Buddha And Asok The Two Important People In Medieval India

Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Gautama Buddha or just simply the Buddha was born in what is now known as Nepal sometime between c. 563 BCE and c. 480 BCE into the caste system with his caste being the Kshatriya, the caste of royalty or the military elite. He was born to Śuddhodana, a head chief of the Shakya tribe, and Maya, a princess. Siddhartha’s father held a naming ceremony for a five day old Siddhartha where eight Brahmin priests predicted that Siddhartha would either be a great holy man or a great king. The prophecy was correct as Siddhartha Gautama has had one of the largest impacts on Asian culture by creating the fourth most popular religion in the world that is still active 2,500 years later.

Another principle belief of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths which was established by the

The main focus of Buddhism is that the faith centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality, The Buddha was also called the Enlightened One, he taught that the way to eliminate suffering begins with understanding the true nature of the world. He rejected speculation about such matters as God, the nature of the universe, and the afyterlife, urging his folloers to focus instead on the Four Noble Truths by which they can free themselves from suffering. “We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by God.” The disbelief in God does not make Buddhism an atheistic religion. The Buddha rejected the concept of the atman, or soul. In

1. Siddhartha believed that wisdom could only be attained by experience. How did his experiences lead him

Asoka is one of the greatest rulers of India. He had Rule for thirty eight year 274 BC -232 BC (cite). According to Buddhist dharma and law Asoka ruled over vast empire. His greatest achievements were to spreading Buddhism throughout his empire and beyond. The edicts were translated in the 1830s. According to the Article of ANCIENT History “150 Asoka edicts have been found carved into the face of rock and cave walls as well as pillar all this was mark on his kingdom,.” which was northern India and south areas now known as Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan .

Asoka had a serious side and was known to be very interested in nature and spiritual matters. Within his mind, he was always worrying about his religion and if he made the right choice, if everyone would die out during this horrible time, and lastly if everyone could ever figure out the way he did things. Asoka always thought that if he chose the right decision and if everyone would hate him after that. According to Document C, “By the riverbank, he met a Buddhist (an adherent of the religion of the teachings of Buddha) monk and told him to sit beneath the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha had found enlightenment.”

Asoka was an enlightened ruler who ruled over India over 2,000 tears ago. He helped spread religion and established reforms. Asoka also turned away from violence. The religion Asoka spread was Buddhism.

In addition, Asoka found enlightenment. An example is that in document C it states that Asoka sat under the Bodhi tree. To explain, he found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, was able to find/gain power and peace, plus he was able to do some of the things The Buddha did under

Asoka, Emperor of India, made one of the most famous artifacts to express the history towards Buddhism in India. During his years, he created his famous edicts that around 250 BCE, the teachings of buddha inscribed in it so that many would be able to find a way to reach to reach the state of Nirvana , “ the highest place that someone can attain of perfect peace and happiness like what is considered heaven.” (vocabulary.com, 2003) By following this path of the Buddha, it was believed that it would lead to great welfare, health, happiness, and fortune to you. His 33 edicts are currently located throughout modern India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

To start off, Asoka changed his ways of life. At first Asoka conquered many lands (Doc A). This allowed him to build a huge, strong empire. When he attacked these empires and land, he scared many people causing no one wanting to fight (Doc B). After all the fights he felt he had just enough land to stop and not have his empire collapse. When all these wars ended, after he felt content, he felt a great crisis (Doc C). Asoka went to sit under the Bodhi and felt enlightenment to change his harsh ways. The Bodhi tree showed him the Buddhist religion and kindness. If it wasn’t for his crisis and the Bodhi tree, then he wouldn’t have turned over a new leaf to spread religion and Kindness.

The Indian leader Asoka ruled over the Mauryan Empire over 2000 years ago.  He helped to spread one of the world’s most popular religions & established reforms that still have great meaning for modern-day Indians.  But this story also has a dark side.In my opinion Asoka is an Enlightened Ruler because he wanted forgiveness and wanted to be friends with Kalinga, he found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Nehru a country prime minister describes Asoka as a great ruler, & he spread Buddha’s teachings to Asia and throughout his country.

The Buddha went in between to extremes to find the middle way. The middle way consists of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The four noble truths are the most commonly shared belief between Buddhists. They are ways to eliminate desire, which will eliminate suffering. Number one says, “ life consists of suffering.” Number two says, “everything is impermanent and ever-changing, we suffer because we desire those things that are impermanent.” Number three says, “ the way to liberate oneself from suffering is to eliminate desire.” And number four says, “ desire can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.” The eightfold path is a group of statements, they are not sequential things, they are just attitudes and actions. The eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right live hood, right effort, right awareness and right meditation. By following these attitudes and actions, you can achieve a life without suffering#.

Buddhism’s founder was a man named Siddhartha Gautama, meaning “one who realized his goal.” Buddhists believe that when Siddhartha’s mother, Maha, was conceived she had a dream involving a white elephant carrying a lotus flower. She interpreted the dream to mean that her son would grow up to become a great spiritual leader. Just a week after Siddhartha was born, his mother died. Upon her death, he lived with his wealthy aunt and his father on a large estate. As Siddhartha grew up, his father kept him away from all suffering and anguish of the world. Unlike many of his peers, he was well educated and free from the world’s sorrows.

Buddhism, just like all religions, has many beliefs that they follow. Two of their beliefs are the Four Noble Truths and Karma.

Buddhism arose in northern India in the 6th century BCE. The historical founder of Buddhism, Siddharta Gautama (c.560-480 BCE) was born in a village called Lumbini into a warrior tribe called the Sakyas (from where he derived the title Sakyamuni, meaning 'Sage of the Sakyas'). According to tradition Gautama's father, Suddhodana was the king of a small principality based on the town of Kapilavastu. His mother, Queen Maya, died seven days after Gautama's birth. Following the death of Maya, Suddhodana married Maya's sister, Prajapati, by whom Gautama was brought up in great luxury and sheltered from the harshness of the outside world.