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The Awakened One - History of Buddhism #1 - Extra History

🕑 Added 2023-07-28 17:30:01 +0000 UTC

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Joshua Evans-Lowell

Something interesting I've read (IIRC this was from Religion For Breakfast but it might have just been a Twitter rando) is that westerners tend to define "religion" as "other people's version of Christianity", but that definition is kinda self-evidently bad and restrictive. Buddhism has meant an enormous range of different things to different people and I'm quite excited to see this series cover that.

Martin Verran

If mankind cannot know the inner workings of the cosmos, then why does mankind spend billions trying to understand the inner workings of the cosmos? 598 BC In the Kingdom of Judea, King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon Invades Syria and Palestine once again, Seeking to bring his Rebellious Vassals to Heel. King Jehoiakim of Judea Appeals to Pharaoh Harsiese for Aid, but Harsiese is Distracted by the Great March South, so no Egyptian Aid is Forthcoming. 562 BC In the Babylonian Empire, King Nebuchadnezzar II Passes away at the Age of 72. His Death will be Remembered by Future Historians as Marking the End of what had been a Golden Age, when Babylon, at the Head of a Coalition of Middle Eastern States, at First Defeated and then Overthrew its Hated Assyrian Oppressors and their Egyptian Allies, with Nebuchadnezzar II as its most Competent King, who Lead Babylon into an Era of Hegemony over the Middle East. In the Christian Bible and in the Jewish Torah he will be Viewed more Negatively, as the King whose Army Burned and Plundered the Holy City of Jerusalem, bringing an End to the Royal Line of David and of the Kingdom of Israel, beginning the Period of Babylonian Captivity. 560 BC In the Republic of Ionia, King Croesus of Lydia Invades the Republic of Ionia, Seeking to Incorporate it into his Kingdom. 528 BC In the Kingdom of Magadha, Siddhartha Gautama sits down under the Shade of a Bodhi Tree near the Town of Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and begins to Meditate. He begins to Practice Mindfulness of Breath and Enters the same State of Concentrated Meditation he had Experienced as a Boy by Focusing his Mind upon a Single Object. Meditation Leads to more Refined States, and, Gradually, Reveals to him a way of Leading the Mind to Enlightenment Called “the Noble Eightfold Path.” He has become “The Awakened One:” “The Buddha.” 500 BC In the Republic of Ionia, Pythagoras, a Greek Philosopher and “the Father of Numbers,” Preaches that a Vegetarian Diet is Healthier for the Body and the Spirit. Later Greek Philosophers will Learn from him and, in turn, will Extoll the Benefits of Vegetarianism. Vegetarians, though not a Majority, are still an Important and Sizable Minority. 497 BC In the Republic of Ionia, Athens Responds to Ionian Requests for help and sends a Fleet of 20 Triremes, Accompanied by 5 sent from Eretria. Aristagoras Declines to Lead this Force and, instead, Nominates his Brother, Charopinos, and another Milesian, Hermophantus, as Generals. King Croesus II of Lydia begins to Raise an Army to Crush the Revolt, as the Task is now Clearly beyond the Local Satrap. The Greco-Lydian Wars have begun. 400 BC In the Republic of Malla, Gautama Buddha Passes away at the Age of 80 in the Town of Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, from a Common Illness: Food Poisoning. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as the Founder of the Fourth largest Religion in the World: Buddhism, whose Teachings will come to be Followed by 520,000,000 People Worldwide, Adapting Different Forms wherever it takes Root. Some Buddhist Denominations will Preach that the Buddha was a Magical Being who Consorted with Gods and Performed Miracles. Others will Argue that he was no more than a Human Being, which, they say, will Add Power to his Message. 399 BC 15th February In the Athenian Republic, the Greek Philosopher Socrates is Sentenced to Death by the Athenian Authorities on Charges of Atheism and Corrupting the Youth of Athens. He Refuses to Flee into Exile and Instead Commits Suicide at the Age of 71 by Drinking Hemlock. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as One of the most Widely Known Figures in Traditional Western Philosophy, as well as being its Founding Father. His Teachings will continue to be Taught in Classrooms and in Law Schools well into the 24th Century. In the Roman Republic, it has been Ten Years since Hostilities began between Rome and the Etruscan City of Veii. Situated very Close to each other, they have been Rivals for more than a Century. It is Decided by the Roman Senate that Rome cannot Share Power and Influence with these People anymore. Only One can Prevail In the Roman Republic, Roman Peasants in the Roman Capital of Rome are Ordered by Consul Medullinus of Rome to Build a Barracks.

Trevin Beattie

Already saw this pop up on Nebula, and I think it’s a fascinating topic. From what I understand so far, Buddhism isn’t so much a religion as it is a philosophy of living … with a mythical backstory.