Download 220 Outline of Buddhism

Back to PHl220 Table of Content
History of Buddhism
I. Primitive Buddhism (540-385 B.C.)
A. The Three Jewels- Tri-Ratna
1. The Founder- known as Gautama or Sakyamuni (563-85 B.C.)
2. The Teaching (dhamma or dharma)- The Middle Way
a. The Four Noble Truths
b. The Noble Eightfold Path
c. The Ten Rules of Conduct
3. The Order of Monks and Nuns (sangha)
B. Activities Following the Buddha's Passing
1. The first Buddhist Monument- the Stupa (a burial mound) over the Sacred Relics.
2. Codification of the Law (dhamma)- The Buddhist Councils, the first being the
Council of Rajagaha (or Rajagrha) immediately after the Parinibbana (Parinirvana)
the Pali Scriptures, Tripitaka (the Three Baskets).
II. Leadership of the Southern School (385 B.C.-100 A.D.)
A. The Beginnings of Division- the Council of Vesali (385 B.C.)
1. The Orthodox Group- held view that attainment of Buddhahood was through strict
observance of the rules.
2. The Unorthodox Group- held that attainment of Buddhahood dwells within, requiring
only development.
B. The Great Triumph of Buddhism- the Emperor Asoka (273-236 B.C.)
1. Becomes official religion of the Indian Maurya Empire.
2. Far-reaching missionary activities- Buddhism introduced into Ceylon, Burma, Syria,
Macedonia.
3. The beginnings of Buddhist art as we know it- stone carving technique brought from
Iran, the appearance of Persian motifs.
C. A Step Nearer Division- the Council at Pataliputra- (mid 3rd century B.C.)
1. Establishment of the orthodox Theravada (Doctrine of the Elders)- the Theravadin
becomes the Southern School of Buddhism.
The Mahasenghika (Great Assembly) that is to grow into the Northern School.
The Jatakas (recast from Hindu fables)- accepted by both Southern and
Northern Schools. Tales of the earliest incarnations of the historical Buddha.
III.
Expansion of the Northern School (100 A.D.)
(During which time the Southern School continues undisturbed)
A. The Final Schism- Council at Jaladhara- ca. 100 A.D., during the reign of Kaniska- the
Two Distinct Schools.
1. The Hinayana (Smaller Vehicle- Northern term for Theravada)- stresses Arhat ideal.
2. The Mahayana (Greater Vehicle)- never reduced scriptures to a system as did the
Southern. The Bodhisattva ideal. Tendency to deny the reality of phenomena
(sunyata- voidness).
B. Mahayana Literature- Sanskrit adopted as official language, principal Sutras complied
and commented upon by Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D.).
1. Prajnaparamita (Transcendent Wisdom)
2. Saddharmapundarika (Lotus Scripture or Lotus of the Good Law)
3. Dasabhumika (On the 10 stages of a Bodhisattva)
4. Gandavyuha (the "Pilgrim's Progress" of Buddhism)
C. Spread of the Mahayana in the Far East
D. Important Innovations in Mahayana Buddhism
1. Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D.- see ill. 2) founded Madhyamika School. First to teach
the Amitabha doctrine (see III. 4b).
2. Asanga and Vashubandu (4th- 5th centuries A.D.) founded Yogacarya School (Yoga
doctrine introduced into Hinduism by Patanjali 150 B.C.) and introduced Mantrayana
doctrine in spells and charms).
3. Tantrism (sakti worship) introduced 4th century (Tantra means "treatise").
E. The Principal Sects in China
1. Jingtu (Ching-t'u)- Pure Land School- founded by Hui-yuan (333-416 A.D.).
2. Chan- Meditation- founded by Bodhidharam (Ta-mo) 520 A.D. (Zen in Japan).
3. Tiantai (T'ien-t'ai)- named for range of hills in N.E. Chekiang intellectual- stressed
study, thereby appealing to the founded by Chih-i in 575 A.D.
4. Lu- discipline according to the Viaya texts-founded by Tad Hsuan (595-667 A.D.).
5. The Mahayana (Northern) School of Buddhism spread by way of the Silk Route
through the help of pilgrims and traders to China (Han Dynasty) and to Korea (Tian
Dynasty) and finally to Japan (552 A.D.).
6. The Hinayana (Southern) School of remained the dominant form of Buddhism.