RELS 1506 Chapter 1: Foundations of Buddhism chapter 1

• School: University of Iowa
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 1506
• Professor: Kalzang Bhutia

Document Summary

Foundations of buddhism: story of the awakened one (ch. 1) Stupas= buddhist monumental burial mounds: provided evidence of buddhism being an indian phenomenon. Spread all across asia via trade routes. Sakya-(cid:373)u(cid:374)i: (cid:862)the blessed buddha(cid:863: the title (cid:862)buddha(cid:863) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s o(cid:374)e (cid:449)ho has (cid:449)oke(cid:374) up, despite that its now more popular outside of india. When buddha awakens to true knowledge of the world, he is enlightened. Ancient texts call the buddha sramana-(cid:862)o(cid:374)e (cid:449)ho stri(cid:448)es(cid:863: renouncers abandon previous means of livelihood and turn to religion/beg alms. Practice of austerities: fasting, enduring physical discomfort, etc. Aryas were nomadic people who migrated towards india: brahmans or brahmins. Non-aryas made up 4 classes: brahmans: priests who teach and maintain vedic tradition, kshatriyas: the rulers who maintained order/executed punishments, vaisyas: generate wealth through family farming, sudras: servants, serve the other 3 classes. The buddha was born siddhartha gautama: had privileged upbringing. Tale is not necessarily viewed as history-only educational allegory.