REL 1000 Lecture : Buddhism Lecture
Document Summary
Buddhism lecture: buddhism: historical origins/context, scholarly account (there is no buddhism, there are many buddhisms) and needs) Everyone is a buddha they are just not there yet. No infinite define reality and didn"t think that gods could help humans. Ancient hindu culture siddhartha gautama was born into it. Many traveling spiritual teachers (gurus, sadhus, & sanyassins) Mahivira (means a great being) jainism asceticism (denying the body its desires. Agnostic about the gods (said everyone needs to follow him (the buddha) Offered new and distinctive path to nirvana: emic account: the life of the buddha emic account changes depending on country, queen muhamaya: part of the kshatriya varna (caste) Has dream about a white elephant that comes down from heavens & enters her womb. Will only be great savior is if he experiences the four sights : the king"s plan: wants son to be the next kshatriya not the world savior.
