Download More Axial Age - Fort Bend ISD

More Axial Age




back to India
ca. 500 B.C.
caste system in place
development of Hinduism
– Brahmin priests
Literature


the Brahmanas: metaphysical
speculation
the Upanishads: central concepts of
Hinduism
– ascetics
– the Jungle Schools
Central Concepts



Brahman: the universal spiritual reality
behind all perceptions
Atman: the human soul
Karma: “actions have consequences”
– not “sin”
Goal of the Ascetics




mystic ecstasy
enlightenment
unification of Brahman and the Atman
karma: affects the rate of enlightenment
Road to Enlightenment



getting rid of negative karma
absence of bodily desires
then the Atman could merge with
Brahman eternally
Other Responses to Brahmans


Charvakas: atheists
Jainists, Buddhists
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, 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





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 Ideas: all life is 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 Ideas, 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 Society




no fixed hierarchies
no priest, but individual responsibility
decisions: free and democratic
equality among Buddhists
Problems


the Buddha did not write things down
several version of what he said
– the Pali Canon of Ceylon
Common ideas




transmigration of souls
effects of Karma
the Noble Eight Fold Path of Thoughts
and Deeds
nirvana: “blowing out”
– annihilation of the “ego”
Buddhist 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



students spread his message
compiled “correct teachings”
disagreements
Challenge to Brahmans





egalitarian
“gender-less”
appealed to those not of the aristocracy
education to any who wished it
ridiculed the Brahmans
Buddhism: “doctrine”




favored individual self-examination
no empty ritual
no caste system
hostile Brahman reaction
Rise of the Mauryan 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 northeastern India
The Mauryan and Gupta empires
321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.
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 Dharma



peace, pacifism, moderation
roads, hospitals, rest houses
promoted vegetarianism
– condemned bloody sacrifices


threatened the Brahmans with loss of
power
largely unsuccessful
Brahmans adopt Buddhist
thought




necessary to be competitive
Buddha was Vishnu
more interaction with the people
aided by Buddhist theological
arguments
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?


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