UNIT 3 – ANCIENT INDIA AND CHINAChapter 6 – Civilizations of Early India – Key Terms (Vocabulary & Notes)

Key Terms (Vocabulary):Section 1:

1. subcontinent - a large landmass that is set apart from the rest of the continent

2. river system - main river and all of the other rivers and streams that drain into it

3. monsoon - seasonal wind that brings rain to the Indian subcontinent during parts of the year

4. granary - special building used to hold grain5. citadel - fortified area

Section 2:6. Veda - collection of hundreds of sacred hymns composed

by the Aryans of ancient India7. caste - fixed social class into which a person Is born8. Brahmin - member of the highest Indian caste grouping

made up of priests9. Kshatriya - member of the second-highest Indian caste

grouping, made up of rulers and warriors10.Vaishya - member of the third-highest Indian caste

grouping, made up of landowners, bankers, and merchants

11.Sudra - member of the fourth-highest caste grouping, made up of farmers and people who did manual work

12.Dalit - member of the lowest Indian caste grouping made up of people who did dirty or unpleasant jobs

Section 3:13.Brahmanism - religion of Vedic India, based on priests and

rituals, particularly sacrifices to the gods14.guru - thinker or teacher15.Brahman - in Hinduism, the supreme cosmic consciousness,

spiritual force, or god16.reincarnation - rebirth of a soul in a new body17.karma - in Hinduism, the effect of a person’s actions in this

and in previous lives18.dharma - a person’s duty or what is right for him or her19.ahimsa - avoiding doing harm to any living thing20.moksha - liberation from reincarnation

Section 4:21.meditate - calm or clear the min, often by focusing on a

single object22.enlightenment - in Buddhism, a state of perfect wisdom23.nirvana - a state of blissful peace without desire or suffering24.monastery - secluded religious community25.Theravada Buddhism- Buddhist sect that focuses on the wisdom of the

Buddha26.Mahayana Buddhism- Buddhist set that focuses on the compassion of

the Buddha

Section 1 –Indus Valley CivilizationObj: Students will know the geography of the Indian subcontinent; how Indus valley civilization was organized; mysteries remain about ancient IndiaExpectations: In this section, students will read “Indus Valley Civilization”; draw inferences about Indus Valley culture from artifacts; go “On Assignment” in India and create an article or multimedia slideshow about ancient IndiaKey Ideas:

The Indian subcontinent’s first civilization grew along the Indus River The Indus Valley civilization had large, well-planned cities, a strong

government, and an extensive trade network We do not understand the Indus Valley civilization’s writing, so its politics,

religion, and history remain a mystery

Chapter 6 – Section 1 – Indus Valley CivilizationThe first civilizations arose near rivers.One such civilization was in India.Its people farmed along the Indus River. Farmers grew plenty of food, and populations few. In time, some of the people settled in towns and cities and formed governments.

THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENTGeographers divide the continent of Asia into regions.South Asia:

Looks like a huge triangle jutting out into the Indian Ocean Today, it includes:

o Indiao Pakistano Bangladesho Sri Lankao Maldiveso Nepalo Bhutan

India being the biggest country in the region

For much of its history, all of South Asia was known simply as India Still called the Indian subcontinent It stretches almost 2,000 miles from north to south In some places, it is nearly as wide from east to west It is separated from the rest of Asia by two mountain ranges to the north:

o The Himalaya Mountainso Hindu Kush

River SystemsIndus River:

Flows across the northwestern part of the subcontinent It is the main river in the river system

o Other rivers and streams drain into it Rivers start as melting snow and ice on the mountains

o Then flow to the seaIndia’s first civilization grew around the valley of the Indus River

Developed in an area that is dry most of the year Flooding river leaves behind rich soil River waters let farmers harvest plentiful crops

o Crops fed the cities of the civilizationsTo the east of the Indus is the Ganges River

Flows more than 1500 miles across the northern part of the subcontinent. Floods create huge, fertile plains good for farming

Ganges Plain: Rich land that became the center of another ancient Indian civilization

ClimateIndian subcontinent has a tropical climate

Most of the yearo High, hot sun

Monsoonso Seasonal windso Help shape life in this region

Winter Dry monsoon winds blow from land to the sea Little rain falls

Summer

Pattern reverses Wet winds from the ocean blow onto the land Rain

o Provided water for cropso Welcome break from the intense heat

For much of India, agriculture depended on the summer monsoons

Raino On time – all is wello Late or not at all – crops die and people may starve

(see map on pg 201 of TB)

AN ADVANCED CIVILIZATION (pg 203 in TB)7000 BC –

Farmers began growing crops in hills near Indus River system Steady food supply helped population grow

3000 BC – Cities began to develop on broad plains of the Indus Valley

2500 BC – Cities were the centers of the advanced Indus Valley civilization

1700 BC – The civilization had largely disappeared

Archaeologists have discovered most of what we know about the Indus Valley civilization.

AD 1920s –o Discovered the ruins of two great cities

Harappa Mohenjo-Daro

Since then, more than 1,000 other towns and villages have been found from this civilization

TechnologyIndus Valley cities – well planned and organized

Built thick walls around their cities Built huge raised mounds of earth and brick in their cities

o During flooding times the mounds remained above water Many houses in these cities had a bathroom and toilet

o Wastewater flowed into brick-lined sewage channels The world’s first citywide sewer systems

Trash chutes in many homes led to a bin in the streetMany achievements showed an advanced knowledge of mathematics

Cities built in a grid patterno Wide, straight streets

An advanced system of weights and measurements using multiples of teno Like the modern metric system

FarmingDry Indus Valley could not always depend of monsoon rains.Farmers built irrigation channels and ditches

Brought water to the wheat and barley fields Some believe they stored their surplus in a granary They may have been the first to grow cotton for making cloth They raised cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens for food They used oxen, or cattle to pull carts

Animals seem to have importance to the people in the Indus Valley They carved wooden animals and painted pictures of animals on pottery

Trade (pg 204 in TB)Indus Valley rich in resources for trade

Precious stones to make jewelryo Traded as far as Mesopotamia

Cotton cloth Teak - A valuable wood from a tree that grows in India

Indus Valley traders used stone seals with writing to identify their goods. Stamped their seals of soft clay squares they attached to their goods

Accurate weights and measures helped promote tradeTrade spread ideas between India and Mesopotamia

INDUS VALLEY MYSTERIESArtifacts and ruins of many buildings have been found in the Indus Valley.They provide a lot of information, but scholars still have many questions.They want to know more bout its rulers, religion, and writing.They wonder why it disappeared and where its people went.

Government and ReligionPeople of the Indus Valley were well organizedGovernment:

Their cities show a surprising level of planning They all used a common system of weights and measures These facts suggest a strong central government

o Yet, no royal statues or tombs have been foundo Unlikely kings ruled

Based on the evidence, or lack thereof, impossible to know for sure the kind of government

Most cities had huge citadelo Walledo Built on a raised platform of earth and brick

Again, based on the lack of evidence, scholars are not sure but citadel may have been a center of government, religion, or both.

Religion: Little is known Scholars have found no obvious temples or clear signs of priests

o However, some Indus Valley statues look like gods that are worshiped in Hinduism

o Some carvings look like people meditating

WritingScholars have not yet discovered how to read the symbols found on the stone seals and pottery.Not many examples of each symbol to be sure of its meaning.Most experts think these marks are a form of writing.

They do not know if these markings are:o Nameso Records of saleso Or something else completely

DisappearanceThe greatest mystery is what caused the civilization to disappearSometime before 1700 BC –

People of the Indus Valley began to abandon their cities Civilization declined rapidly after No one knows why There are possible explanations:

o Evidence suggests standing water in drains may have bred mosquitoes

Spread disease Weakened populations

o People may have stripped forests of trees No wood for building or fuel Severe flooding due to lack of coverage

o Cattle may have overgrazed the lando Some historians think climate change may be the answer

Years of drought Starvation or moved away

o Foreign invasionNo one knows for sure what happened, but it would take a thousand years for a new civilization to appear on the Indian subcontinent.

Section 2 – India’s Vedic AgeObj: students will know theories about the origins of the Indo-Aryans; the information the Vedas provide about Aryan life; groups that evolved into a caste system; students will be able to compare theories about the Aryans; describe the Vedas and caste systemExpectations: In this section, students will read about India’s Vedic Age: identify characteristics of various castes; go “On Assignment” in ancient India and explore Aryan lifeKey Ideas:

most historians believe that Indo-Aryan nomads entered the Indian subcontinent over many years and mixed with local people

sacred scriptures known as the Vedas teach us about the Aryan religion and customs

a caste system emerged in India dividing Indians into groups based on birth and occupation

Chapter 6 – Section 2 – India’s Vedic AgeBy 1500 BC another group of people were living in the Indus Valley.They called themselves Aryans

meaning “the noble ones” in their language scholars called them Indo-Aryans, after the language that they spoke Aryans introduced a new social structure They brought a new religion of polytheism They expressed their beliefs in hymns and holy scriptures

o Vedas For these reasons, this period of Indian history is called the Vedic Age.

THE ORIGINS OF THE INDO-ARYANS (pg 207 in TB)Historians have taken different views of the origins of the Indo-AryansAryan Invasion Theory:

Aryans were nomadic warriors Crossed the mountains into India Rode horse-drawn chariots and used iron weapons to defeat the local

people Then settled in the Indus Valley Spread to other pats of India

Native Theory: Aryans were not invaders Believed they were India’s original inhabitants

o Nothing mentioned in the Vedas about another place of habitationMost scholars:

Believe in neither theory Suggest that the Aryans were once nomads raising cattle and horses

o On the dry grasslands of what is now Afghanistan and Central Asia Over many years, they migrated into India with their livestock They then mixed with local people and adopted their beliefs Local people also adopted the mixed Aryan language and religion and called

themselves Aryans too. Over time, people across the large part if India came to see themselves as

Aryans.

The VedasAryans composed the Vedas after settling in IndiaEach Veda is a collection of hundreds of sacred hymns

Priests memorize and sang or chanted these versus during ceremoniesThe Vedas called upon people to make offerings to their gods

Typical offerings might beo Buttero Milko Barley

For thousands of years: Indians passed the Vedas down by word of mouth Sang or chanted them in an Indi-Aryan language called Sanskrit

o A distant relative of Englisho Today Sanskrit remains a language of sacred literatureo It is the ancestor of many modern Indian languages

500 BC –Indians relearned the art of writing

Began collecting the Vedas and put them into writingBest known Veda – Rig Veda

Includes more than 1,000 hymns Most praise Aryan gods and goddesses

o They represented natural forces such as, sky, sun, and fire.

Aryan LifeRig Veda and other sacred texts provided a record of both the gods and the people themselves.Most of what is known about Aryan life comes from the Vedas.The earliest Aryans:

Lived a nomadic herderso Raised sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and sheep

Cattle held special importanceo Provided both food and clothingo A measurement of wealth

Size of herdsAfter many years and mixing with local farmers:

They began farmingo No longer nomadic

Settled into villages Began planting crops and grazing cattle of pastures around their villages

o Locals taught them how to grow crops as well as many other skillsAryans were skilled warriors

Charged into battle on their horse-drawn, two wheeled chariots Fought neighbors and also fought among themselves

The Vedas show that the Aryans found joy in their day-to-day lives. They loved music and dancing Held chariot raced Loved gambling

The Growth of Vedic CivilizationOver hundreds of years:

Aryan culture slowly spread eastward across the humid and fertile Ganges Plain.

o Carved farms and villages from the forestso Some villages grew into towns and cities

At first, Aryans were divided into clans Each clan had a chief

Later clans joined together to form republics Not true democracies Clan leaders made decisions in an assembly

Finally, powerful leaders gained control of some republics and made themselves kings.By 500 BC – more than a dozen kingdoms and republics covered the Ganges Plain.

THE CASTE SYSTEM (pg 209 in TB)The Caste SystemIndia’s developed social structureCaste System –

Inherited from their parents Stayed in that caste for their entire lives Members of different castes did not usually mix socially Not allowed to eat together Rarely married across caste lines

Two Kinds of CasteMost basic – by occupation

Jati – birth groupo May have begun as extended families who may have had a family

business or occupation.o There are hundreds of jati in India today

Jatis grouped into large caste groupings (Varnas)Religious status – there are four varnas 1) Brahmins – the highest varna2) Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors3) Vaishyas – landowners, bankers merchants4) Sudras – farmers and other manual workers

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas were considered “twice born” Physical birth Spiritual birth

o After studying Sanskrit and the Vedas this meant these men could practice the Vedic religion could take part in certain religious ceremonies

o this was a great honorSudras

worked in the fields tending crops as laborers or servants for those in the higher varnas

Later a caste grouping below the Sudras developed. Dalits, or the untouchables

o People who did dirty jobs no one else wanted Cleaning toilets Butchering animals

Members of the higher varnas though of themselves as “pure” Avoided contact with untouchables for fear of being made unclean Today, treating Dalits as untouchable is against the law

Evolution of the Caste SystemScholars are not sure how the caste system developed.Not sure which developed first, the varnas, or occupation-based jatisThe system probably developed over hundreds of years as the Aryans settled into villages.

As they settled:o Developed specialized jobs for priests, warriors, merchants, and

farmworkers.At first, caste may have been based on:

A person’s occupation or family membershipChildren may have been able to move into a different caste than their parents.In time, castes seem to have become more rigid

Each being given a particular status Born into a caste and not being able to leave it

In theory: Indian castes

o never gained members except by birtho Never lost members except by death

Evidence suggests: Families could sometimes move from one varna to another Foreign invaders sometimes became Kshatriyas Marriages across caste lines may also have occurred

In time the caste system became the basis for India’s social structure: Brought both costs and benefits Limited people’s individual freedom Patterns of their lives were fixed at birth

Even so, some believe that the caste system helped India develop: Brought stability to society Indian goods became famous because caste members perfected their skills Different groups could follow their own beliefs

In India today, the law forbids caste discrimination. People’s jobs no longer depend of their caste alone. Brahmins or Kshatriyas may work with their hands. Dalits may work as professionals (see pg 211 in TB)

Section 3 – HinduismObj: Students will how Hinduism evolved from Vedic beliefs and practices; Hindu teachings about life and after death; how Hinduism spread throughout IndiaExpectations: In this section, students will read “Hinduism”; illustrate aspects of Hinduism; go “On Assignment” to learn more about Hindu worship and sacred texts.Key Ideas:

Hinduism grew out of Brahminism Hindus believe in a supreme god, Brahman, who is the source of all things Hindus believe that people’s actions determine how they are reincarnated;

Hinduism spread across India and to Southeast Asia and has had a lasting impact on those regions

Chapter 6 – Section 3 – HinduismHinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It began in India during the Vedic age in a form called Brahmanism. Then is slowly grew and changed into Hinduism.

THE ROOTS OF HINDUISMFor most of the past 2,000 years, Hinduism has been the main religion of India.

“Hinduism” means “the religion of the people of India”

Vedic Age Beliefs and PracticesVedas – India’s oldest religious texts:

Contain hymns to many gods Describe rituals to please the gods

o Sacrifices or offerings Animals Food

Brahmans (priests) – memorize the Vedas and pass them on by word of mouth Around 500 BC – wrote them down

BrahmanismReligion of the Vedic Age

Based on priests and ritualso Particularly sacrifices to the gods

Brahmins:o Studied Vedaso Only ones to perform rituals

Any mistake in a ritual would anger the godso Had great power in early Indian society

THE EVOLUTION OF HINDUISM500 BC – As Indians adapted to town and village life, their beliefs began to change

Old gods became less important The importance of perfect rituals as the priests claimed, questioned Other questions arose:

o Why are we born?o How should we live?o What happens to us when we die?

Hinduism evolved from Indians’ efforts to answer these questions.

New Teachings To find the answers:

Gurus – thinkers and teacherso Left their home to live in the forest to:

Think Talk about religious ideas

In a sense, the gurus and their students founded the religion of Hinduism

Their ideas survive in writings known as:o Upanishads

Made connections between heavenly forces and people’s lives The oldest date to around 800 or 700 BC Indian thinkers continued to produce them for several hundred

years Helped connect people to the emerging Hindu religion Only Brahmins could interpret the Vedas, but Indians of all

castes could study the Upanishads. These sacred writings dealt with questions of life and death or

right or wrong These were concerns of all people

Vedas and Upanishads were the holy scriptures

Epic PoemsEveryone could learn and study two epic poems, both took shape within a few hundred years of AD 1

Ramayanao Story of King Rama and his beautiful wife Sita. (referred to in

myStory Amala and Trijata) Sita kidnapped by the demon king Ravana Ravana’s niece Trijata protects Sita Rama eventually rescues Sita

o This epic offers the moral lesson about right and wrong Mahabharata

o The world’s longest poemo 200,000 lines longo Tells the story of two families at war for control of a kingdom

Dealing with moral issues Loyalty, duty and respect

o Most sacred section – Bhagavad-Gita, “Song of the Lord” Some scholars consider the Bhagavad-Gita the most

important religious text.Both explain how people should live their lives as Hindus.

BELIEFS ABOUT GOD (pg 215 in TB)You can compare Hinduism like a great river

Over thousands of years, many beliefs and traditions have flowed into it. Result: Hindus may have different practices, but shar certain basic beliefs

o Upanishads Contain two beliefs that lie at the heart of Hinduism The first –

There is one supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or god

o Brahman All gods that Indians worship are forms of Brahman, who

is the source of all thingsMany Hindus worship individual gods or goddesses as forms of Brahman.

Some worship Brahman as Vishnu Some worship Brahman as Shiva Others worship Brahman as the goddess Shakti

o These gods and goddesses may have other named forms Example: Krishna is a form of Vishnu The second –

Every person is born with a soulo Their soul is also a form of Brahman

BELEIFS ABOUT LIFE (pg 217 in TB)Hindu scriptures – Upanishads an Bhagavad-Gita teach important Hindu beliefs about life.

Reincarnation and KarmaHindu belief and teaching – when people die, most will undergo reincarnation.The process of reincarnation:

Karma o Determines how a person is reborn

An effect of a person’s actions in this and in previous liveso Bad karma (evil deeds)

Will bring rebirth into a lower caste or even as a lower animalo Good karma

Brings rebirth into a higher caste

Four GoalsHindus believe that people have four basic goals in life and should pursue all four.

Doing what is righto dharma – a person’s duty, what is right for him or her

includes the duties that come with one’s caste, age, or position in life.

Also includes the rule of ahimsa Avoiding doing harm to any living thing

Following dharma – good karma Violating dharma – bad karma

Striving for well-bring, or earning a livelihood with dignityo Making a good living and raising a familyo Starting or running an honest businesso But, material well-being by itself does not bring true happiness

Pleasureo Physical pleasures, for example:

Eating good food Taking a hot bath

o Seeking nothing but pleasure can leave a person feeling empty Moksha, or liberation from reincarnation

o When a person’s soul becomes one with Brahmano Achieving this is the purpose of human life for Hinduso The soul that achieves moksha is free from want, fear, and paino It lives forever in a state of joy

Three Paths to MokshaThe paths are all in forms of yogaFirst path – knowledgeSecond path - way of worksThird path – devotionMany Hindus try to follow all three paths

The way of knowledge traditionally chosen by Brahmins Moksha comes with a true understanding of one’s soul and its oneness with

Brahmano The Upanishads say that such understanding does not come easily

The way of works means carrying out the religious rituals and duties that will improve one’s karma

Most Hindus have chosen this path They must carry out duties within their family Offer prayers and food to the gods

o Doing good deeds without expecting any reward are especially praised

The way of devotion, also known as the path of love People on this path devote themselves to loving god

o Worshiping one of the Hindu gods or goddesses All who have human forms and personalities Loving them as they might love a parent or child

o This way takes many forms Repeat their god’s name all day long Present offerings to their god at a temple Travel to sites sacred to their god

o On this path, in these ways, Hindus try to move closer to god in their hearts

THE IMPACT OF HINDUISMHinduism in India today:

More than a billion people live there today About 80 percent follow Hinduism The other 20 percent follow other religions

Hindus also live and worship in many places outside of India

The Spread of Hinduism (pg 218 in TB)Long ago,

People of India lived under many different rulers They spoke many different languages The worshiped many different gods Yet, most still became Hindus

Several things helped the growth of Hinduism in India Flexibility

o All gods are viewed as forms of a single, supreme god So, it can accept the worship of new gods

o People did not have to give up their old religion when they became Hindus

Hinduism adopted their traditions and gods (viewed their gods as forms of existing Hindu gods)

o Did not require regular attendance at religious services Hindus could pray or make offerings at a local temple during

special celebrations or whenever it was convenient They could also pray or make offerings at shrines in their

homes They could practice their religion no matter where they were

Over time, is spread to other lands After AD 1, Indian traders and priests carried Hinduism to Southeast Asia It left a lasting influence on other countries

o Thailando Indonesiao Today, most people on the Indonesian island of Bali are Hindus.

Indians also took Hinduism across the seas.o Many migrated to

Great Britain The United States Canada

More than a million Hindus now live in the United States

Hindu TraditionsMost Hindus still live in IndiaHindus also live in some 150 countriesTheir traditions remain important parts of their livesHinduism’s openness to all religions has shaped India’s political system.

It guarantees religious freedomIt has also influenced India’s art and literature

Beautiful carvings of gods and goddesses decorate the walls of their majestic Hindu temples.

o Places of worship but also serve as centers of: Art Music Dance

The Ramayana and Mahabharata were India’s first great literature. They inspired other literature for hundreds of years Movies and comic books retell these stories still today

Section 4 – BuddhismObj: students will know Buddha’s search for truth led to spiritual enlightenment; teachings of the Buddha; two forms of Buddhism emerged; students will be able to compare and contrast Buddhism with Hinduism; synthesize knowledge of BuddhismExpectations: In this section, students will read “Buddhism”: act out one of the steps of the Buddha’s Eightfold Path; go “On Assignment” to learn about Buddhism’s role in ancient IndiaKey Ideas:

The Buddha gave up a life of luxury to seek the truth and eventually found enlightenment

Buddhists believe the root of suffering is desire and that, by following an eight-step path, they can end suffering and desire

Buddhism spread across Asia, and had an impact on other parts of the world

Chapter 6 – Section 4 – BuddhismBuddhism, like Hinduism, arose in ancient India.Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian spiritual leader.Gautama would become known as Buddha. Followers are called Buddhists.

THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHAScholars know few facts about BuddhaThe story of his life comes mainly from Buddhist texts

Texts include the teachings of the Buddhao Followers memorized and passed down by word of mouth

They also include many legends

A Pampered YouthSiddhartha Gautama-

Probably born during the 400c BC Present-day Nepal Hindu prince Raised in wealth and luxury

Legend: His mother:

o Dreamed of a white elephant that came down to her from heaven Based on the dream:

o A prophet predicted that the child would grow p to be a wandering holy man

This disturbed his fathero Who wanted his son to grow to be a ruler

To keep Siddhartha from fulfilling the prophecy: His father shielded him from everything unpleasant or disturbing The prince never say any who was poor, sick, or sad Guards would travel ahead of him when he rode out of the palace to

clear the streets of beggars and the sick One day, when Siddhartha was about 29, he rode out of the palace without

the guardso He saw:

An old, bent, toothless man leaning on a stick A man shrunken by disease A dead man

o Siddhartha was shockedo He realized he too faced, old age, sickness and death

A few days later, he rode out of the palace again, he came upon:o A wandering holy man

He was homeless and owned nothing He seemed content

Siddhartha decided to search for the same sense of peace that the holy man showed

A Search for TruthThat night, he cut his hair and traded his rich clothing for the simple robe of a religious seeker.He set out to find the truth about life, suffering, and death.Siddhartha:

Began his search by studying with Hindu guruso They taught him that life was a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

He then joined a band of religious asceticso Ascetics deny themselves physical comforts to seek a spiritual

goal For five years, Siddhartha wore scratchy clothes and fasted for long

periods.o He lost weight and became very weak

After six years of self-denial, he realize going to such extremes was not the path to truth

Finding EnlightenmentSiddhartha renewed his search.He sat down under a fig tree to meditate.

The fig tree would come to be known as the Bodhi Tree, or Tree of Knowledge

According to Legend: Siddhartha meditated under the tree for 49 days and nights During this time, he came to understand the cycle of birth, death, and

rebirth. Finally, he reached an awareness that freed him from his ties to the world

o He entered a new life free of suffering He had last achieved enlightenment

o He had become Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One”

According to Buddhist texts: The Buddha had freed himself from the “wheel of existence”

o He could have enjoyed freedom from the world’s suffering Instead, he went back into the world to teach others what he had learned. For the next 45 years, he traveled across India sharing his message. He attracted many followers and students

o Training some to e teachers and religious leaders Buddha died at the age of 80.

According to Legend, his dying words to his followers were: “this is my last advice to you. All things in the world are changeable. They

are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation”

BUDDHIST BELIEFSBuddhists believe when Buddha gained enlightenment, he had a flash of insight.He understood why people suffer.He also saw how people could escape the cycle of death and rebirth.He accepted the Hindu idea of karma, or consequences.He did accept the Hindu idea of a permanent soul.

He believed that a “self” might be reborn in a new body He believed that the “self” was an illusion He believed that it would disappear and cease to exist when a person

achieved enlightenment.Even further away from Hindu beliefs, Buddha did not:

Believe in the existence of any god Did not accept the caste system

o He believed the good and bad actions of people were more important than caste

He believed in following what he called the Middle Way.

The Middle WayBuddha experienced luxury as a prince

A life given to pleasures, and poverty as an ascetic.

A life of sufferingNeither led him to enlightenment.What did was following a Middle Way, by accepting four truths.

The Four Noble Truths (pg 223 in TB)The insights the Buddha had when he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.First – all of life involves suffering

Birth Sickness Old age Death

Second – wanting or desiring things for oneself causes suffering Not all desires are bad

o Desiring the happiness of others Selfish desires lead to suffering

Third – people can end their suffering Give up all selfish desires

Fourth – there is a way to overcome selfish desires To follow the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path was another of the Buddha’s insightsBy following this path, he believed people could end their desires and suffering.This path was open to everyone in any caste.

The Eightfold Path (pg 224 in TB)It takes its name from its eight steps.These steps lead to Three Qualities

1. Wisdom The first two steps prepare one’s mind for spiritual growth

o Right beliefo Right purpose

2. Morality (right action) The next three steps call for taking charge of one’s behavior

o Right speecho Right conducto Right livelihood (profession)

3. Meditation The last three steps help train the mind to gain enlightenment

o Right efforto Right mindfulness (aware of thoughts)o Right meditation, or concentration

Reaching NirvanaThe goal of the person who follows the Eightfold Path is to reach nirvana.

At peace with themselves Freed from having to go through reincarnation A person can reach nirvana without dying but will not be reborn after dying Some Buddhists believe

o Nirvana always brings enlightenment Others believe

o Enlightenment is a form of wisdom that sometimes follows nirvana

Pg 225 in TB – comparison of Hinduism and Buddhism

The Spread of Buddhism (pg 226 in TB)For hundreds of years, followers memorized Buddha’s teachings.After many years, they wrote them down.

These are the sacred scriptures of Buddhism used today Different branches of Buddhism accept different collections of these

scripturesALL Buddhists accept the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path

Monasteries and MissionariesBuddha gained many followers:

At first, they followed him from place to place After a while, Buddha found places for them to stay during the rainy season

o Buddhist monasteries (religious communities) Most devoted lived there Had time to study and meditate

He urged followers to carry his teaching to all corners of Earth.o Missionaries

First carried Buddhism across India and to Sri Lanka Later, throughout all directions of Asia

Two SchoolsAs Buddhism spread, its followers split into two major branches or sectsBoth shared basic beliefs, but they see life and teachings differently.Theravada Buddhism –

Focuses on the wisdom of the Buddha.o Followers believe Buddha’s greatest achievement was his

enlightenment and entry into nirvana.Mahayana Buddhism –

Focuses on Buddha’s compassiono Followers believe Buddha’s greatest achievement was returning from

nirvana to share his wisdom out of compassion for otherso They also hold sacred beings who have gained enlightenment, and

out of compassion, try to help others.

The Legacy of BuddhismToday there are about 400 million Buddhists.Most live in AsiaTheravada Buddhism is the main religion of:

Sri Lanka Myanmar (Burma) Thailand Cambodia

Mahayana Buddhism is the main religion of: Bhutan Vietnam China Taiwan Mongolia The Koreas Japan

More than 2 million Buddhists live in the United StatesAlthough few Buddhists remain in India, the religion’s birthplace, Buddha’s teachings made a lasting impact on Hinduism.Buddhism has inspired beautiful art and architectureIt has been a source of wisdom even for some non-Buddhists