Download Buddhism Ancient India and China Section 3

Section 3
Ancient India and China
Do Now
• Who was the Buddha? Where did
Buddhism begin?
Ancient India and China
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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.
Focus
• 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?
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Ancient India and China
The Life of the Buddha
In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions
developed in ancient India. That religion was Buddhism.
Early Life
Buddha’s Enlightenment
• Much of what is known about
life of the Buddha from
accounts in Buddhist literature
• Gautama resolved to find way
to overcome age, sickness,
keep people from suffering
• Gave up possessions, left
palace
• Sought enlightenment,
spiritual understanding for six
years
• Studied with gurus, monks but
decided they could not teach
way to enlightenment
• Siddhartha Gautama born
approx. 563 BC
• Prince of small kingdom in
what is now Nepal
– Led sheltered life
– Unaware of hardship
– Life changed when learned
people got old, sick, died
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The Life of the Buddha
Gautama was determined to find way to end
human suffering
• Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions,
determined not to arise until he found way
– Stories say he meditated all night
– Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations
– At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment,
became the Buddha, Enlightened One
– Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s
most sacred places
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Temple at Bodh Gaya ~ India
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Explain
How did Siddhartha Gautama become the
Buddha?
Answer(s): meditated under a tree, determined
not to arise until he found solution to human
suffering; was enlightened and transformed
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The Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Beliefs
• After enlightenment achieved,
Buddha meditated at Bodh
Gaya seven weeks
• Set out to spread to others what
he had learned
• Lessons became basic
teachings of Buddhism
• Among ideas learned in
meditation, central truths, called
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
• Suffering part of human life
• Suffering comes from desires
for pleasure, material goods
• Overcoming desires ends
suffering
• Desires can be overcome by
following Eightfold Path
Dharma Wheel
Dharma – Buddhist laws
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• Dalai Lama - Tibet
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Ancient India and China
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Eightfold Path
Series of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation
• Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths
• Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things
• Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words
• Right action, or treating others fairly
• Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others
• Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself
• Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one
• Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while
meditating
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Ancient India and China
Nirvana
The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path
could attain nirvana – the ultimate reality
• State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering
forever
• Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of
suffering again Samsara – cycle of reincarnation
• Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in
moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in
search for nirvana
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Ancient India and China
Divisions of Buddhism
After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the
correct teachings and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main
Buddhist traditions formed—Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.
Theravada
Mahayana
• “Way of the Elders”
• Teaches people
can help each other
find enlightenment
• Shares many
Mahayana
teachings
• Not necessary to
be monk, nun
• Also believes
special techniques
can harness
spiritual energy,
lead to nirvana in
single lifetime
• Oldest tradition
• Best way to attain
nirvana: be monk,
nun, meditate
• Find one path to
enlightenment; very
much an individual
religion
• Bodhisattvas,
enlightened people
not yet passed to
nirvana, help others
Tibetan
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Summarize
What are the fundamental teachings of
Buddhism?
Answer(s): suffering comes from selfish desires;
overcoming desire ends suffering; follow Eightfold
Path to overcome desire
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Ancient India and China
The Spread of Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism
spread into other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million
people are Buddhists, most of them concentrated in Asia. Relatively
few people in India are Buddhists today.
Buddhism in India
• Buddhist community in India grew
throughout Buddha’s life
• Followers spread teachings after
Buddha’s death
• Teachings not written down until
first century BC; helped preserve,
spread teachings throughout India
Ashoka
• 200s BC, Buddhism reached peak
in India during reign of emperor
Ashoka
• Ashoka became Buddhist, helped
spread Buddhism into all parts of
India
Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message
to lands outside of India.
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Buddhism Beyond India
• Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s
southern coast, and north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands
of Southeast Asia
• Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, islands of Indonesia
Traders
• Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India
• 200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia
introduced Buddhist teachings
• Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into
China, slowly spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies
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Leading Asian Religion
Korea and Japan
Change, Development
• From China, Buddhism
eventually diffused into Korea,
Japan
• As Buddhism encountered
other religious traditions outside
India, it changed, developed
• AD 300s, first introduced to
Korea
• Blending caused smaller
traditions within Theravada,
Mahayana
• Korean travelers took religion to
Japan 200 years later
• By this time, Buddhism had
become leading religion in East,
Southeast Asia
• Zen, branch of Mahayana,
emphasized self-discipline,
meditation
• Today Buddhism very diverse
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Sequence
How did Buddhism spread through Asia?
Answer(s): through missionary work and trade
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Ancient India and China
Buddhist Monks…
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Ancient India and China
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Thanks for stopping…
Budai ~ Buddhist Chinese monk circa 10th c. CE