Growth of New Ideas
Around 16th century i.e., 2500 years ago two great man wear born in India.
- Gautam Buddha
- Vardhman Mahavir
Buddhism
Named after Gautam Buddha. Real name was Siddharth. Born at Lumbini. Father was chef of Satya clan.
Quest of Truth
Prince Siddharth is believed to have seen four sight, which left a deep impact on him. He saw a very old man, then a sick man and finally a dead body. He then saw an ascetic who appeared unaffected by pain sorrow and misery around him. Sidharth decided to find the mystery of life and death(meaning of life).
After attending enlightment he understood why the world is full of suffering and what should be done to overcome it. He thus become Buddha, the enlightenment or the awaken or the wise one.
The peepal tree came to be known as wisdom or bodhi vriksha.
From Gaya The Buddha went to Sarnath. He gave his first sermon at that deer park in Sarnath, known as Dharma chakra pravartan (setting in motion the wheel of Dharma). He taught in a language which is the common people could understand.
Main Teachings
- Four noble truth.
- The world is full of suffering.
- The main cause of suffering is desire.
- One must get rid of desire to end suffering.
- To end desire and hence suffering, one must follow the eight fold path.
 |
- Eight Fold Path (Asthangk Marg)
- Right thought.
- Right belief.
- Right speech.
- Right action.
- Right means of livelihood.
- Right effort.
- Right memory.
- Right meditation.
The Buddha believed that the eightfold path led a person to the middle path, that is balanced life or a life of moderation. He said leading a balanced life would help him a person attain moksha and Nirvana.
The Buddha did not approve rituals and animals sacrifices. He laid stress on ahimsa or non injury to all living beings. He was against of caste system and wanted all people to be treated equally.
The Sangha :- The Buddha and his disciplines established many monasteries (viharas). Buddhist monk and nuns lived in this monasteries. They stays together in sangha.
JAINISM
Vardhaman Mahaveer associated with Jainism. The gents live that Mahavira was the 24th tirthankaras, or great teacher. The first was Rishabh Deva. There teaching institute the core of the religion of Jainism.
Mahavir was born at kundagram (Near Vaishali), in Bihar. His father was the head of the Jatrika clan and his mother was a lichvi princess.
QUEST OF TRUTH
At the age of 30 mahaveer left his home (next 12 years). Throught his knowledge he conquered both misery and happiness. He come to be known as Jina the great conqueror. His followers come to be known as Jains. He visited the court of Bimbisar and Ajatshatru. Taught in prakrit language (common people spoke).
History Notes Class 6
Main Teachings
Believes in leading a simple life. Against rituals and animal sacrifice. Every living being have a soul. Harming and unconscious killing of an ant is a sin.
The goal of life according to the Mahavira was to set the soul free and not to be born again in the world.
This could be achieved through other tri-ratna or three jewels of life :-
- Right belief
- Right knowledge
- Right action
Mahavira did not believe in the caste system.
He said that an individual was born into a particular caste according to the good and the bad deds of his previous birth. He however thought that anyone irrespective of this caste could attain libration by performing good deeds.
Spreads
Become popular from Odisha (East) to Gujarat (West) and in the south as far as Mysore. Later it spread to Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Jain monks established monasteries at all these places.
The Jains later divided into two groups or sects :-
- The Digambras or (Sky Clad) (Do not wear clothes)
- Svetambras or (White Clad) (Wear only white clothes)
Due to these reasons:-
- They were easy to practice.
- The teachings were in common spoken language which can be easily understood.
- Both did not believe in the caste system. People from the lower caste were attracted by the idea of social equality.
THE UPANISHADS
The idea and teachings of many thinkers where recorded in the Upanishad.
Upanishad:- means to sit at the feet of the Guru (teacher) close to receive the teachings.
According to historians there are 108 Upanishads. 11 are considered to be the classical or main upanishads. Most of them were written between 8th to 4th BC.
Content
Upanishad saar books of philosophy more spiritual and philosophical than Vedas. Contain teachings of many religious teachers and saints.
They discuss doctrine such as ideal human, conduct, creation of the world, creating of man, the practice of yoga, meditation, Karma, and truth about the life and death.
The main philosophy of Upanishads however is Upasana (worship) and bhakti (devotion).
The Upanishads give importance to the worship of one God. It is discussed however the atma (individual soul) can be one with the universal or cosmic soul.
Science Notes Class 6
The 11 main Upanishads are:-
- Katha
- Isa
- Kena
- Mundaka
- Svetasvatara
- Prasna
- Mandukya
- Aitareya
- Brihadaranayaka
- Taittiriya
- Chandogya
Founder of Confucianism is Confucium (Chinese philosofer and a social reformer)
****
0 Comments