More

More Axial
Axial Age
Age
 back to India
 ca. 500 B.C.
 caste system in place
 development of Hinduism
– Brahmin priests

En. Uthayakumaran IPG-KSAH

Literature
Literature
 the Brahmanas: metaphysical
speculation
 the Upanishads: central concepts of
Hinduism
– ascetics
– the Jungle Schools
Central
Central Concepts
Concepts
 Brahman: the universal spiritual reality
behind all perceptions
 Atman: the human soul
 Karma: “actions have consequences”
– not “sin”
Goal
Goal of
of the
the Ascetics
Ascetics
 mystic ecstasy
 enlightenment
 unification of Brahman and the Atman
 karma: affects the rate of enlightenment
Road
Road to
to Enlightenment
Enlightenment
 getting rid of negative karma
 absence of bodily desires
 then the Atman could merge with
Brahman eternally
Other
Other Responses
Responses to
to Brahmans
Brahmans
 Charvakas: atheists
 Jainists, Buddhists
Janism
Janism
 Nigantha Nataputta
 the Vardhamana Mahavira
 Left a wealthy, aristocratic family to lead
an ascetic life
 7th century movement based upon the
Upanishads
Nigantha Nataputta

the Vardhamana
Mahavira
Modern Jain temple and worshipper
Rock shrines
The Mahavira
Janism,
Janism, con’t
con’t
 salvation from the cycle of souls
 all souls are trapped in matter
 all things possess souls
– both animate and inanimate
 penance frees the soul from matter
(karma)
Buddhism
Buddhism
 Siddhartha Gautama: the Buddha
 The Four Sights
 search for enlightenment
 the bo tree: illusion and enlightenment
 salvation by moderation
– the Middle Path
Fasting
Siddhartha
Gautama

before his
enlightenment
under the bodhi
tree
Central
Central Ideas:
Ideas: all
all life
life is
is suffering
suffering
 the Four Noble Truths
– all life is suffering
– desire causes suffering
– suffering can be avoided by non-desiring
– desire can be stopped by meditation and
the Noble Eightfold Path
 Correct knowledge and good habits can
annihilate suffering
Central
Central Ideas,
Ideas, con’t
con’t
 The Noble Eightfold Path
– right views, right aspirations
– right speech, right conduct
– right livelihood, right effort
– right mindedness, right rapture
Buddha of the
Great Wonders

Gandhara,
3rd-4th century
A.D.
Teaching Buddha

Sarnath, 5th
century A.D.
The Buddha of
Gandhara

2nd century
A.D.
Various busts of the Buddha
Wheel of Dharma
Buddhist
Buddhist Society
Society
 no fixed hierarchies
 no priest, but individual responsibility
 decisions: free and democratic
 equality among Buddhists
Problems
Problems
 the Buddha did not write things down
 several version of what he said
– the Pali Canon of Ceylon
Common
Common ideas
ideas
 transmigration of souls
 effects of Karma
 the Noble Eight Fold Path of Thoughts
and Deeds
 nirvana: “blowing out”
– annihilation of the “ego”
Buddhist
Buddhist Schools
Schools
 Hinayana
– (“the Lesser Vehicle” / “The Little Raft”)
– no works after 480 B.C. accepted
– Ceylon, Indo-China
 Mahayana
– (“the Greater Vehicle /”The Big Raft”)
– Tibetan Buddhism, Chan, Zen, etc.
Buddhism
Buddhism
 students spread his message
 compiled “correct teachings”
 disagreements
Challenge
Challenge to
to Brahmans
Brahmans
 egalitarian
 “gender-less”
 appealed to those not of the aristocracy
 education to any who wished it
 ridiculed the Brahmans
Buddhism:
Buddhism: “doctrine”
“doctrine”
 favored individual self-examination
 no empty ritual
 no caste system
 hostile Brahman reaction
Rise
Rise of
of the
the Mauryan
Mauryan Empire
Empire
 Alexander the Great
 Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 B.C.)
 Ashoka
Kingdom of Magadha
 Most significant remaining kingdom after
Alexander’s departure
 Central Ganges plain
 Economic strength
– Agriculture
– Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal
 Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern
India
The Mauryan and Gupta empires
321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.
Ashoka
Ashoka
 most powerful ruler
 converted to Buddhism
 spread the Dharma throughout the land
Ashoka Maurya
 Grandson of
Chandragupta
 Represents high point of
Mauryan Empire, r. 268-
232 BCE
 Expanded empire to
include all of Indian
subcontinent except for
south
 Positive rulership
integrated Indian society
Pillar of Ashoka, proclaiming the
dharma throughout India
The
The Dharma
Dharma
 peace, pacifism, moderation
 roads, hospitals, rest houses
 promoted vegetarianism
– condemned bloody sacrifices
 threatened the Brahmans with loss of
power
 largely unsuccessful
Brahmans
Brahmans adopt
adopt Buddhist
Buddhist
thought
thought
 necessary to be competitive
 Buddha was Vishnu
 more interaction with the people
 aided by Buddhist theological
arguments
Brahmans
Brahmans
 the soul was real
 ultimate purpose: fuse with the divine
 spread to all levels of society
 oldest and most successful of the major,
world religions
Buddhism?
Buddhism?
 declined in India
 successful in China, Nepal, Indo-China,
Japan
– and now, America
The Eight
Auspicious
Symbols

Tibetan
Buddhism
Lord
Shakyamuni
Buddha
The Green
Tara

the Bodhisattva
of Active
Compassion
Four-Armed
Chenreisg
(Sanskrit:
Avalokiteshvar
a)

The
Bodhisattva of
Compassion
Maitreya - The
Future Buddha
Sakyamuni,
Burma
Standing
Buddha

Mongolia
Kamakura Buddha, Japan
Amida Buddha
Shin (Pure Land)
Buddhism
Japan
Cyber
Buddha
Books you can read
 Edward Conze. Buddhism: Its Essense and
Development
 Juan Mascaro, trans. The Bhagavada Gita
 Kenneth K.S. Chen. Buddhism: The Light of Asia
 Noble Ross Reat. Buddhism. A History
 Andrew Skilton. A Concise History of Buddhism
 John Snelling. The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete
Guide to Buddhist, Schools, Teaching Practice, and
History
 Peter Harvey. An Introduction to Buddhism:
Teachings, History, and Practices
 www.etsu.edu/cas/history/religionsbib.htm