PRE BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHICAL

TEACHINGS ON

EPISTEMOLOGY

Ven.Dangaswewa Vajira Thero

Subject –BUPH-22043

Year- Second Year

BHIKSU UNIVERSITY OF

SRILANKA

OUTLINES

Concept of Pre Buddhism

Social status quo of pre Buddhism

Philosophical teachings &

Epistemology

Conclusion

references

CONCEPT OF PRE BUDDHISM

Indus valley civilization.(Mohejo daro-

harappa)

People who have been living in this area are

not derived from any civilization

Later the ARYANS ,men came from middle

east countries, came and invaded .

None aryans followed their religious life with

concepts of Ascetic life style

Aryans followed the way of God concept

RELIGIOUS STATUS BETWEEN ARYANS & NONE

ARYANS

Characteristic Indus Valley Aryans

Religious practice Meditation Sacrifice (to the gods)

Main practitioner Ascetic Priest

Purpose of life Liberation This life, then heaven

Focus in life Renunciation Rebirth as householder

Morals based on Karma Social values

Social position Equality Caste (Brahmanic)

Origin of Wisdom Own (meditation)

experience

Scriptures like Vedas

SOCIAL STATUS QUO OF PRE BUDDHISM

THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

People of the Indus Valley Civilization ,called Harappa Civilization after the major cityof Harappa, were mainly farmers, although recent finds are indicating a welldeveloped culture. Eminent scholars have concluded that the origins of the practicesof yoga and meditation can be traced to the Indus Valley civilization. An image of ahuman figure has been found that is seated in a cross-legged posture, hands restingon the knees and eyes narrowed ,clearly suggesting meditation. Also, the wanderingascetic is frequently mentioned. These ascetics are said to have practiced methodsof mind training, to have been celibate, naked or clothed in the most meager ofgarments, to have had no fixed abode, and to have taught a way beyond birth anddeath.

Civilization was very advanced, both materially and spiritually.

THE ARYANS

According to most scholars, the

original Indus Valley civilization

was abruptly interrupted

sometime between 1800 and

1500 BCE by an invasion of the

Aryans ,people from a region

somewhere in Eastern Europe.

They were warriors and traders,

as opposed to the original

population of farmers. After the

middle of the second millennium

BCE, Indian society became

largely dominated by Aryan

values. Many of the Aryan

principles still dominate

"orthodox Indian philosophy" and

present-day Hinduism; such as

the importance of the Vedic

scriptures and the supremacy of

the Brahmic class ,origins of the

caste-system.

PHILOSOPHICAL TEACHINGS & EPISTEMOLOGY

Indus valley The religion of the Indus Valley civilization evidently

contained several important elements. meditation, or the practice of training the mind,

the practice of renunciation, abandoning household life and living the life of a homeless ascetic, or mendicant

conception of rebirth or reincarnation occurring over the course of a countless number of lives,

a sense of moral responsibility extending beyond this life, some form of the conception of karma.

paramount goal of religious life, namely, the goal of liberation, of freedom from the endless cycle of birth and death.

Aryans Their origins lay in Eastern Europe, and their

religion in many ways resembled that of the ancient Greeks, Greek pantheon

Aryans revered a number of gods who were personifications of natural phenomena, including

Indra (not unlike Zeus), the god of thunder lightning;

Agni, the god of fire,

Varuna, the god of water

while the religion of the Indus Valley civilizationstressed renunciation, meditation, rebirth, karma,and the final goal of liberation, the Aryan religionstressed this life, ritual sacrifice, loyalty, wealth,progeny, power, and heaven. Thus it is clear thatthe sets of religious attitudes, practices, and valuesprofessed by these two ancient civilizations ofIndia were almost diametrically opposed to eachother.

EVIDENCES

Buddha's life. For example, after his birth, two distincttypes of people made predictions about his futuregreatness. The first prophesy was pronounced byAsita, who was a hermit and ascetic living in themountains, although the biographies of the Buddhainsist that Asita was a Brahmin, a member of thepriestly caste of Aryan society.

A little later, we are told that 108 Brahmins wereinvited to the ceremony for bestowing a name on theyoung Buddha. There, they also prophesied the futuregreatness of the child. These men were evidentlypriests who had not renounced household life and whothus represented the original, orthodox practiceaccepted in the Aryan fold.

CONCLUSION

What is pre Buddhist period?

People ,society, economy, politics, during this

era.

Pre Buddhist Process of lifestyle of people in

India.

Religion and epistemology in the

contemporary society .

REFERENCES

Brhmajala sutta,silakkandavagga, diganikaya

http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/philosophy/thera/001-background.htm (00:03 A.M-02/10/2016)

http://www.viewonbuddhism.org/pre_buddhism_history.html-(00:15A.M-02/10/2016)

https://beingtrulyhuman.org/articles/issues/44/06-pre-buddhist-thought-in-india 00:15A.M-02/10/2016)

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