Ch The Caste System Shapes India Key Teachings of Buddha The Caste System Shapes India Key Teachings of Buddha

The Caste System Shapes India Aryans divided by Aryan and non-Aryan During the Vedic Age, class division were based on social and economic roles Castes were created: Social groups were born into and hard to change

Complex Rules Uphold the Caste System High-caste (Brahmin) Closer to moksha purer Could not marry outside your caste Can not eat with members of another caste Rules protected against pollution from lower caste

Complex Rules Continued “Untouchables” Grave diggers, street cleaners, those who made leather = impure

Caste Affects the Social Order Believed the caste was determined by karma Come back better next time Each caste had their own leaders Leaders worked together Lower-caste builder = builds for high caste scholar

Key Teaching of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama: His teachings spread One of the world’s most influential religions Buddhism

From Boy to Buddha 563 B.C. born a prince Mother dreamed a radiant white elephant descended from heaven: Sign led a prophet saying he would become a wondering holy man Father kept him in the palace surrounded by luxury Age 16, married a beautiful woman

From Boy Continued At 29 went beyond the palace gardens Met an old man, then a sick person, and a dead boy Became aware of human suffering Left the palace for good Wandered for years: Looking for “the realm of life where there is neither suffering nor death”

From Boy Continued Wondering looking for Hindu scholars and holy men Fasted and meditated Sat under a large tree, meditating Fended off evil spirits that tried to stop his meditating When he got up he had become Buddha or “Enlightened One”

Following the Four Noble Truths Spent the rest of his life teaching others Four Noble Truths: 1. All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow 2. The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire 3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirtue 4. The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Following Continued “Eightfold Path”: “right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation” Must live a moral life, avoiding evil words and actions Meditation helps reach enlightenment Final goal of nirvana: Union with universe and release from the circle of rebirth Taught honesty, charity, and kindness

Buddhism Spreads Beyond India Buddhism attracted many followers Followers set up monasteries and convents for meditation and study

Collecting the Buddha’s Teachings Legend says at 80, Buddha ate spoiled food As he lay dying he told his disciples, “decay is inherent in all things. Work out your own salvation with diligence” Collected his teachings in the Tripitaka

Buddhism Spreads and Divides Two sects created Theravada Buddhism: Followed original teachings Spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia Mahayana Buddhism: Easier for ordinary people to follow Buddha said don’t worship me, they pictured him as a holy being Spread to China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan

Buddhism Decline in India Firm roots in Asia Declined in India Hinduism absorbed some Buddhist ideas Buddha became another Hindu god A few Buddhist centers survived until 1100s Fell to the Muslim armies in India