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India’s Golden Age

The Birth of Buddhism. India’s Golden Age. Early Life. Buddha’s Enlightenment. Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature Gautama born 500s BC Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal Led sheltered life Unaware of hardship

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India’s Golden Age

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  1. The Birth of Buddhism India’s Golden Age

  2. Early Life Buddha’s Enlightenment • Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature • Gautama born 500s BC • Prince of small kingdom in what is now Nepal • Led sheltered life • Unaware of hardship • Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died • Gautama resolved to find way to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suffering • Gave up possessions, left palace • Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years • Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment The Life of the Buddha In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in ancient India. That religion was Buddhism.

  3. The Life of the Buddha Gautama was determined to find way to end human suffering • Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way • Stories say he meditated all night • Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations • At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One • Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places

  4. Buddhist Beliefs • After enlightenment achieved, Buddha meditated at Bodh Gaya seven weeks • Set out to spread to others what he had learned • Lessons became basic teachings of Buddhism • Among ideas learned in meditation, central truths, called Four Noble Truths The Teachings of Buddhism

  5. Eightfold Path

  6. Nirvana The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could attain nirvana • State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering forever • Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of suffering again • Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in search for nirvana

  7. Buddhism in India Ashoka • Buddhist community in India grew throughout Buddha’s life • Followers spread teachings after Buddha’s death • Teachings not written down until first century BC; helped preserve, spread teachings throughout India • 200s BC, Buddhism reached peak in India during reign of emperor Ashoka • Ashoka became Buddhist, helped spread Buddhism into all parts of India The Spread of Buddhism Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism spread into other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million people are Buddhists, most of them concentrated in Asia. Relatively few people in India are Buddhists today. Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message to lands outside of India.

  8. Buddhism Beyond India • Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s southern coast, and north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands of Southeast Asia • Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, islands of Indonesia • Traders • Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India • 200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia introduced Buddhist teachings • Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into China, slowly spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies

  9. Buddhism spread to many lands, but after the time of Ashoka it was never dominant in India again

  10. The Gupta Empire India’s Golden Age

  11. The Golden Age • The Gupta Empire • Gupta Empire (A.D. 320-550) is often referred to as the “Golden Age of India” • Began in northern India and eventually included both the Ganges and Indus plains along with nearly all India’s eastern shore • The three most famous rulers were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II • Achievements • Books on medicine, veterinary science, mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics • The Indian numeral system and decimal system are inventions of this period including the concept of zero • Although progress in physiology and biology was hindered by religious injunctions against contact with dead bodies, discouraging dissection and anatomy, Indian physicians excelled in pharmacopoeia, caesarean section, bone setting, and skin grafting

  12. The Golden Age Follow this link to watch “The Story of India” video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5upeOZHzSyw&NR=1

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