Buddhism History

Summary

This introduction to Buddhism covers its origins from Hinduism and how it became a distinct tradition. It discusses the Buddha's life, from his sheltered upbringing to his enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, where he discovered the 'middle way' between indulgence and deprivation. The Buddha's teachings, the spread of Buddhism, and the formation of early Buddhist communities are explored. Additionally, it outlines Buddhism’s expansion across Asia, its introduction to the U.S. through immigration and cultural movements, and the key milestones in its historical development.

Takeaways

• 🪷 Buddhism originates from a Hindu context, specifically emerging when the Upanishads were challenging the Brahmin class.
• 🌟 Buddhism, unlike Hinduism, has a founder – Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, who sought new ways to achieve liberation.
• 📜 Buddhism’s scriptures were written in Pali, a language spoken by common people, making it more accessible than Hinduism's Sanskrit texts, which were mostly for the Brahmin elite.
• 👁️ Buddha’s early life was one of luxury, but after seeing old age, disease, death, and an ascetic, he became determined to seek a life of renunciation and find liberation.
• 🌳 The Buddha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, realizing that the path to liberation lay in the 'Middle Way,' avoiding extremes of indulgence and asceticism.
• 🧘‍♂️ The Buddha’s teachings spread after he gave his first sermon at Deer Park, establishing the Sangha, or Buddhist community, which expanded after his death.
• 📅 Following the Buddha’s death, Buddhist councils were held to formalize his teachings, leading to the creation of different branches like Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.
• 🌏 Buddhism spread widely over centuries, reaching places like Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, and Burma, though it declined in India due to various factors like conquests and Hindu assimilation.
• 🛤️ Buddhism was introduced to the U.S. through immigration and became more prominent during the 1960s and 70s with the counterculture movement’s interest in Eastern religions.
• ✈️ Anagarika Dharmapala played a significant role in spreading Theravada Buddhism to the U.S., particularly through the World Parliament of Religions in the late 19th century.

Q & A

What is the historical context from which Buddhism emerged?

Buddhism emerged from a Hindu context during a time when the Upanishads were challenging the authority of the Brahman class. The Buddha sought new paths to liberation, diverging from Hindu traditions.

How does Buddhism differ from Hinduism despite some shared ideas?

While Buddhism shares many ideas with Hinduism, such as concepts of liberation, it redefines them. Buddhism developed its own identity rather than remaining a branch of Hinduism, becoming a distinct tradition over time.

What is significant about the language in which Buddhist texts were written?

Buddhist texts were written in Pali, a language spoken by common people, unlike Hindu texts written in Sanskrit, which was a language of the religious elite. This made Buddhism more accessible to the general population.

Who was Siddhartha Gautama, and what were the key events that led to his Enlightenment?

Siddhartha Gautama, born into a wealthy family in the 6th century BCE, was sheltered from suffering. After witnessing old age, disease, death, and an ascetic, he renounced his life of pleasure, became an ascetic, and eventually discovered the 'Middle Way,' achieving Enlightenment and becoming the Buddha.

What is the significance of the 'Middle Way' in Buddhism?

The 'Middle Way' is a key concept in Buddhism that rejects extremes of pleasure and self-deprivation. The Buddha realized that balance between these two paths leads to Enlightenment and liberation from suffering.

What are the four sights that led to Siddhartha Gautama's renunciation of his previous life?

The four sights were old age, disease, death, and a religious ascetic. These experiences of suffering deeply affected Siddhartha and led him to renounce his life of luxury in search of spiritual truth.

What was the role of the Buddha's first sermon at the Deer Park?

The Buddha’s first sermon at Deer Park, after his Enlightenment, introduced the core teachings of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths. His audience included five former ascetics who became his first disciples, forming the early Buddhist community or 'Sangha.'

How did Buddhism spread after the Buddha's death?

After the Buddha’s death, his teachings were formalized through Buddhist councils. Buddhism spread across various regions, notably through Emperor Ashoka's efforts in the 3rd century BCE, who sent missionaries to spread the religion across India and other countries.

What factors contributed to the decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent?

Buddhism’s decline in India was due to several factors, including its pacifistic nature, the assimilation of Buddhist elements into Hinduism, and invasions like the Muslim and Hun conquests.

How did Buddhism first arrive in the United States?

Buddhism arrived in the United States primarily through immigration, especially from Asian laborers working on railroads and in mines. It gained further prominence during the 1960s and 1970s with the 'hippie generation's' interest in Eastern religions.