Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Ancient India • Out of 2 groups of people – • one diverse religion Indus/Dravidian People Indo-Aryans • Written language • Nomadic tribes • Industry & trade • Herded cattle, sheep goats • Agriculture • Warriors • Planned Cities • Male dominated • Citadel • No cities • Underground sewers • No written lang.– only oral tradit. • Oven baked bricks The Indo-Aryans maybe conquered and enslaved the Indus Valley People c.1500 BCE From the clash of these two cultures came: • Structure of Society – the Varna or castes • The religion Hinduism • Religious writings Caste System Varna (castes) divided into 3000 subcastes, jati, based on occupation priests Brahmin Kshatriya Vaisya Shudra Nobles, warriors, royalty Merchants & skilled workers Servants, peasants, slaves, laborers Untouchables: Outcaste, pariah = outside caste system Hinduism One religion and many… Hindu Gods Brahman One Divine Essence Unity + millions of other gods + divine essence, “atman” in all things Gods (diversity) Many manifestations of Brahman Brahma The Creator Shiva The Destroyer Vishnu The Preserver Had many earthly incarnations: Rama, Krishna Hindu Beliefs • Worshiping many gods • Reincarnation – cycle of rebirth (samsara, transmigration) • Atman – spirit that goes from birth to rebirth (sort of like “soul”) • Karma – every action is rewarded or punished in this life or a next life • Dharma: one’s moral duty in life; may differ according to varna • Maya: the illusion of the material world (diversity) • reality is the divine essence (Brahman=unity) • Moksha: release from pain & suffering of rebirth • Ahimsa: reverence for all life forms • Yoga: mental and physical discipline to free mind/spirit from bodily control • Asceticism – extreme self-denial • Nirvana – ultimate goal; to escape cycle of rebirth • Guru: teacher • Yogi: yoga guru Religious Writings •Vedas: “Books of Knowledge” • -oral tradition: songs, prayers, stories of the Indo-Aryans •- eventually written in Sanskrit Religious Writings • Upanishads: mystical/ philosophical discussions • -reality and illusion • -unity and diversity "What makes my mind think, my eyes see, my tongue speak, my body live?" What happens when this body dies?“ mysticism Religious Writings – The Epics • Epic: long heroic tale • Also began as oral tradition; teaching tools • Mahabarata: great war • -Bhagavad-Gita “song of God” • -Krishna’s instruction on love and morality Religious Writings - Epics • Ramayana – Story of Rama and wife Sita • allegorical sense: represents Indo-Aryans establishing hold over north India & moving influence south • religious/mythical point of view: Rama represents the noble man, following dharma and living rightly; • Sita is the honorable wife A Hindu’s goal • Immediate goal: A good Hindu should follow the dharma of his caste. If he does this , karma will cause the transmigration of his atman into a higher caste/varna in his next life…. • Ultimate goal….The Atman will recognize maya, escape samsara, achieve Nirvana and be one with Brahman. “New” ideas threaten the th status quo - 5 c. BCE • Jainism - Mahavira • Buddhism – Siddartha Gautama Jainism • • • • • • • • “Jina” – the conqueror Mahavira – the “last conqueror” Holiness of the life force Extreme ahimsa Karma & detachment Monogamy & honesty Became city dwellers; trade vegetarian • …. Buddhism “The Middle Way” Buddha…“The Enlightened One” Siddhartha Gautama …the traditional story • 6th c. BC, Born a prince, isolated • into world, saw illness, death & old age • Left family (Great Renunciation) in search of “truth” • austere, ascetic life for years, it didn’t help • 35th birthday…weeks of meditation became the “Enlightened One” Four Noble Truths 1. All life is suffering & sorrow… 2. suffering is caused by greedy desire 3. To eliminate suffering must eliminate desire 4. To eliminate desire follow the Eight-Fold Path or the Middle Way to reach Nirvana Eightfold Path... “The Middle Way” • Know the truth wisdom • Resist evil • Say nothing to hurt others morality • Respect life • Work for the good of others • Free mind of evil meditation • Control thoughts • Practice meditation The Eightfold Path Expanded Compare/Contrast with Hinduism Different – Buddhists: reincarnation • Do not believe in sort of… worshipping gods Nirvana • Reject caste/ varna Karma system Ahimsa – • Believe one can escape cycle of reverence for all rebirth by following living things 8-fold Path – a Dharma …. universal dharma Same • • • • • Spread of Buddhism • Asoka – 3rd c. BC ruler who sent out Buddhist missionaries • Rise of Buddhism leads to a flowering of architecture and the arts • Stupas – large stone mounds built over the bones of holy people • Paintings/statues of Buddha • Zen temples, surrounded by beautiful gardens Two Branches of Buddhism Theravada (“Way of the Elders”) • View Buddha as a teacher • South and SE Asia • Tripitika - scriptures Mahayana • View Buddha as a savior/divine being • China, Korea, Japan • Bodhisattvas – “saints” More variations within Mahayana Buddhism… • In Nepal, Buddhists believe Buddha is the incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu • Tantric Buddhism in Tibet – Buddhism and nature worship • Zen Buddhism (Japan) – focuses on meditation & harmony & simplicity – So…who is this??? • This is NOT the Buddha • This is Pu-tai or Hotei • A fertility symbol who was said to bring gifts to small children (think Santa Claus) • As Hotei – one of the 7 Japanese Shinto Gods cf. Mahavira, Siddhartha Gautama & Jesus of Nazareth Classical India 1. 2. • • Local Princes (rajahs) Mauryan Empire – 322 BC Founder: Chandragupta Asoka – after fierce wars of conquest, became “enlightened” – Renounced war – Followed Buddhist teachings – Encouraged tolerance – Spread Buddhism throughout India and other parts of Asia by missionaries Asoka’s Rock Edicts • Laws carved on rocks and pillars throughout empire • Laws stressed concern for other human beings Gov’t cont’d: Gupta Empire • Gupta Empire • 320AD-535AD • India’s “Golden Age” – arts & sciences flourished • Began to write down rules for everything: grammar, drama, politics Classical Society • Caste System • Women respected but had little power or independence • Polygamy many wives • Suttee/sati wives’ ritual suicide Ancient Art/Architect ure • Golden Age during Gupta Empire –(Drama, poetry, math and sciences flourished) • Stupas – mound shaped shrines to Buddha/bodhisattvas • Temples with brightly painted sculptures