Ancient India
Origins of Buddhism

Siddhartha’s Search for Wisdom

Teachings of Buddhism
• Buddha gained many followers as he traveled forming the first believers in a new religion,
Buddhism based upon
Buddha’s teachings. At the heart of his teachings were four guiding principles – the four
Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

Reaching Nirvana through Eightfold
Path

Challenging Hindu Ideas
• Some of Buddha’s teachings challenged traditional Hindu ideas – such as the
Vedic practice of animal sacrifice, and told priests they didn’t have to follow those texts.

Challenging Hindu Ideas
• He challenged the authority of the Hindu priests and Brahmins. He believed they were not necessary for enlightenment – nor were there rituals. He taught that the responsibility of each individual to find path to salvation. He did, however, believe in reincarnation.

Challenging Hindu Ideas
• Buddha was also opposed to the caste system. He believed that all that followed the eightfold path would achieve nirvana. It was how you live your life, not the varna or caste you are born into.

Buddha and his Followers
• Opposition to caste won him support of the masses. Lower castes liked the idea of having power to change their lives. The rich and powerful also followed embracing the idea of avoiding extreme behavior while seeking salvation.

Buddhism Spreads in India
• According to tradition,
500 followers met after
Buddha’s death to ensure his teachings were preserved and spread.
They spread his teachings all over India and within
200 years had spread through most of India.

Buddhism Spreads Beyond
• Buddhism’s spread gains momentum after the conversion of the powerful Asoka in 200
BC. Asoka sill send missionaries to surrounding kingdoms, sailing to Sri Lanka and taking trade routes to
Myanmar and other parts of the southeast.

Buddhism Spreads Beyond
• Missionaries also took the message to the west of
India. They founded communities in Central
Asia and Persia and as far off as Egypt. The Silk
Road would bring it to
China, Japan and Korea, growing the followers into the millions.

A Split Within Buddhism
• As the religion spread, disagreements brought about a split.
The two major branches would become Theravada and Mahayana.

Split
• Theravada tried to follow the teachings exactly as stated, while the
Mahayana’s believed the people could interpret the
Buddha’s teachings. Both have millions of believers, but the Mahayana’s is far larger.

Origins of Buddhism
• Exit: Why do you think Hinduism is more prominent on India than Buddhism? Your opinion.
• Stay tuned next time for Indian Empires