RELIGION

2500 BC= mohenjaro and harappa
centers of civilization, higer degree of political order.
writing system not deciphered
use seals, figures
preoccupation with fertility symbols

used to learn about culture because no deciphered writing system

not deciphered
evidence of its relation to hinduism shown through silva seal

"noble"
nomadic, pastoral people
2000BC
spoke indo european language
very distinctive language
religious concepts
major source of brahmanical tradition

aryans

moved into india (also iran)
brought culture and took over

earliest portion of metrical hymns
rg veda earliest text
others yajur, sama, atharva
rg= earliest source of knowledge about aryan religion recounts the deeds of "one god"

most prominent god in rg veda
warrior king
creation was result of his killing of demon
battles all forces taht prevent aryan prosperity

sun god

fire god

administrator of cosmic law (dharma) which regulates all activites in the world
spread out earth, set sun in motion, pours out rain

deity
plant whose juice was intoxicating... used to fortify indra

language used.. used by brahmans

indra vs. vritra
not consistent

word spoken by person who had correct knowledge
could control the visible and invisible world of which man and society were component

if you say the mantra the right way you get the desire effect from the gods

order of the world
if you know it you can affect changes in it with your ritual action

makes ritual work
"not of human design"
music was not written by humans, timeless, the veda can tell you things that you cannot learn in the world

makes ritual work
"not before the eyes" gives result that is not right in front of you

the ultimate goal, if you do the ritual the right way, you can ensure yourself heaven

reference to color, has to do with classes - assigned to different colors
priests, warriors, merchants, workers/servants

4 stages of life
1. student- initiation into disciplined life. second spiritual birth, age depended on varna- brahmans was the longest and most rigorous
2. householder
3. hermit or recluse- retire from active family life but still active family/social life
4. ascetic- renounce worldly life, devoted to spiritual self-relization

ordained duties, laws, obligations, proper actions
each stage of asrama and varna has differnt dharmas

cycle of rebirth
you are reborn in samsara (world of suffering) interdependent with nirvana- neither is unchanging and neither has a true essence
everything is connected, cant know nirvana without knowing world of suffering

self, unchaning and permanant
your true nature
equal to brahman- infused in everything
NOT thoughts because they change

= atman, the creator god, one hwo makes everything, can create all and take it back

person who abandos obligations of socail life to find a way of life more in tune with the ways of nature

"awakened one"

siddhartha gautama
royal but confronted with reality of life/suffering of man
became ascetic
at 35 became enlightened under bodhi tree
1st sermon to 5 ascetics in deer park. preached to all, no castes
died at 80
never claimed to be divine

founder of buddhism

birth place
holy place of buddhism

childhood home of buddha

title taken by buddha based on the warrior tribe where he was born

name given to prince five days after birth

use compassion to set others on the path to enlightenment
follow path and rules etc.
they have desire to become buddhas- so wait

blowing out the flames of hatred desire and greed
getting rid of attachment
freedom from suffering, cycle of rebirth

old age
sickness
corpse
mendicant = wanderer seeking truth

only way salvation can be achieved

fully ordained male buddhist monastic
must follow precepts

many stories about buddha's life are written in these stories about his previos births - he has been a very compassionate, caring good person

dukkha- suffering
samudaya- origin of suffering
nirodha- cessation of suffering
magga- path to cessation

1.matter- fluidity, solidity, heat, motion
2. sensations- 5 senses and mind is 6th
3. perseptions- recognition
4.mental formations- all volitions (good and bad) ex. will deisre hate
5. consciousness- does not recognize and object, just aware it is present

tendencies of mind "Skandas"

karuna= compassion
prajna= wisdom
buddha acted w compassion to help ppl

Pali= follows ideals of buddha. buddhas teachings are recorded in pali, prononuced slightly dif. not super elite or hidden means "book"

sanskrit= "perfect" lang, must be a brahaman to teach it, of certain birth to hear it, goes againts buddha's openness

understanding
thought
speech
action
livelihood
effort
mindfulness
concentrations

wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline are the three essentials of dubbhist training and discipline

"co-dependent- co arising"
conditioned consciousness
ignorance
volitional actions
mental/ physical phenomena
sensoral and mental contact
sensorl and mental sensations
thirst
clinging
becoming
birth
death, pain, decay

"thus gone"
learned how to simply view the world for what it is: a bird flying is nohting more etc.

buddha
dhamma = teachings
sangha = order of the monks

order of the monks

monk

someone who gets enlightened through buddhas teachings

early bud only 1 buddha per era

mahayana- buddhas vehicle in good for picking up 1 arhant at a time

no killing
no stealing
no lust
no lying
no intoxicants

eat only before noon
no singling dancing
no fancy clothes
no soft night bed
no valued property

lay people should look afrer material needs of the religious with love and respect

religous should impart knowledge and learning to the laity and lead them along the good path away from evil

tipitaka

vinaya (monastic rules)
sutta (discourses of the buddha)
nature of the world

3 months after the passing of buddha

100 years after death of B (444 BC)

called circa 250 BC

buddhist emperor
became buddhist and attempted to govern india according to the precepts of buddhism
found murders of war and conquest very painful
wants to help all

converted to buddhism and repented deaths- tried to lead a country following buddhist ideals

edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars
proclaim reforms in policies and his advice to subject

after war repented and converted- declared faith in 3 jewels of b. went on pilgrimage to holy places of buddha

extensive powerful political empire.. ashoka converted implement buddhist influenced laws

ruler whose movements are unobstructed

great vehicle to salvation
a truly compassionate buddha would help you along the entire path - not alone

most important aspect is bodhisattva vows
samsara= nirvana
bodhisattvas help others directly

t= old teachings
h= "lesser vehicle" - buddha tells you how to do it but he does NOT do it with you

when you break or divid the monastic order, you create trouble by dividing the group, you CAN live under the same roof w radically different ideas and be in the same order

people who have an enlightened quality to them but grow to be reborn again to help others on the path to enlightenment
in world to help others

path to enlightenment
desire for enlightenment is relinquished by taking vow

dharma- duty, virtue
artha- material gain
kama- pleasure
moksa- ultimate goal