More Axial Age n back to India n ca. 500 B.C. n caste system in place n development of Hinduism –Brahmin priests

Literature n the Brahmanas: metaphysical speculation n the Upanishads: central concepts of Hinduism –ascetics –the Jungle Schools

Central Concepts n Brahman: the universal spiritual reality behind all perceptions n Atman: the human soul n Karma: “actions have consequences” –not “sin”

Goal of the Ascetics n mystic ecstasy n enlightenment n unification of Brahman and the Atman n karma: affects the rate of enlightenment

Road to Enlightenment n getting rid of negative karma n absence of bodily desires n then the Atman could merge with Brahman eternally

Other Responses to Brahmans n Charvakas: atheists n Jainists, Buddhists

Janism n Nigantha Nataputta n the Vardhamana Mahavira n Left a wealthy, aristocratic family to lead an ascetic life n 7 th century movement based upon the Upanishads

Nigantha Nataputta the Vardhamana Mahavira

Modern Jain temple and worshipper

Rock shrines

The Mahavira

Janism, con’t n salvation from the cycle of souls n all souls are trapped in matter n all things possess souls –both animate and inanimate n penance frees the soul from matter (karma)

Buddhism n Siddhartha Gautama: the Buddha n The Four Sights n search for enlightenment n the bo tree: illusion and enlightenment n salvation by moderation –the Middle Path

Fasting Siddhartha Gautama before his enlightenment under the bodhi tree

Central Ideas: all life is suffering n the Four Noble Truths –all life is suffering –desire causes suffering –suffering can be avoided by non-desiring –desire can be stopped by meditation and the Noble Eightfold Path n Correct knowledge and good habits can annihilate suffering

Central Ideas, con’t n The Noble Eightfold Path –right views, right aspirations –right speech, right conduct –right livelihood, right effort –right mindedness, right rapture

Buddha of the Great Wonders Gandhara, 3rd-4th century A.D.

Teaching Buddha Sarnath, 5th century A.D.

The Buddha of Gandhara 2nd century A.D.

Various busts of the Buddha

Wheel of Dharma

Buddhist Society n no fixed hierarchies n no priest, but individual responsibility n decisions: free and democratic n equality among Buddhists

Problems n the Buddha did not write things down n several version of what he said –the Pali Canon of Ceylon

Common ideas n transmigration of souls n effects of Karma n the Noble Eight Fold Path of Thoughts and Deeds n nirvana: “blowing out” –annihilation of the “ego”

Buddhist Schools n Hinayana –(“the Lesser Vehicle” / “The Little Raft”) –no works after 480 B.C. accepted –Ceylon, Indo-China n Mahayana – (“the Greater Vehicle /”The Big Raft”) –Tibetan Buddhism, Chan, Zen, etc.

Buddhism n students spread his message n compiled “correct teachings” n disagreements

Challenge to Brahmans n egalitarian n “gender-less” n appealed to those not of the aristocracy n education to any who wished it n ridiculed the Brahmans

Buddhism: “doctrine” n favored individual self-examination n no empty ritual n no caste system n hostile Brahman reaction

Rise of the Mauryan Empire n Alexander the Great n Chandragupta Maurya ( B.C.) n Ashoka

Kingdom of Magadha n Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure n Central Ganges plain n Economic strength –Agriculture –Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal n Dominated surrounding regions in north- eastern India

The Mauryan and Gupta empires 321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.

Ashoka n most powerful ruler n converted to Buddhism n spread the Dharma throughout the land

Ashoka Maurya n Grandson of Chandragupta n Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r BCE n Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south n Positive rulership integrated Indian society

Pillar of Ashoka, proclaiming the dharma throughout India

The Dharma n peace, pacifism, moderation n roads, hospitals, rest houses n promoted vegetarianism –condemned bloody sacrifices n threatened the Brahmans with loss of power n largely unsuccessful

Brahmans adopt Buddhist thought n necessary to be competitive n Buddha was Vishnu n more interaction with the people n aided by Buddhist theological arguments

Brahmans n the soul was real n ultimate purpose: fuse with the divine n spread to all levels of society n oldest and most successful of the major, world religions

Buddhism? n declined in India n successful in China, Nepal, Indo-China, Japan – and now, America

The Eight Auspicious Symbols Tibetan Buddhism

Lord Shakyamuni Buddha

The Green Tara the Bodhisattva of Active Compassion

Four-Armed Chenreisg (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvar a) The Bodhisattva of Compassion

Maitreya - The Future Buddha

Sakyamuni, Burma

Standing Buddha Mongolia

Kamakura Buddha, Japan

Amida Buddha Shin (Pure Land) Buddhism Japan

Cyber Buddha

Books you can read n Edward Conze. Buddhism: Its Essense and Development n Juan Mascaro, trans. The Bhagavada Gita n Kenneth K.S. Chen. Buddhism: The Light of Asia n Noble Ross Reat. Buddhism. A History n Andrew Skilton. A Concise History of Buddhism n John Snelling. The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete Guide to Buddhist, Schools, Teaching Practice, and History n Peter Harvey. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History, and Practices n