JAINISM Vardhamana Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine His disciples began to lead a monastic life His disciples began to lead a monastic life Mahavira became Jina, the "conqueror," and followers, Jains Mahavira became Jina, the "conqueror," and followers, Jains Jainist doctrine and ethics Jainist doctrine and ethics Inspired by the Upanishads Inspired by the Upanishads Everything in the universe possessed a soul Everything in the universe possessed a soul Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins Appeal of Jainism Appeal of Jainism Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati Became attractive to members of lower castes Became attractive to members of lower castes The ascetic tradition continues to today The ascetic tradition continues to today

EARLY BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama ( B.C.E.) Siddhartha Gautama ( B.C.E.) Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Witnessed miseries of the human condition Witnessed miseries of the human condition Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for enlightenment Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for enlightenment Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha The Buddha and his followers The Buddha and his followers "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to others Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to others Buddhist doctrine: The dharma Buddhist doctrine: The dharma The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Religious goal: Nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence Religious goal: Nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence

APPEAL OF BUDDHISM Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Salvation without services of the brahmins Salvation without services of the brahmins Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jati Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jati Appealed to women as all souls considered equal Appealed to women as all souls considered equal Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Holy sites and pilgrims Holy sites and pilgrims The monastic organizations The monastic organizations Spread the Buddhist message, won converts Spread the Buddhist message, won converts Could be endowed by others to support the religion Could be endowed by others to support the religion Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Ashoka's support Ashoka's support Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsa Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsa Granted lands to monasteries Granted lands to monasteries Sent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon Sent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon

VARIANTS OF BUDDHISM Early Buddhism made heavy demands on individuals Early Buddhism made heavy demands on individuals Giving up personal property Giving up personal property Forsaking the search for social standing Forsaking the search for social standing Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Development of Buddhism Development of Buddhism Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in China Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in China The notion of bodhisatva - "an enlightened being" The notion of bodhisatva - "an enlightened being" Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Buddhism became more attractive Buddhism became more attractive The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? Mahayana - "the greater vehicle" Mahayana - "the greater vehicle" Spread to Central, East Asia Spread to Central, East Asia Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha as a god Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha as a god Coopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in China Coopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in China Hinayana or Theravada Hinayana or Theravada Continued to view Buddha as human Continued to view Buddha as human Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia Buddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism Buddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism

POPULAR HINDUISM The epics The epics Mahabharata Mahabharata A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Ramayana Ramayana Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story The Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Hindu ethics Hindu ethics Lower demands for achieving salvation Lower demands for achieving salvation Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Balance of dharma, artha, karma to attain moksha, end samsara Balance of dharma, artha, karma to attain moksha, end samsara Popularity of Hinduism Popularity of Hinduism Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion