
mind of all defilements and attained
enlightenment after many days, thus
earning the title Buddha, or
“Enlightened One”. Or ‘Nirvana’ .
• Shashanka (Shaiv ruler or Gauda Kingdom) is reputed to have cut
the Bodhi tree where the Buddha found enlightenment, in the
Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya.
• Thereafter, he attracted a band of followers and instituted a
monastic order. He spent the rest of his life teaching the path of
awakening he had discovered, traveling throughout the north-
eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, and died at the age of 80
(483 BCE) in Kushinagar, India. The event is known
as Mahaparinibban
• Buddha gave his first sermon
in the village of Sarnath, near
the city of Benares in UP.
• This event is known
as Dharma-Chakra-
Pravartana (turning of the
wheel of law).
• And it is delievered to five
ascetics- Kondana, Vappi,
Bhadiya, Mahanama and
Assagi.
• Anada is his favorite disciple.
• Due to Anada, the entry of ladies was permitted in the Sangha.
• Mahaprajapati Gautami (stepmother) was the ist lady to be entered in the
Sangha and she became the ist Bhikkuni.
• Maximum sermon were given by Gautama Buddha in the Kosala Capital
(Shravasti).
• He delievered the sermon for continuing 40 years except in the rainy
season.
• His last sermon was in Vaishali and was to Subhadda.
• The term ‘Buddha’ means ‘enlightened one’.
• Important contemporaries of Buddha were Mahavira Jaina,
Kings Prasenjit, Bimbisara and Ajatasatru.
• Buddha is also known as Tathaghat, Maitreya and Sakyamuni.
 Three Ratnas of Buddhism
1. Buddha : highest spiritual potential in every one.
2. Dhamma – The teachings of Budhha
3. Sangha – Community of Buddhist monks and nuns
• Dhamma: Teachings of Buddha are known as Dhamma.
• Buddha did not believe in god or soul.
• Stressed on karma and ahimsa.
• He was against the varna system.
• Buddha taught in Pali.
 Principles
• Samsara is “the cycle of birth and death”.
• Buddhists strive to end the sufferings by eradicating
the causes and conditions, applying the methods laid
out by the Buddha and subsequent Buddhists.
 Principles
• Karma in Buddhism is the force that drives saṃsāra.
• Good, skillful deeds (kusala) and bad, unskillful
(akusala) actions produce “seeds” in the mind that
come to fruition either in this life or in a subsequent
rebirth.
• The avoidance of unwholesome actions and the
cultivation of positive actions is called śīla.
 Principles
• Rebirth refers to a process whereby beings go
through a succession of lifetimes as one of many
possible forms of sentient life, each running from
conception to death. Buddhism rejects the concepts
of a permanent self or an unchanging, eternal soul,
as it is called in Hinduism and Christianity.
 Tenets of Buddhism
• Buddha asked his followers to avoid the two extremes of
indulgence in worldly pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence
and asceticism.
• He ascribed instead the 'Madhyam Marg' or the middle path which
was to be followed.
• According to him everyone was responsible for their own happiness
in life, stressing upon the individualistic component of Buddhism.
• The main teachings of Buddhism are encapsulated in the basic
concept of four noble truths and eightfold path.
 Four noble truths
Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world.

Every suffering has a cause – Samudya.

Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha.

It can be achieved by following the Atthanga

Magga (Eight Fold Path).
 Eight Fold Paths
The path consists of various interconnected activities related to
knowledge, conduct, and meditative practices.
 The Eight factors
Right View (or Right Understanding): Viewing reality as it is, not just as it
appears to be

Right Intention (or Right Thought): Intention of renunciation, freedom and

harmlessness

Right Speech: Speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way

Right Action: Acting in a non-harmful way

 The Eight factors
Right Livelihood: A non-harmful livelihood

Right Effort: Making an effort to improve

Right Mindfulness: Awareness to see things for what they are with clear
consciousness

Right Concentration: Correct meditation or concentration, explained as the

first four jhānas
• Buddha also established code of conduct both for the
monastic order and the laymen to follow which are also
known as the Five Precepts and refrain from them.
 Violence
 stealing
 sexual misconduct
 lying or gossip
 taking intoxicating substances e.g. drugs or drink
• Belief in Nirvana
 When desire and rebirth ends, nirvana is attained.
Freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth is
attained by following the 8-fold path. Buddhism does
not recognise the existence of God and soul.
• Belief in Ahimsa
 The concept of Ahimsa means one should not cause
harm to any living being, animal or man.
• Law of Karma
 According to Law of Karma, Man reaps the fruits of his past
deeds.
• Sangha
 The word Sangha is a combination of Pali and Sanskrit
languages.
 The Sangha is most commonly referred to the monastic
community of bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns).
 Apart from Sangha, the worshippers were called Upasakas.
 Practices
• The foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice are
the Three Jewels:
• Buddha,
• Dharma (the teachings), and
• Sangha (the community).
• Taking “refuge in the triple gem” has traditionally been a
declaration and commitment to being on the Buddhist
path, and in general distinguishes a Buddhist from a non-
Buddhist.
• The Buddhist place of worship is called a Vihara or Gompa,
which usually houses one or more statues of the Buddha.
• The five great events in Buddha’s life are represented by
symbols as under:
1. Birth by Lotus and Bull
2. Great Renunciation by Horse
3. Nirvana by Bodhi Tree
4. First Sermon by Dharmachakra or Wheel
5. Parinirvana or death by the Stupa.
 Major Buddhist Texts
• The Buddha's teaching was oral. He taught for 45 years,
adapting the teaching to suit the group he was addressing.
• The Sangha memorized the teachings, and there were
group recitations at festivals and special occasions.
• The teachings were rehearsed and authenticated at the
First Council and were divided in Three Pitakas in 483 BC.
• His teachings were written down around 25 B.C.E. in Pali.
Three Pitakas
 Three Pitakas
• The Vinaya Pitaka consists of rules of conduct and discipline
applicable to the monastic life of the monks and nuns.
• The Sutta Pitaka consists of the main teaching or Dhamma of
Buddha. It is divided into five Nikayas or collections:
 Digha Nikaya
 Majjhima Nikaya
 Samyutta Nikaya
 Anguttara Nikaya ( gives description about 16 mahajanpadas)
 Khuddaka Nikaya
 Three Pitakas
• The Abhidamma Pitaka is a philosophical analysis and systematization of
the teaching and the scholarly activity of the monks.
• Other important Buddhist texts include Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa ( provide
information about the then Sri Lanka).
• Milindapanho is Buddist text in which conversation of nagasena (Buddhist
monk) and Greek ruler Menander or Milinda has been noticed.
• Biography of Buddha include Buddhacharita and it was writeen by
Ashwaghosa.
• Jatakas are the fables about the different births of Buddha
• ( Note :Future Buddha is Maitreya).
 Buddhist Councils
• Buddhist Councils marked important turning points
in the early Buddhism.
• These councils resulted in sectarian clashes and the
eventual Great Schism that resulted in the two major
schools, Theravada and Mahayana.
• In total, 4 major Buddhist councils were convened.
 First Council
• It was held soon after the
Mahaparinirvan of the
Buddha, around 483
BC under the patronage
of King Ajatshatru and
was presided by
Mahakasyapa, a monk.
 First Council
• The council was held in the Sattapani cave at Rajgriha.
• The council was held with the purpose of preserving Buddha’s
teachings (Sutta) and rules for disciples. During this council,
the teachings of Buddha were divided into three Pitakas.
 It was held just after the death of the Buddha.
 Suttas and Vinaya were recited by the monks Ananda and Upali
respectively
 Second Council
• It was held in Vaishali, a village in
Bihar under the patronage of the
king Kalasoka in 383 BC. It
was presided by Sabakami.
 The Agenda of the Second Buddhist
council was to settle the disagreements
of different subdivisions.
 For this reason, the council is
considered historical.
 Third Council
• It was held in 250 BC in
Patliputra under the patronage of
Ashoka and was presided by
Moggaliputta Tissa ((Upagupta).
• The Agenda of the Third Buddhist
council was to analyze the
different schools of Buddhism and
to purify them.
 Third Council
• Ashoka sent several groups to
different countries to spread
Buddhism after this council.
• The responses to doctrinal
questions and disputes formulated
at the Third Council were recorded
by Moggaliputta Tissa in
the Kathavatthu, one of the books
of the Abhidhamma Pitaka.
 Forth Council
• It was held in 72 AD at Kundalvana,
Kashmir. It was presided by Vasumitra,
while Asvaghosa was his deputy under
the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan
Empire.
• The Agenda of this Buddhist council was
the reconciliation of various conflicts
between different schools of thought.
• Buddhism was divided into two sects
namely Mahayan and Hinayan.
 Schools of Buddhism
Mahayana:
• The followers of Mahayana believe that Buddha
taught universal salvation. One should not aim at
personal nirvana and should help ease the
suffering of humanity.
 The term Mahayana is a Sanskrit word which literally
means "Great Vehicle".
 Mahayana
 It believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and Idol worship
of Buddha and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha Nature.
 In India, this form of Buddhism is followed in Ladakh,
Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.and then spread east into
Central Asia, East Asia and some areas of Southeast Asia.
 Buddhist schools embedded in China, Korea, Tibet and
Japan belong to the Mahayana tradition.
 Hinayana
• Literally Lesser vehicle, also known as Abandoned Vehicle or
Defective vehicle. It believes in the original teaching of Buddha or
Doctrine of elders.
• It does not believe in Idol worship and tries to attain individual
salvation through self discipline and meditation.
• Theravada is a Hinayana sect.
• The word vehicle is used here to describe the Buddha’s teachings,
since the ultimate purpose of the teachings is to carry people from
the shore of this impure world to the other shore of enlightenment
 Hinayana
• A great vehicle is like a large ship that can carry many people over
the ocean. A lesser vehicle is like a little boat that can carry only a
few people across a river.
• So Mahayana, which promises spiritual liberation to both monks
and ordinary people is called greater vehicle because it can help a
large number of people in attaining enlightenment.
• On the other hand, Hinayana which calls for strict discipline cannot
be practiced by ordinary people can only carry fewer people
towards enlightenment.
 Theravada
• It is the most ancient branch of extant Buddhism today.
• It remains closest to the original teachings of the Buddha.
• The Theravada Buddhism is better known as the earliest form
of Buddhism. The ‘Thera’ means old and ‘Vada’ means school.
• The aim of this form of Buddhism is to attain personal nirvana
through the triple recourse to ethical conduct, mental
discipline and higher knowledge or wisdom.
 Theravada
• It has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
(Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc.).
• In India, this strain of Buddhism is represented by the
followers of Dr B.R.Ambedkar known as the Ambedkar
Buddhists, who are exclusive to India.
• Theravada is also called “southern Buddhism” as it was the
form that developed in souther part of the Indian
subcontinent, primarliy Sri Lanka.
 Vajrayana
• Vajrayana means “The Vehicle of the Thunderbolt”, also
known as tantric Buddhism.
• This Buddhist school developed in India around 900 CE.
• It is very complex set of rituals compared with the rest of the
Buddhist schools.
• Vajrayana practiced mainly in Tibet and Mongolia, and
adjacent parts of China and Russia
 Zen
• It is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated
in China during the Tang dynasty as the Chan school
of Chinese Buddhism in and later developed into
various schools.
• It spread to Japan in 7th century C.E.
• Meditation is the most distinctive feature of this
Buddhist tradition.
 Bodhisattva
• A bodhisattva is an ordinary person who takes up a course in his or
her life that moves in the direction of buddha.
• You’re a bodhisattva, I’m a bodhisattva; actually, anyone who
directs their attention, their life, to practicing the way of life of a
buddha is a bodhisattva.
 Spread of Buddhism
• Pali language has a prominent role in the spread of Buddhism.
• Emperor Ashoka and Kaniska had a keen interest in spreading
Buddhism.
• Buddha also organised the Sangha as a religious order, whose
doors were open to everybody, irrespective of caste and sex.
• They promoted education through residential universities like
Valabhi, Nalanda and Vikramshila.
 Spread of Buddhism
• After the death of Buddha, the monks assembled four times and
the effect of these events had a great impact of spreading of
Buddhism.
• Buddha had two kinds of disciples – monks (bhikshus) and lay
worshippers (upasikas).
• The monks were organized into the Sangha for the purpose of
spreading his teachings.
• The Sangha was governed on democratic lines and was
empowered to enforce discipline among its members.
 Spread of Buddhism
• Owing to the organised efforts made by the Sangha,
Buddhism made rapid progress in North India even during
Buddha’s life time.
• After the death of Buddha, his followers traversed on his path
of meditation and roamed throughout the countryside.
• For 200 years Buddhism remained overshadowed by their
Hindu counterparts until the advent of Great Mauryan King –
Ashoka.
 Spread of Buddhism
• After the bloodbath in his Kalinga conquest, emperor Ashoka
decided to give up the policy of worldly conquest and
adopted Dhamma conquest.
• Ashoka during the third Buddhist council dispatched various
Buddhist missions to different areas such as Gandhara, Kashmir,
Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and Thailand.
• Through his missionary effort Ashoka spread Buddhism into West
Asia and Ceylon. Thus a local religious sect was transformed into a
world religion.
Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture
• Buddhism has made remarkable contribution to the
development of Indian culture:
 The concept of ahimsa was its chief contribution. Later, it
became one of the cherished values of our nation.
 Its contribution to the art and architecture of India was
notable. The stupas at Sanchi, Bharhut and Gaya are
wonderful pieces of architecture.
Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture
 It promoted education through residential
universities like those at Taxila, Nalanda and
Vikramasila.
 The language of Pali and other local languages
developed through the teachings of Buddhism.
 It had also promoted the spread of Indian culture
to other parts of Asia.
 Heritage Sites
• UNESCO’s heritage sites related to Buddhism:
 Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at
Nalanda, Bihar
 Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, MP
 Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
 Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra
 Cause of Decline
• Revival of Brahmanism & rise of Bhagavatism
• Use of Sanskrit instead of Pali from 4th Buddhist council (Around 100 AD)
• After birth of Mahayana, Practice of Idol worship, Huge offerings &
donations became common & led to the deterioration of moral standards
• Attack of Hunas (Around 500 – 600 AD) & Attack of Turkish invaders (1200
AD) destroyed major Buddhist Monasteries
• Brahamana ruler Pushyamitra have said to persecuted Buddhists
• Shaivite Shashanka have said to cut the original Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya
 Buddhist Architecture
• Stupa:
 Relics of Buddha or some prominent Buddhist monks are
preserved.
• Chaitya:
 Prayer Hall
• Vihara:
 Residence
 Buddhist Universities
• Nalanda, Bihar by Kumaragupta 1 (Gupta ruler)
• Odantpuri, Bihar by Gopala ( Pala ruler)
• Vikramshila, Bihar by Dharampala ( Pala ruler)
• Somapuri, North Bengal by Dharampala ( Pala ruler)
• Jagadal. Bengal by Rampala ( Pala ruler)
• Vallabhi, Gujarat by Bhattarka ( Maitrak ruler )
Note:
• Ashoka sent mission comprises of his son Mahendra
and his daughter Sanghmitra to SriLanka
• Kanishka sent mission to China, Korea and Japan.
• Palas of Bengal and Bihar were the last great patrons
of Buddhism.
 Other Important Places
• Angkor Wat
• Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia. The temple complex was built by Suryavarman II and
it was first devoted to Vishnu and later to Buddhist.
• Borobudur
• Borobudur is located in Indonesia and comprises six square platforms topped by three
circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. It’s
a world Heritage site. There are 3 Buddhist temples which are known as Borobudur
Temple Compounds.
• Bamyan Caves
• They are located in Afghanistan and have statues represented the classic blended style of
Gandhara art of 6th century,
• They were the largest examples of standing Buddha carvings in the world, before they
were blown by dyanamite by Taliban in 2001.
Thank You