RE100 Lecture : CHAPTER 8 NOTES.docx
Document Summary
Budda created the wheel of dharma (teaching) It is a missionary religion: thervada (hinayana, mahayana, vajrayana. Tension between the ganges and the brahmin tradition (hinduism) The bramin priest practiced animal sacrifice and got married. Mahavira and shakyamuni denounced the sacrifice due to ahimsa. Brahmin gods required regular praises to answer the devotees needs or wants. The ascetic traditions did not require daily praises because liberation had to be received without any supernatural help. Siddhartha gautama was a prince from nepal who becomes the current budda known as shakyamuni. Budda comes when the dharma is at severe decline. He is a human who has realized the spiritual potential. One budda per era but many have reached enlightment: arhats; worthy ones or saints, pratyeka budda; hermit who live in isolation and do not teach, bodhisattvas; those who have dedicated themselves to achieving buddahood. To work towards buddahood one must take the vow of bodhisattva.
