Section 3 HW

           Buddhism is one of the most important Asian spiritual traditions. In its 2.5 millennium years of history, Buddhism has demonstrated a flexible approach, adapting to different local conditions and ideas while maintaining its basic teachings. Because of its vast geographical expansion, coupled with its tolerant spirit, Buddhism today embraces many different traditions, beliefs and practices.

In recent decades, Buddhism has also acquired a significant presence outside of Asia. With 400 million people in the world, it is no longer specific to culture. For many centuries, this tradition has been a powerful force in Asia, affecting almost every aspect of the Eastern world: arts, morals, traditions, mythology, social institutions, and so on. Today, Buddhism also influences these regions outside of Asia.

ORIGIN AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT

The origin of Buddhism refers to a man, Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, born in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) in the fifth century BCE. Rather than the founder of a new religion, Siddhartha Gautama was the founder and leader of a sect of wandering ascetics (Sramanas), one of the many sects that existed at that time throughout India. This site is known as Sangha to distinguish it from other similar communities.

The Sramanas movement, born of the world renaissance culture that appeared in India from the 7th century BCE, was the common origin of many religious and philosophical traditions in India, including Charvaka School, Buddhism, and its religion. sister, jainism. The Sramanas were renunciators who rejected the Vedic teachings, which were the traditional order in India.

Siddhartha Gautama lived in a time of profound social change in India. The authority of the Vedic religion is challenged by a new religious and philosophical vision. The time of this Siddhartha was developed by a nomadic society about a millennium earlier, especially in the Gangetic Plain. But things were different in the fifth century BC, the nomads were replaced by nomadic caravans, they evolved to become villages, then cities and finally cities. In the new urban context, the Vedic faith. Siddhartha Gautama was one of the many detractors of the religious establishment.

IN SOME RELIGIONS, SIN is THE ORIGIN OF HUMAN SUFFERING. In Buddhism, there is no sin; THE ROOT CAUSE OF HUMAN SUFFERING IS AVIDY "IGNORANCE".

After the death of Siddhartha Gautama, the community gradually became involved in a movement close to religion, and the teachings of Siddhartha became the basis of Buddhism. Historical evidence suggests that Buddhism has had a modest beginning. Apparently, this was a relatively minor tradition in India, and some scholars have suggested that the impact of the Buddha on the field of writing, inscriptions and archaeological evidence from that time.

In the 3rd century BCE, our image of Buddhism is very different. The Indian emperor Mauryan Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE), who ruled from 268 to 232 BCE, turned Buddhism into the state religion of India. It created a social and political climate conducive to the acceptance of Buddhist ideas, encouraged Buddhist missionary activity, and even inspired Buddhist monks with certain expectations of clientelism and influence over political decision-making mechanisms. The archaeological evidence of Buddhism between the Buddha's death and the Ashoka era is rare; after Ashoka's time, he is abundant.

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