Flashcards
ASOKA
Flashcards do conjunto (14)
- 1ASOKA - 268-232 BCE 'WITHOUT SORROW'DATES/FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Most important lay person in Buddhist history (except the Buddha). He is significant as he was the only Buddhist king. - 2Mauryan Dynasty - Maghda Empire. He created the 32 rock edicts which still stand today. He is the grandson of Chanrangupta who founded the dynasty/empire.The Vedic tradition was dominant before Asokas reign and Buddhism was a minor religion - part of the Shramana. India was ruled in states; Monarchs and Republicans - Caste system was also inforced at this time.
- 3ASOKAS EARLY LIFE: Empire was set up by his grandfather - Chanrangupta. Asoka was a violent king, he deployed many battles across the East.BATTLE OF KALLINGA:
Last battle Asoka admitted. Bloodiest of all battles to this date (RE13) - Basic overview of the battle. 150,000 were held captive, 100,000 died and many more that number were injured. - 4He was crowned emporor at age 16, but didnt offically start ruiling until the age of 21. He ruled from 268-232 BCE. He was trained in ruling and as a warrior he was trained to fight. He sent his missioniaries to places like Sri-Lanka and Thailand to have wars over seas. There are stories that claim Asoka killed his brother for the title of king.CONVERSION:
After the battle of Kallinga, Asoka had a 'moment of clarity' - and decided he wantged to conquer the Dharma. He converted to Buddhism after the battle and changed his ways completely. He was fully focused on the Dharma and started promoting peace. Asoka's conversion can be compared to the 4 sights the Buddha saw as it revealed the true nature of reality and the way things actually are. - 5SOCIAL REFORMS: Builyt rest houses, planted tress, wells and resoviours for animals and humans. He noted the 10 duties of a king, the 6 relationships which were important to any person following the Buddhist religion. He placed in vets and reformed views around prisoners, torture and banned the death penalty. He gave tac releif to the people of Kallinga and built many hospitals.6 RELATIONSHIPS:
PARENT/CHILD
TEACHER/PUPIL
MASTER/SERVANT
FRIENDS/FAMILIARS
HUSBAND/WIFE
HOUSEHOLDERS/RENUNCIANTS. - 6He also promoted the 5 precepts and the 8 fold path which is reflected in the Rock Edicts.BUDDHIST REFORMS:
Principle of Ahimsa - no harm to any living beings; promotion of vegetarianism - Bans animals being killed for the purpose of food - we should protect animals (if you are given food that is an animal but wasnt killed for food is ok to take)
(RE1+8). - 7Asoka also noted that criticizing someone else's religion and praising your own doesnt mean that one is better than the other - you will not gain happiness from this (RE12). You should accept and tolerate all other religions.Asoka refers to himself as 'beloved of the God's' - this is tapping in to the mainsteams. Buddhism could have died out if it was not for Asoka - he took the religion out of India and sent his missionaries back to Sri-Lanka, Burma and Thailand not for war but to spread the word of Buddhism.
- 8CRITICAL ANALYSIS: We can argue that Asoka was noy really Buddhist. Buddhism enforces equality however India continued to stay devided and still is to this day. The Rock Edicts enforced social order, telling people how to act rather than giving them ethical guidlines to follow like the Buddha. Your journey is person, you need to find the middle way yourself, not with law and order. Therefore, the edicts can be seen as a form of control.Asoka claimed to be Buddhist however his principles are not in corrolation with Buddhist principles. He was primarily concerned with the DHARMA, and very rarely ever mentions the word BUDDHIST.
- 9Even after his conversion he was still feared by many. It can be argued that people followed Asoka out of fear and feeling that they have to obide by the Rock Edicts.Asoka claiming that Dharma = truth is quite vague as this is applied in all Indian traditions, it doesn't just strongly apply to one in particular. There is no explicit reference to Buddhism therefore his ways may be seen as manipulative techniques to have people following him so he is still in control.
- 10It can be argued that all of the social reforms were a ploy for increasing trade. He never mentioned Buddhist philosophy on the pillars which adds to the controlling feel Asoka had over people.Asoka was influential, it would be incorrect to say that he wasnt and people should respect him for being one of the greatest Buddhist leaders - the power of Asoka.
- 11ROCK EDICT 1 "NO LIVING BEINGS ARE TO BE SLAUGHTERED OR OFFERED IN SACRAFICE" (Buddhist reform - Ahimsa)ROCK EDICT 2
"MADE PROVISION FOR TWO TYPES OF MEDICAL TREATMENT"
(Social reform - nets and human medical centres) - 12ROCK EDICT 5 "THEY ARE OCCUPIED EVERYWHERE" - Referring to the Dharma, Work and contribute to society. Social reform.ROCK EDICT 8
"VISITS TO PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, INSTRUCTING THEM IN DHAMMA"
Buddhist reform. - 13ROCK EDICT 12 "HONORS BOTH AESTETICS AND HOUSEHOLDERS OF ALL RELIGIONS" Buddhist reform - promoting unity of the Dharma for all religions. Having respect for all faiths.ROCK EDICT 13
"FORGIVE WHERE FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE"
Buddhist reform. Reference to the battle of Kallinga. - 14KALLINGA ROCK EDICT 1 "JUDICIAL OFFICERS OF THE CITY MAY STRIVE TO DO THEIR DUTY".
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- A-Level Religious Studies FlashCards sobre ASOKA, criado por kizza_hill em 09-06-2016.
- Criado por
- kizza_hill · jun 2016
- Atualizado
- 16 jun 2016
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