2. Vedic Tribes of the Iron Age Developed from prehistoric belief systems of the Indus River Valley The modern understanding of an ancient, polytheistic faith native to South Asia. Major Beliefs: * “Oldest Living Religion”

3. Common Charactaristics: Prehistoric oral traditions become the vedas, a collection of scriptures written in sanskrit. An umbrella term for a collection of traditions based on the vedas, without a unified structure, creed, or belief system. Brahmins: Teachers & Priests Kshatriyas: Warriors, Nobles, and Kings Vaishyas: Farmers & Merchants Shudras: Servants & Laborers “Untouchables” : The Non-Caste * Existence of God or Gods * Society Divided into castes * Belief in an eternal soul * Reincarnation after death

4.  Born a Brahmin Prince, circa 663 BCE  The Legend:  Prophesied to be either a great king of men, or a great religious figure.  His father, not wanting his son to be an poor monk, shut Siddhartha off from the world.  Life of luxury, free from suffering. A normal day for Prince Siddhartha.

5.  At Age 29, Siddhartha escapes the palace  The Legend:  Sees suffering, sickness, and death for the 1 st time.  Realizes he, too, will suffer and die.  Throws his world into turmoil! Prince Siddhartha sees the four sights An Old Man A Dying Man A Dead Body An aesthetic monk

6.  At Age 29, Siddhartha rejects his old life  The Legend:  Becomes an aesthetic monk.  Seeks an answer to human suffering.  Spent six years following this lifestyle Prince Siddhartha eventually rejects this extreme, as well. Sits down under a bodhi tree to mediate until he solves the riddle.

7.  At Age 35, Siddhartha has a revelation.  Reaches Nirvana:  A state of enlightenment.  Understands why humans suffer.  Understands how to stop suffering.  Spends the next 45 years teaching.  Becomes the Buddha (Teacher). Prince Siddhartha achieving Nirvana.

8. 1. To live is to suffer. 2. Desires cause suffering. 3. Eliminate desire, Eliminate suffering 4. To accomplish this, follow the noble eightfold path Accomplishing this will free one’s soul from the infinite cycle of reincarnation!

9.  Right Understanding  Right Motivation  Right Speech  Right Action  Right Livelihood  Right Effort  Right Mindfulness  Right Meditation

10. Best seen originally as a Vedic reform movement Buddhists teachers spread their faith Melds with local folk beliefs, forming various sects or “schools” of Buddhism

11. Theravada Doctrine of the Elders “Southern” Buddhism One School Mahayana The Great Vehicle “Northern” Buddhism Umbrella Term for Many Schools Buddhism took different forms and characteristics in different places.

12. You must be your own lamps, Be your own refuges. Take refuge in nothing outside yourselves. Hold firm to the Dharma as a lamp and a refuge. Do not look for refuge to anything besides yourselves. — From the Nirvana Sutra 1.What contradictory instructions are at the heart of this passage? 2.How might it be possible to follow these two contradictory instructions?