Download Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations

Chapter 4: Ancient India and China
Section 3 - Buddhism
Dharmachakra, the Wheel of
Truth, represents the truth
about our situation and the
many ways of understanding
it more clearly. The Buddha
encouraged people to rely on
their own experience, rather
than depending upon or
worshiping authority figures
or gods. His teaching is often
called "turning the wheel of
the dharma."
Section 3 - Buddhism
Main Idea
Buddhism, which teaches people that they can escape
the suffering of the world through the Buddha’s
teachings, developed in India and spread to other parts
of Asia and the world.
Objectives
• How did the early life of the Buddha lead to the
beginnings of Buddhism?
• What are the major teachings of Buddhism?
• What areas were affected by the spread of Buddhism?
A. The Buddha
Buddhism founded in India by Siddhartha
Gautama
Siddhartha seeking enlightenment
A. The Buddha
c. 563 BC – Born a prince, raised in luxury and
shielded from the realities of life
A. The Buddha
Age 29: left his palace and was shocked to
see disease, poverty, and death
In his outings through the
four gates of the city,
Prince Siddhartha realizes
the true circle of life: birth,
old age, illness and death.
A. The Buddha
Gave up his life of luxury and left his loved
ones - the Great Renunciation
Prince Siddhartha looks at his wife
and son before leaving the palace
Prince Siddhartha leaves the
city and starts a homeless life
A. The Buddha
Spent years wandering, meditating and
fasting, in a search to understand suffering
For six years, Siddhartha
underwent hardships by the banks
of the Nairanjana River. So great
were his austerities that the ribs of
his back could be seen. He drank
one drop of water a day. He ate
only one grain of rice a day and in
this way achieved the highest
meditative state
A. The Buddha
Discovered the truth that forms the basis of
life, became the Buddha - the “Enlightened
One”
Prince Siddahartha attained
Enlightenment on the eighth of
December under the Bodhi tree
after defeating the three daughters
of Mara the Evil One - Craving,
Discontent, and Lust
A. The Buddha
A temple was built at Bodh Gaya, the place
where he sat and meditated
Mahabodhi Temple
Great Buddha Statue
B. The Buddha’s Teachings
Enlightenment, salvation come from knowing
the “Four Noble Truths” and following the
“Eightfold Path”
The Four Noble Truths:
Suffering part of human life
Suffering comes from the
desire for pleasure and
material goods
Overcoming desires during life
eventually brings end to
suffering
Desires can be overcome by
following Eightfold Path
B. The Buddha’s Teachings
Those who followed Eightfold Path could attain
nirvana; others reborn to live through cycle of
suffering again
Nirvana is an eternal state of being. It is the state
in which the law of karma and the rebirth cycle
come to an end. It is the state of perfect peace in
which the soul is freed from suffering forever, a
state where there are no desires and individual
consciousness comes to an end.
B. The Buddha’s Teachings
Basic teaching of Eightfold Path is the Middle
Way - living in moderation, avoiding extremes
C. The Spread of Buddhism
After the Buddha’s death, three main Buddhist
traditions formed
C. The Spread of Buddhism
Theravada, the “Way of the Elders”, is oldest;
nirvana attained by individual meditation
The Spring Temple Buddha located in Henan, China. The
statue was completed in 2002. At
128 m (420 ft), which includes a
20 m (66 ft) lotus throne, it is the
tallest statue in the world. When
the 25 m (82 ft) pedestal/building
it is placed upon is taken into
account, the monument has a
total height of 153 m (502 ft).
.
C. The Spread of Buddhism
Mahayana teaches that people, especially
Bodhisattvas, help others find enlightenment
Two of the
Eight Great
Bodhisattvas
C. The Spread of Buddhism
Tibetan is similar to Mahayana, but believe
nirvana can be achieved in a single lifetime
Tibetan Buddhism derives from the confluence of Buddhism
and Hinduism, which arrived in Tibet from India
C. The Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism reached peak in India during reign
of Emperor Ashoka
C. The Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism spread from India and reached its
greatest strength in other parts of Asia
Buddha Statues
Largest Lord Buddha Statues in the World
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th century monumental statues
of standing buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan
valley in central Afghanistan. They were dynamited and destroyed in
March 2001 by the Taliban
.