SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. What are some distinctive features of the Gandhara Buddha statue? 2. How does this statue represent the teachings and symbolism of Buddhism?
SOURCE7 Statue of the Buddha from the Gandhara region in northern Pakistan, ýrst century CE
The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism: • All people, regardless of wealth, suffer pain. • Pain persists as long as one is trapped in the cycle of reincarnation (birth, death, rebirth). • Desire or craving causes pain. • To overcome desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path emphasises wisdom, ethical conduct, helping others and practising right concentration or meditation. The goal is to eliminate desire and achieve nirvana, a state of peace and joy, free from desires and suffering, where the soul merges with the universe. Buddhism spread across ancient India but declined by the 12th century CE. It spread to China, Japan, Tibet, Korea and Southeast Asia, where it remains inþuential today. 6.8.5 Jainism and the natural world
Jainism, another of ancient India’s three religions, emphasises ahimsa or non-violence, teaching that harming any living being is wrong. Many Jains are vegetarians and protect the environment, even sweeping the ground to avoid harming insects. Jainism explained Ahimsa is one of ýve major vows in Jainism that all Jains must follow. By keeping these vows, Jains believe anyone can become a god. The Five Vows of Jainism are: • ahimsa — non-violence
• satya — truthfulness • asteya — non-stealing • brahmacharya — celibacy/chastity • aparigraha — non-attachment.
Jains follow special vows to try to escape the cycle of reincarnation. They believe that once a person is free from reincarnation, their soul becomes immortal and stays in a state of happiness forever. Today, Jainism is a smaller religion in India. It became better known in the western world because of Mahatma Gandhi, a famous Indian leader. Although Gandhi was not born a Jain, his non-violent protests were similar to Jain teachings.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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