1. The Beginnings of the Philosophy
Origins of Buddhism
The Beginnings of the Philosophy

2. A Way of Life

3. Connections to Hinduism
Religious upheaval and turmoil rampant in 6th century BCE
Stemmed as another interpretation
Rejected caste and Vedas
Retained reincarnation
Retained atman, yoga, karma and dharma

4. The Buddha; The Enlightened One
Life of Siddhartha Guatama; member of Guatama clan
BCE
Guatama was the son of a Kshatriya; Suddhodana and Maya
Prediction their child would become a great king, rule the entire world, or a great Buddha (enlightened one)
Mother died shortly after birth, maternal aunt became father’s wife
Story of Siddhartha; if he ever saw the sights of human misery he would grow up to be a religious teacher

5. Development of Buddhism
Sangha
The first step Buddha took after his enlightenment
Banaras to locate his 5 ascetic friends
Initial skepticism, but listened
The Middle Way: Extreme indulgence and extreme asceticism were neither acceptable ways of life
Seek to live life the middle way
After accepting his teachings, they became the Sangha
Monastic order
Shaved their heads
Wore coarse, yellow robes
Bowl to beg for food became only possession

6. The Middle Way

7. Development of Buddhism
He sent the sangha out to teach the dhamma
Dhamma: essence of Buddhism; Buddha’s teachings
Teachings of the Buddha became a basis for an organization that took on many components of a religion.
His teachings became codified laws in various forms of scripture
PEOPLE MUST FIND THEIR OWN ENLIGHTENMENT

8. New Teachings of the Buddha
Nothing that indicated Buddha intended to found a new religion
Opposed to Brahmin form of animal sacrifice
Rejected authority of the Vedas
Considered Hindu gods mortal beings
People to find their own enlightenment rather than seeking it from gods
Soul is combined with five mental or physical aggregates
Physical body, feelings, understanding, will and consciousness.
This combination makes up the human personality and is bound up in endless cycle of transmigration
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path

9. Scattering China Japan Korea SE Asia
Missionary imperative: Indians enamored by this new religion sent missionaries to neighboring countries
Combined with new philosophies, it was a success and developed in…
China
Japan
Korea
SE Asia
Pushed aside in India after Muslim conquest of India; decline
Today: East and SE Asia and Tibetan refugees who now live in India

10. The Spread of Buddhism Asoka Indian king Huge military campaign
After seeing loss of life, became a Buddhist
Inscriptions on rocks and pillars throughout empire
Taught the dharma
Attitude and social responsibility
After his death, brahmins reasserted their influence
Buddhists were persecuted in India

11. Asoka

12. Two Divisions Two divisions
As Buddha’s teachings have been expanded, two primary sects of Buddhism have developed
Theravada
“Way of the elders”
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
Close to original teachings
Mahayana
“Greater Vehicle”
Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam

13. Agreement in Division
General Agreements between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Karma
Nirvana