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The Pre-Buddhist Background (ARYAN (From Poland and West Russia, Belief in…
The Pre-Buddhist Background
THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION
(IVC)
2800-1800 BC
Highly developed both materially and spiritually
Invaded by the Aryans in 1800/1500BC
The five main elements of the IVC religion
Meditation or mental concentration
Renunciation - abandoning household life and living as a wandering ascetic
A conception of rebirth over a long series of lives
A conception of moral responsibility beyond this life
A goal of religious life, a goal of liberation
The Buddha implied that the IVC religion was the origin of his new tradition/religion
Renunciation as ideal state
Links
IVC
Sramana
Buddhism
Aryan
Brahmanism
Hinduism
ARYAN
From Poland and West Russia
Belief in multiple Gods who personified natural phenomena e.g Agni the God of Fire
Priest is the most important figure
The ideal state is the householder state
Sons are the highest good
Sacrifice over meditation
No concept of rebirth
The goal of religious life is heaven
SRAMANA
(Shra-mana)
A sramana is one who renounces the world and leads an ascetic lifestyle to attain liberation
The goal of every person is to escape the cycle of rebirth
Beliefs are centered on very basic needs and meditation
The Buddha took their practice of meditation and mental concentration but rejected following their ascetic lifestyle after living it for 6 years
BRAHMANISM
The early religion of the Indo-Aryans, based on the writings of the Aryans, the Vedas or Vedic writings
Caste (social class) system - they believed you were born into a certain caste. Those born into the highest caste could become priests or 'brahmans', who were responsible for conducting the rituals
Considered the predecessor of Hinduism, and at the core of Hinduism is the belief in one true God, Brahman - an omnipotent God who is not seen as a deity but a metaphysical concept who is eternal and unchanging
Buddha rejected the idea of a soul (Atman) - Buddhism has the belief in no soul or non-self
Buddha rejected the Vedas and believed in seeking the truth independently
Also rejected their caste system and believed anyone can achieve nirvana