THEO1161 Lecture Notes - Abhidharma, Taoism
Document Summary
09/19/2013: systematic philosophy first few centuries after the buddha died (abhidharma): four noble truths, etc, up until now have been studying theravada buddhism (the way of the elders) the dominant school or tradition of buddhism in most of s. east asia, ashoka emperor in the early 4th century bce era, conqueror, came in after alexander the great"s descendants, dynasty of indian emperors who beat back the greeks. India was not one cultural and linguistic entity, far more diverse than the u. s. even today (ashoka unified india for the first time in history: converted to buddhism, after the empire was formed from blood declared no more competition and war and put teachings of buddhism foreword, provided social support to travelers, poor, elderly, different religious communities, buddhism shifts how people in india and all other lands in central asia, china, japan etc. changes how people think in regard to native philosophies (daoism, hinduism, christianity, etc.
