Religious Studies 1023E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Bodhisattva Vow, Long Path, Lotus Sutra

• School: Western University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: Religious Studies 1023E
• Professor: Jonathan Geen

Document Summary

The path of the arhat: arhat=worthy ones, arhats were enlightened. The path of the arhat was the start of the buddhist teachings. Buddha wanted the arhats to spread the word of buddhism missionaries: remarkable successful at converting people. After buddha died there was no head of the buddha community o o o. Led to variations among buddhist religion in different communities. Each buddhist community was in charge of itself. 18-20 different nikaya (schools) of monastic monks and nuns about 150 yrs after buddha died. Spread of buddhism was aided by the conversion of a major emperor: ashoka who ruled india in 3rd c bce. Ashoka starts sending buddhist missionaries all over the place. Schools got wiped off the map because buddhism started declining in india due rise of. Muslims arrived and took over all of northern india 13th c o. Ashoka puts massive stone pillars of buddhist teachings all over his domain o.