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Buddhism: Ajivikas. Ajivika Ajnanas

The document provides an overview of Buddhism, including its origins, key figures, concepts, and spread. It discusses how Buddha attained enlightenment under a pipal tree and taught the four noble truths and eightfold path. The four truths explain that life involves suffering, desires cause suffering, freedom from suffering is possible by eliminating desires, and following the eightfold path can achieve this. The document also outlines the three jewels of Buddhism, the four Buddhist councils, and how Theravada and Mahayana became the major Buddhist sects.

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109 views

Buddhism: Ajivikas. Ajivika Ajnanas

The document provides an overview of Buddhism, including its origins, key figures, concepts, and spread. It discusses how Buddha attained enlightenment under a pipal tree and taught the four noble truths and eightfold path. The four truths explain that life involves suffering, desires cause suffering, freedom from suffering is possible by eliminating desires, and following the eightfold path can achieve this. The document also outlines the three jewels of Buddhism, the four Buddhist councils, and how Theravada and Mahayana became the major Buddhist sects.

Uploaded by

Naveen Farmana Apex
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ashoka's 7th pillar edicts mention about

Ajivikas.
The texts of Ajivika sect is
non-existing at present. This sect
has also lost its glamour in the
present era.
Ajnanas
The ajnana sect believed in radical skepticism.
The school believed that it is impossible to attain
knowledge about nature. Even if it is possible, it is useless
for attaining salvation.
Thisschool was a major rival of Jainism and Buddhism.
They specialized in refutation and were considered
ignorant.
T h e y b e l i e v e d t h a t " I g n o r a n c e is B e s t " .

BUDDHISM
It is one of the major religions of the world that originated from the Indian subcontinent
and has now spread to large parts of South-east Asia. The origin of Buddhism is attached
and
to the story of Siddhartha who came to be known as Buddha, The traditions, beliefs
practices in Buddhism are attributed to Buddha. It is the world's fourth largest religion
after Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Around 7%% of the world's population embraces
Buddhism. Buddhists make up 0.7% of India's population, or 8.4 million individuals,with
majority being in Maharashtra.

Basics about Buddha


Gautam Buddha was born at Lumbini (in present Nepal) in 563 BC as Siddhartha Gautam,
to mother Maya and father King Suddhodana of the Salsyan kingdom under Kshatriya
clan, He was born on the auspicious day of Vaishalkhi Purnima, He was married to
Princess Yashodhara and had a son named Rahul
At the age of 29, he left his house riding on his horse Kanthaka and along with the
charioteer Channa, to find the truth of life and he wandered as an ascetic for next 6 years.
lhen,hecame to Gaya (Bihar) and sat under a pipal tree. There he thought about everything

and freed himself from all attachments and discovered the truth, the secret of happiness, At
12.8 ndian Artand Culture

the age of 35 on the same day of his birth, he attained enlightenment (Nirvana)
vana) under
undey
that pipal tree and became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
After attaining Nirvana in Bodh Gaya, he gave his first sermon to his five companions at the

Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi. This event was called Dharma-chakra-pravartana
(Turning the wheel of Law).
Lhe three Jewels (triratnas) embraced under Buddhism are

Buddha Dhamnma Sangha


The enlightened one The monastic order
Teachings of Buddha (doctrine)

Out of the three jewels or triratnas, the concept of Sangha (the Order) was initiated by
Buddha at the time of giving first sermon. These 5 companions along
with Buddha became a Sangha (a group).
Buddha attained Mahaparinirva1a at Kushinagar (Malla
Mahajanapada) in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 80 in 483 BC. He is said
to becontemporary for major part of his life to King Bimbisara and for
last few years to Ajatashatru of Haryanka Dynasty.

Buddha is known in various Buddhist texts also


Tathagata and
as

Salcyamuni. The predecessor of Buddha under Buddhism was Kassapa


Buddha and his successor will be Maitreya.
Religions in India 12.9

Concepts and Philosophy under Buddhism

The basic tenets of Buddhism are explained through the four major Noble truths, They
are:

1. The truth of suffering (Dukkha)


2. The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudáya)
3 The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha)
The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)
i.e., Life is full of suffering (dukkha). All aspects of life contained the seeds of sorrow. Sorrow
was caused by desires. This keeps us caught in samsara, the endless cycle of repeated rebirth,
dukkha and dying again. If one could get rid of desires and needs, then one could be free and
at peace. This can be attained through following the 'Noble Eightfold Path'. They include:
1. Kind, truthful and Right speech
2 Honest, peaceful and Right action
3 To find the right livelihood which does not harm any being
4 Right effort and cultivating self- control
5 Right mindfulness
6 Right meditation and concentrating on the meaning of life
7. The worth of the sincere and intelligent man is through right thoughts
8. One should avoid superstition and cultivate right understanding
According to Buddha, the Middle Path (Madhyam Marg) or Middle Way describes the
character of the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to liberation.
Buddhism rejects the authencity of the Vedas, i.e. it does not accept it. It also rejects
the concept of existence of Soul (atman) unlike Jainism.

Once Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar in 483 BC, there was a need to
compile his teachings, and hence four Buddlhist Councils were held in a span of next 500
years to collate this material into Pitakas, Theresult was writing of three major pitakas
Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma, that when combined were called Tvipitaka, All of these
have been written in Pali language
It is recorded that in the fourth council in King Kanishka's reign, there was a split in
Buddhism and two sects were born: Finayana and Mahayana Buddhism. In the later
periods, we find that Hinayana school declined and two new schools under Buddhism were
born. Thus, the four major schools developed so far under Buddhism are:
1. Hinayana Buddhism
2. Mahayana Buddhism

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