Origin of Buddhism in South Asia

Buddhism, like other universalizing religions, has a precise place of origin, based on events in the life of a man. Ethnic religions such as Hinduism have unknown or unclear origins, not tied to single historical individuals.

Origin of Buddhism

The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born about 563 B.C.E. in Lumbini in present-day Nepal, near the border with India. The son of a lord, he led a privileged existence, sheltered from life’s hardships. Gautama had a beautiful wife, palaces, and servants.

According to Buddhist tradition, Gautama’s life changed after a series of four trips. He encountered a decrepit old man on the first trip, a disease-ridden man on the second trip, and a corpse on the third trip. After witnessing these scenes of pain and suffering, Gautama began to feel he could no longer enjoy his life of comfort. On a fourth trip, Gautama saw a monk, who taught him about withdrawal from the world. At age 29 Gautama left his palace one night and lived in a forest for the next 6 years, thinking and experimenting with forms of meditation (Figure 6-26). Gautama emerged as the Buddha, the “awakened or enlightened one,” and spent 45 years preaching his views across India. In the process, he trained monks, established orders, and preached to the public.

The foundation of Buddhism is represented by these concepts, known as the Four Noble Truths:

1. All living beings must endure suffering.

2. Suffering, which is caused by a desire to live, leads to reincarnation (repeated rebirth in new bodies or forms of life).

3. The goal of all existence is to escape suffering and the endless cycle of reincarnation into Nirvana (a state of complete redemption), which is achieved through mental and moral self-purification.

4. Nirvana is attained through an Eightfold Path: rightness of belief, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, thought, and meditation.

Theravada Buddhism

Theravada is the older of the two largest branches of Buddhism. The word means “the way of the elders,” indicating the Theravada Buddhists’ belief that their approach is closer to Buddha’s original approach. Theravadists believe that Buddhism is a full-time occupation, so to become a good Buddhist, one must renounce worldly goods and become a monk.

Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana split from Theravada Buddhism about 2,000 years ago. Mahayana is translated as “the great vehicle,” and Mahayanists call Theravada Buddhism by the name Hinayana, or “the lesser vehicle.” Mahayanists claim that their approach to Buddhism can help more people because it is less demanding and all-encompassing. Theravadists emphasize Buddha’s life of self-help and years of solitary introspection, and Mahayanists emphasize Buddha’s later years of teaching and helping others. Theravadists cite Buddha’s wisdom and Mahayanists his compassion.

Vajrayana Buddhism

Vajrayanas emphasize the practice of rituals, known as Tantras, which have been recorded in texts. Vajrayanas believe that Buddha began to practice Tantras during his lifetime, although other Buddhists regard Vajrayana as an approach to Buddhism that evolved from Mahayana Buddhism several centuries later.

Unknown Origin of Hinduism

As an ethnic religion based in India, Hinduism has unknown origins. The word Hinduism originated in the sixth century B.C.E. to refer to people living in what is now India, but religious practices existed prior to recorded history. Elements of Hinduism may have originated in the Indus Valley civilization, which flourished between approximately 2500 B.C.E. and 1500 B.C.E. in the valley along the Indus River in present-day eastern Pakistan. Archaeological evidence of possible rituals from that era includes bathing rituals, animal sacrifices, and sculptures that may depict Hindu gods (Figure 6-27).

Unknown Origin of Hinduism

Changu Narayan is the oldest surviving Hindu temple in Nepal. It was built in 325 C.E. and was dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Aryan tribes from Central Asia invaded South Asia about 1400 B.C.E. and brought with them Indo-European languages, as discussed in Chapter 5. In addition to their language, the Aryans brought their religion. The Aryans first settled in the area now called the Punjab in northwestern India and later migrated east to the Ganges River valley, as far as Bengal (Figure 6-28). Centuries of intermingling with the Dravidians already living in the area modified their religious beliefs.

Bathing in the Ganges

Hindus bathe in the Ganges River to wash away their sins.

The earliest surviving Hindu texts, known as Vedas, were written around 1100 B.C.E. Some rituals from this era survive in contemporary Hinduism, including worship of various gods representing Earth, atmosphere, and sky. By around 2,000 years ago, key texts were composed, and rituals were developed that remain central to contemporary Hinduism. The earliest surviving Hindu temples were constructed between 1,500 and 2,000 years ago.

Pause & Reflect 6.2.2

Rank the origins of the four largest religions from earliest to most recent.