Early Buddhism
I. Late Vedic India & Spiritual Age
II. Beliefs of Buddhism
III. 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 Context
A. Late Vedic Age (1000-500 BCE)
Changes around 500 BCE
Many small states
Rajas (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
Jainism
Asceticism
Non-violence
gurus
II. Beliefs of Early Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama (c.
563 – 483 BCE)
the Buddha (the
Enlightened One)
Ganges
Bodhi 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.