Buddhism Change Over Time

Buddism is a religion that originated 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama (known as the Buddah) was himself enlightened at the age of 35. In Siddhartha Gotama’s early years, he lived as a prince in his royal palace. When he was 29 years old, he retired to the forest where he followed a spiritual life of meditation. He attained enlightenment after six years under the Bodhi Tree in in Bodh Gaya, India. Siddhartha was not the founder of a new religion, but the founder and leader of a group of people called Sramanas. This sect later became known as Sangha. Sangha people preserved the Buddha's original teachings and provided spiritual support for the Buddhist community.

After Siddhartha Gautama passed away, the community he founded slowly developed into a religious movement. The teachings of Siddhartha became the basis of Buddhism. However, by the third century BCE, the view of Buddhism changed immensely. Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Indian emperor who ruled from 268 to 232 BCE, made Buddhism the state religion of India. He encouraged Buddhist activity and made Buddhist monks in charge of political decision making. At the time of Ashoka’s reign, trade routes were opened through southern India. Buddhist merchants took Buddhism with them as they used these roads. Buddhism entered Sri Lanka (small island nation south of India) at this at this time. Mahavamsa, a Buddhist chronicle, claimed the Devanampiya (ruler of Sri Lanka), was converted to Buddhism by Ashoka’s son, Mahinda. The …show more content…
This is because of two major factors in history. The first being because of several Muslim invasions-therefore creating the advancement of Hinduism. This incorporated the Buddha as part of the pantheon of endless gods. In the end, the Buddha was swallowed up by the realm of Hindu gods, his importance diminished, and in the very land where it was born, Buddhism dwindled to be practiced by very