Religions of India, Monday Febuary 24th erin greer erigre stargazer288@hotmail.com

<title>Religions of India, Monday Febuary 24th erin greer erigre stargazer288@hotmail.com</title>
Religions of India-Class Notes 2/24/03<br>
<br>
No 2nd Mid-Term<br>
Read section on Sikhism in Smith<br>
<br>
-Burtt- (Early Theravada Buddhism)<br>
Desirable character traits, virtues<br>
    Discipline<br>
    Asceticism<br>
    Calmness, Serenity<br>
    Chastity<br>
-Other Themes-<br>
Futility of attempting to be happy through fulfilling desires. Vanity of earthly wealth, sensual pleasures<br>
<br>
-Theravada- (teachings of the Elders)<br>
-Earliest and most authentic Buddhism- closest to teachings of Siddharth Guatama.<br>
-Earliest scriptures written on Sri Lanka in Pali (cognate language of Sanskrit)<br>
-Mahayana gave the name "Himayana" to the Theravada meaning "little raft".<br>
-Monastic- monks, nuns and laypeople (beginners)<br>
-Ideal:Arhat "perfected saint" peace, calmness, discipline<br>
-Self-help works, gospel<br>
-One Buddha (Siddhartha)<br>
-No Bhakti<br>
-No metaphysics<br>
-key virtue: wisdom<br>
<br>
-Mahayana- (greater vehicle, raft, boat)<br>
-later less authentic development<br>
-bogus claim to possess the secret teachings of the Buddha, revealed to his most advanced disciples.<br>
-Texts written in India-Sanscrit<br>
-Popular-no great sacrifice to join Mahayana<br>
Ideal:Buddhisatta "buddha in the making" (Earthly or Heavenly Being)<br>
-compassion-achieves Nirvana in this life and stays to help others achieve Nirvana <br>
-grace-help from heavenly Buddhas and Buddhisattas<br>
-Many Buddhas- Siddhartha was just one<br>
-Bhakti again<br>
-Metaphysics<br>
-Key virtue: compassion<br>