Buddhism Overview

Founded around the 6th century BCE by Gautama Buddha
Spread from India to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Japan
Buddha's real name was Siddhartha
Born into the Shakya Gana, a Kshatriya clan
Born in Kapilavasna in 563 BC
Father was Shuddodhana, chief of the Shakya Gana
Mother Mahamaya died soon after birth
Raised by his aunt, Mahaprajapati
A seer predicted he would become either a great king or saint
Father shielded him from religion and suffering to ensure he became a great king
Married to Yashodhara at age 16
Yashodhara gave birth to a son, Rahula
Left his palace at age 29 to become a monk
Wandered for years before meditating under a pipal tree in Gayajand
Attained enlightenment after many days of meditation, becoming the Buddha
The pipal tree became known as the Mahabodhi tree
Preached his first sermon at Sarnath (near Varanasi), known as the Dharmachakra Pravartana
Died at age 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh

Explained in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths
- The world is full of suffering.
- The cause of suffering is desire.
- Ending suffering requires eliminating desire.
- Eliminating desire requires following the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
- Right thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right meditation
- Right understanding
Following the path purifies the mind and helps attain Nirvana
Emphasized ahimsa (non-violence) with pure thought, speech, and action
Criticized the caste system
Stressed love and compassion for all beings

Buddha's teachings are compiled in the Tripitakas (three baskets)
Written in Pali
Other texts include the Jataka Tales, which tell stories from Buddha's birth and previous lives

Emperor Kanishka divided Buddhism into two sects
- Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle) – followed Buddha's teachings strictly
- Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) – believed Buddha was an incarnation of God
Spread due to simple teachings expressed in Prakrit
Promoted by emperors Ashoka and Kanishka

Believed in leading a simple life
Against rituals and animal sacrifices
Emphasized ahimsa (non-violence)
Believed animals and plants have souls, so causing harm to any living thing was wrong
Attaining moksha (freedom from the cycle of rebirth) was the main goal
Achieve this through the triratnas (three jewels of life):
- Right faith
- Right knowledge
- Right action
Jainism aims to free individuals from worldly bonds
Five main doctrines:
- Do not commit violence
- Do not speak a lie
- Do not steal
- Do not acquire property
- Observe continence (nigraha)
Did not believe in the varna system, treated all men as equal

Divided into two sects:
- Digambaras (Sky-clad): observed long fasts, wore no clothes
- Swetambaras (White-clad): more liberal, wore white clothes
Spread from Orissa in the east to Gujarat in the west and south as far as Mysore
Also spread to Gujarat and Rajasthan (Swetambara sect), and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (Digambara sect)
Teachings were delivered in Prakrit
Religious texts were written in Ardh-magadhi, a form of Prakrit

Founded by Gautama Buddha in the 5th century BCE
Means 'assembly' or 'community', refers to Buddhist or Jain groups
Established to spread the message of Buddha
Open to even Shudras
Both Buddha and Mahavira believed leaving home was necessary for true knowledge
Rules for the Buddhist Sangha were written in the Vinayapitaka
All men could join, but children needed parental permission and women needed their husbands' permission
Only emancipated slaves could join
Led simple lives, meditating and begging for food
Taught others and helped each other
Sangha members included Brahmins, Kshatriyas, merchants, and slaves

Monasteries established by Buddha
Buddhaist monks (Bhikkhus) lived in viharas
Viharas were centers of education
As supporters sought more permanent shelters, viharas were constructed of wood and brick
Some were built in caves dug into hills in western India

Hindu thinkers discussed new ideas about Atman (individual soul) and Brahman (universal soul)
Raised questions about life, death, and the need for sacrifices
Their ideas were recorded in the Upanishads
Most Upanishadic thinkers were men, especially Brahmin and Raja
Few women participated in discussions, such as Gargi, who was famous for her learning
Poor people rarely participated, with Satyaka being one exception
He was accepted by a Brahmin teacher named Gautama and became a leading thinker
Many of the ideas in the Upanishads were later developed by Shankaracharya
'Upanishad' means 'to sit at the feet of the Guru to receive teaching'
The main topic is ultimate knowledge: the identity of Brahman and Atman
These philosophical texts criticized rituals and emphasized right belief and knowledge
108 Upanishads exist, 13 being the main ones
Written between 8th and 4th century BCE
Written in Sanskrit