Early Buddhism

I. Late Vedic India & Spiritual AgeII. Beliefs of BuddhismIII. Practices of early Buddhism

IDs: Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), d. 483bce, nirvana, sangha

Argument

With no gods, no supernatural features, and no afterlife, early Buddhism was a response to the historical context of Late Vedic India.

I. Historical ContextA. Late Vedic Age (1000-500 BCE)

Changes around 500 BCE

Many small statesRajas (from kshatriya

caste)

Growth of towns

Transition to Hinduism• More elaborate caste

system• Karma & transmigration

of souls• Dissatisfaction with

Brahman leadership• Bhagavad Gita• Krishna• Arjuna

B. Axial (Spiritual Age) 6th-4th century BCE

Influential Thinkers• Buddha• Mahavira• Confucius• Laozi ?• Socrates• Aristotle• Plato & other Greeks

New Religions/Philosophical Systems

• Buddhism• Confucianism• Daoism• Greek Philosophy

Hinduism in the“Spiritual Age”: 6th c. BCE

1. Mahavira JainismAsceticismNon-violence

gurus

II. Beliefs of Early Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563 – 483 BCE)

the Buddha (the Enlightened One)

GangesBodhi tree (bo)

Four Truths

1.Life is full of suffering.2.Suffering is caused by desires.3.The only way to rise above suffering is to

renounce desire.4.One can only do this by following Noble

Eightfold Path.

Goals

rid self of desire & the illusion of separate identity

reach nirvana (contentment and extinction)

By following Noble Eightfold Path

III. Practices of Early Buddhims

The Buddha’s Footprints

Limestone carving on stupa, India

1st c. BCE

Sangha (Order)

• monks• nuns

The Three Jewels“I go for refuge to

the Buddha.I go for refuge to

the Doctrine (dharma).

I go for refuge to the Order (sangha).”

Argument

With no gods, no supernatural features, and no afterlife, early Buddhism was a response to the historical context of Late Vedic India.