Buddism_and_Jainism

CHAPTER 03 - Buddism and Jainism Chapters Covered Chapter 6-. New Questions and Ideas Buddhism The Life of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha): Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, was born about 2500 years ago in a small gana called the Sakya gana, and he was a kshat...

CHAPTER 03 - Buddism and Jainism Chapters Covered Chapter 6-. New Questions and Ideas Buddhism The Life of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha): Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, was born about 2500 years ago in a small gana called the Sakya gana, and he was a kshatriya. During a period of significant societal change, he left his comfortable home in search of knowledge. After years of wandering and meditating under a peepal tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, he attained enlightenment and became known as the Buddha, or the Wise One. He then traveled and taught his path to realization, with his first teaching at Sarnath, near Varanasi. He continued his teachings until his death in Kusinara. Key Teachings of the Buddha The Buddha's teachings, focused on understanding and alleviating human suffering, emphasized several core principles: Suffering and Desire: Life is full of suffering and unhappiness due to cravings and desires, termed 'tanha' by the Buddha. This suffering can be mitigated by practicing moderation in all aspects of life. Kindness and Karma: He advocated for kindness and respect towards all living beings, including animals. The concept of karma was central to his teachings; actions (good or bad) have repercussions in this life and the next. Language and Thought: The Buddha taught in Prakrit, the language of ordinary people, making his teachings accessible to all. He encouraged individuals to think for themselves and not blindly accept his teachings. Spread of Buddhism Buddhism spread widely across Asia due to its adaptable teachings and the efforts of monks and nuns who traveled to teach Dhamma. This spread led to the development of different schools of Buddhism, such as Mahayana and Theravada. Mahayana Buddhism: Developed new forms of worship, including the creation of Buddha statues and the veneration of Bodhisattvas. Theravada Buddhism: Remained popular in Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Pilgrims and Monasteries: Notable pilgrims like Fa Xian (1600 years ago), Xuan Zang (1400 years ago), and I-Qing (1350 years ago) visited Buddhist sites in India. Nalanda: A famous Buddhist monastery, was a major center of learning, attracting scholars from across Asia. Stories and Teachings The Story of Kisagotami This story illustrates the Buddha's teaching on the universality of suffering: Kisagotami, grieving the death of her son, approached the Buddha for help. The Buddha instructed her to find a handful of mustard seeds from a household that had not experienced death. Kisagotami discovered that every household had faced death, teaching her that suffering is a common human experience. Jainism Jainism, an ancient Indian religion, emphasizes non-violence and truth. It was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, who attained enlightenment after 12 years of ascetic life. Mahavira's teachings focus on leading a simple and honest life, practicing celibacy, and observing strict non-violence. Vardhamana Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, was born into a kshatriya family of the Lichchhavis around 2500 years ago. At the age of thirty, he renounced his life of luxury and attained enlightenment after twelve years of ascetic living. His teachings emphasized: Key Doctrines: Ahimsa: Non-violence towards all living beings. Simplicity and Honesty: Followers had to live simple lives, practice honesty, and observe celibacy. Language: Teachings were in Prakrit, making them accessible to ordinary people. Spread of Jainism: Jainism primarily spread through the support of traders and was challenging for farmers due to its strict non-violence principles. The teachings were orally transmitted and written down in Valabhi, Gujarat, about 1500 years ago. Buddhist and Jaina Monastic Life Both Buddhism and Jainism emphasize monastic life as a path to attain spiritual knowledge. Monastic communities, known as Sangha in Buddhism and Jainism, were established for those who renounced worldly life. These communities followed strict rules and led simple lives dedicated to meditation and teaching. The Sangha Both the Buddha and Mahavira established monastic communities for those who renounced worldly life: Rules and Community: Vinaya Pitaka: Contains the rules for the Buddhist Sangha. Membership: Open to men and women, with specific permissions required for children, slaves, and those serving the king. Monastic Life: Monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis) led simple lives, meditated, and taught others. They relied on alms for sustenance and held regular meetings to resolve disputes. Viharas Permanent Shelters: Initially, monks and nuns stayed in temporary shelters or natural caves during the rainy season. Over time, permanent monasteries, known as viharas, were built from wood and later brick. Some were carved into hills, especially in western India. Life in Viharas: These were centers of learning and meditation, supported by donations from the community. Upanishads Around the same period, thinkers were exploring profound philosophical questions about life, death, and the universe. Their ideas were recorded in the Upanishads, later Vedic texts. Key concepts included: Atman and Brahman: Atman: The individual soul.  Brahman: The universal soul. The Upanishads proposed that the atman and brahman are ultimately one. Notable Thinkers: Thinkers like Gargi, Apala, Ghosha, and Maitreyi were renowned for their learning and participated in philosophical debates. Stages of Life: Ashramas The Ashrama system in Hinduism outlines four stages of life that individuals should ideally pass through. These stages guide individuals in fulfilling their duties and achieving spiritual growth. Four Ashramas: 1. Brahmacharya (Student Life): Studying the Vedas and leading a disciplined life. 2. Grihastha (Householder Life): Marrying and raising a family. 3. Vanaprastha (Hermit Life): Retiring to the forest for meditation. 4. Samnyasa (Renunciation): Renouncing worldly possessions and becoming an ascetic. Comparison with Sangha: The Ashrama system was specifically for Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas, whereas the Sangha was open to all regardless of social status. Panini, the grammarian This was also the time when other scholars were at work. One of the most famous was Panini, who prepared a grammar for Sanskrit. He arranged the vowels and the consonants in a special order, and then used these to create formulae like those found in Algebra. He used these to write down the rules of the language in short formulae (around 3000 of them!). Key Terms Tanha: Cravings or desires. Prakrit: Language used by the Buddha and Mahavira. Upanishad: Philosophical texts. Atman: Individual soul. Brahman: Universal soul. Ahimsa: Non-violence.  Sangha: Monastic community. Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni: Buddhist monks/nuns. Vihara: Monastery. Ashrama: Stage of life.