Spread of Buddha & Buddhist Sects
Ashoka Maurya 273-232 Renounced violence after battle for Kalinga Built thousands of stupas and monasteries Declared the state religion Sent monks to teach
Silk Road In the 2nd century BC, caravans travel 4,000 miles route Links Asia with the West. In both directions, various political, social, religious, and artistic ideas flowed. Buddhist monks helped spread the religion across Asia
The Silk Road
Theravada Buddhism Largest schools of Buddhism Means "teaching of the elders." SE Asia (Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos) Original teachings of Buddha. Each person must find their way See Buddha as man, do not worship or pray to him Strong monastic tradition
Mahayana Buddhism 2nd largest school of Buddhism. Means "greater vehicle". different ways to Nirvana, more of an afterlife Believe all people are related, need guidance Reveres the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and other powerful beings such as Hindu Gods. Believe in a higher power of which Siddhartha and many others are incarnations Bodhisattvas: compassionate beings who put off Enlightenment to help humanity China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Russia
Zen Buddhism “Practical Buddhism” Great emphasis on meditation, slowing down life Do not believe in supernatural beings or that Buddha was more than a man Japan, parts of China
Vajrayana Buddhism Provides a quicker path to Enlightenment Means “Diamond vehicle” also called “Tibetan Buddhism” They believe that the physical has an effect on the spiritual and vice versa, emphasize questioning and skepticism Encourage rituals, chanting, and tantra techniques Devotion to gurus or lamas Dali Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion Tibet, Nepal