Popularization of Buddhism in South Asia

*Buddha, ca. 630-550 BCE

Buddha's Teachings (Dharma)

*Middle Path

*Four Noble Truths

1) Life is Suffering

2) Desire is source of Suffering

3) Ending desire is solution

4) *Noble Eightfold Path

Roots in Upanishads

Karma

Rebirth (Reincarnation)

Innovations of Buddha

“The Middle Path”

Nirvana

Social equality

Early Spread of Buddhism in India

Buddha's preaching during lifetime

Buddha’s death

Wandering monks

Popular worship

*Stupa

Relics

Monasteries

Ordained monks

Lay Buddhists

Karma

Popularization of Buddhism in South Asia

State Religion of Mauryan Empire (320-185 BCE)

*Ashoka or King Piyadasi (r. 268-232 BCE)

Kalinga

*Ceremonial state

Dharma

Buddhism

*Chakravartin king

Lecture Study Questions

1. How did wandering Buddhist monks begin to spread the Buddhist religion in India?

2. How did building of stupas and monasteries help to popularize Buddhist teachings?

Reading Study Questions

Hansen, et al., 50-52, 61-71

1. How did people worship at the Buddhist stupa at Kanaganahalli? How did the stone carvings on the stupa help to promote Buddhism?

2. How was the Mauryan Empire founded? What can we learn about Mauryan government and society from the writings of Megasthenes?

3. How did the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka help to spread Buddhist religious ideas? Why do Hansen and Curtis call the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka a ceremonial state?

Supplementary Reading on D2L>Content:

15b)"Rock and Pillar Edicts of King Piyadasi [Ashoka]" (Also see Hansen, et al., pp. 50 and 67-68)

1. How did Ashoka's edicts help to promote the spread of Dharma (correct conduct) in Buddhism and other Indian religions? (Provide at least 2 examples from the edicts.) Which edicts seem to promote Buddhism directly? Which edicts seem to appeal to people of all religions?

2. The religious scholar, John S. Strong, argues that Ashoka's edicts represent, "pieces of political propaganda, [like] the campaign speeches of an incumbent politician...to present an image of himself and his administration to the world." (quoted in Hansen and Curtis, Voyages in World History, p. 66, n. 10).