Buddhism is considered by many as more of a philosophy than a religion, and it emerged from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, or The Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. Until the 20th century, Buddhism has historically been most prominent in East and Southeast Asia, where several different paths, approaches and texts emerged. Today, the global influence of Buddhism is increasing in regions with more than 470 million adherent worldwide and several different philosophies that blend with other faiths and traditions. This module will provide a brief overview of the history of Buddhism, address a few texts considered significant in contemporary practice, and explore the wide range of different contemporary Buddhist communities throughout the world.
Objectives:
- recognize significant historical people and events in Buddhist history
- describe shared beliefs and practices in sacred Buddhist texts using theoretical frameworks from the field of religion
- situate a contemporary Buddhist community within its specific social and historical contexts based on global flows and local circumstances
This module is divided into three sections: history, dharma and contemporary contexts.
History
The history of Buddhism begins in the 6th century BCE in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha in northeastern India. Spreading from India to Central and Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, Buddhism has played a central role in the spiritual, cultural, and social life of Asia. During the 20th century Buddhism spread to Europe and the United States with more than 470 million followers practicing different traditions around the world. This lesson will provide a brief history of Buddhism which includes significant people and events, address the relationship between Buddhism and non-Buddhist communities, and introduce how significant people and events in Buddhist history contribute to Buddhist identity, culture and religious practice.
The Dharma
In Buddhism, dharma means “cosmic law and order”, and the term is also applied to the teachings of Buddha. Through several centuries following the death of the first Buddha, scripture and doctrine developed in several closely related literary languages of ancient India, especially in Pali and Sanskrit. This lesson will introduce important Buddhist texts, address significant stories, events and teachings in the Buddhist texts, and explore the messages and meanings communicated in Buddhist texts.
The Social & Historical Context of Contemporary Buddhist Communities
With an estimated 200 to 300 million adherents to Buddhism worldwide, the global Buddhist community, or sangha, is comprised of a diverse range of different traditions, practices, and beliefs. This lesson will introduce a few of the most common Buddhist communities throughout the world.
Readings & Resources
For Discussion: Write about your personal experiences with and existing knowledge about Buddhism. If you are not Buddhist, describe how and where you have learned about Buddhism. If you consider yourself Buddhist, explain what it means to be Buddhist from your perspective and describe any unique experiences, if any. (min 500 words and respond to at least two student posts.)
When you complete the discussion, go to the Historical Buddhism lesson.