Ancient India Origins of Buddhism. Siddhartha’s Search for Wisdom.

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Ancient India Ancient India Origins of Buddhism Origins of Buddhism

Transcript of Ancient India Origins of Buddhism. Siddhartha’s Search for Wisdom.

Ancient IndiaAncient India

Origins of BuddhismOrigins of Buddhism

Siddhartha’s Search for Siddhartha’s Search for WisdomWisdom

Teachings of BuddhismTeachings of Buddhism

• Buddha gained many Buddha gained many followers as he followers as he traveled forming the traveled forming the first believers in a new first believers in a new religion, Buddhism religion, Buddhism based upon Buddha’s based upon Buddha’s teachings. At the teachings. At the heart of his teachings heart of his teachings were four guiding were four guiding principles – the four principles – the four Noble TruthsNoble Truths

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Reaching Nirvana through Reaching Nirvana through Eightfold PathEightfold Path

Challenging Hindu IdeasChallenging Hindu Ideas

• Some of Buddha’s Some of Buddha’s teachings teachings challenged challenged traditional Hindu traditional Hindu ideas – such as the ideas – such as the Vedic practice of Vedic practice of animal sacrifice, animal sacrifice, and told priests and told priests they didn’t have to they didn’t have to follow those texts.follow those texts.

Challenging Hindu IdeasChallenging Hindu Ideas

• He challenged the He challenged the authority of the Hindu authority of the Hindu priests and Brahmins. priests and Brahmins. He believed they were He believed they were not necessary for not necessary for enlightenment – nor enlightenment – nor were there rituals. He were there rituals. He taught that the taught that the responsibility of each responsibility of each individual to find path individual to find path to salvation. He did, to salvation. He did, however, believe in however, believe in reincarnation.reincarnation.

Challenging Hindu IdeasChallenging Hindu Ideas

• Buddha was also Buddha was also opposed to the caste opposed to the caste system. He believed system. He believed that all that followed that all that followed the eightfold path the eightfold path would achieve would achieve nirvana. It was how nirvana. It was how you live your life, not you live your life, not the varna or caste the varna or caste you are born into.you are born into.

Buddha and his FollowersBuddha and his Followers

• Opposition to caste Opposition to caste won him support of the won him support of the masses. Lower castes masses. Lower castes liked the idea of having liked the idea of having power to change their power to change their lives. The rich and lives. The rich and powerful also followed powerful also followed embracing the idea of embracing the idea of avoiding extreme avoiding extreme behavior while seeking behavior while seeking salvation.salvation.

Buddhism Spreads in IndiaBuddhism Spreads in India

• According to tradition, According to tradition, 500 followers met 500 followers met after Buddha’s death after Buddha’s death to ensure his to ensure his teachings were teachings were preserved and spread. preserved and spread. They spread his They spread his teachings all over teachings all over India and within 200 India and within 200 years had spread years had spread through most of India.through most of India.

Buddhism Spreads BeyondBuddhism Spreads Beyond

• Buddhism’s spread Buddhism’s spread gains momentum after gains momentum after the conversion of the the conversion of the powerful Asoka in 200 powerful Asoka in 200 BC. Asoka sill send BC. Asoka sill send missionaries to missionaries to surrounding kingdoms, surrounding kingdoms, sailing to Sri Lanka and sailing to Sri Lanka and taking trade routes to taking trade routes to Myanmar and other Myanmar and other parts of the southeast.parts of the southeast.

Buddhism Spreads BeyondBuddhism Spreads Beyond

• Missionaries also took Missionaries also took the message to the the message to the west of India. They west of India. They founded communities founded communities in Central Asia and in Central Asia and Persia and as far off as Persia and as far off as Egypt. The Silk Road Egypt. The Silk Road would bring it to China, would bring it to China, Japan and Korea, Japan and Korea, growing the followers growing the followers into the millions.into the millions.

A Split Within BuddhismA Split Within Buddhism

• As the religion As the religion spread, spread, disagreements disagreements brought about a brought about a split. The two split. The two major branches major branches would become would become Theravada and Theravada and Mahayana. Mahayana.

SplitSplit

• Theravada tried to Theravada tried to follow the teachings follow the teachings exactly as stated, exactly as stated, while the Mahayana’s while the Mahayana’s believed the people believed the people could interpret the could interpret the Buddha’s teachings. Buddha’s teachings. Both have millions of Both have millions of believers, but the believers, but the Mahayana’s is far Mahayana’s is far larger.larger.

Origins of BuddhismOrigins of Buddhism

• Exit: Why do you think Hinduism is Exit: Why do you think Hinduism is more prominent on India than more prominent on India than Buddhism? Your opinion.Buddhism? Your opinion.

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