It includes Concept, Exponents, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Axiology, Fundamental Principles, Aims of Education, Curriculum, Methods of teaching, Role of Teacher, Role of students, Discipline, School, Merits and Demerits of Buddhism.

1. Buddhism
BY- JEMIMA SULTANA
Department of Education
Aligarh Muslim University

2. Contents:
► Concept
► Exponents
► Metaphysics, Epistemology, Axiology
► Fundamental Principles
► Aims of Education
► Curriculum
► Methods of teaching
► Role of Teacher
► Role of students
► Discipline
► School
► Merits and Demerits

3. Concept:
► It is nastika(Heterodox) type of school
► Do not believe in vedas
► Buddhism derived from “buddhi”(intellect)
► Siddhartha gautama found this philosophy
► He was an Indian prince, born in 623 B.C. at Kapilavastu
► After 49 days of meditation he attained “bodhi”(enlightenment) at
bodhgaya under a pipal tree(tree of enlightenment)
► Delivered his 1st lecture at Saranath(Dharm chakra pravartana)
► Died in 493 BCE at Kushinagar in UP.

4. Exponents:
► Siddhartha Gautama
► Nagarjuna
► Dalail Lama
► Ashoka

5. Metaphysics:
► Non existence of God
► God is not the creator of this world
► This life is full of suffering
► Nirvana(liberation) can get only by following buddhism
► Until nirvana attained cycle of rebirth will happen and karma
has to face

6. Epistemology:
► To become well aware of the environment and the sufferings
► True knowledge for enlightenment can be obtained when we get
detached from the desires of the world
► There are 8 fold path(Astang marg) to attain true knowledge
► Rght faith (samyak Drishti), Right resolve (samyak Sankalpa), Right
speech (samyak vaak), Right action (samyak karmanta), Right living
(samyak Ajiva), Right effort (samyak Vyayama), Right thought (samyak
Smriti), Right concentration (samyak samadhi)

7. Axiology:
► No attachment to the materialistic action
► Extinction of worldly desires
► Truth, non-violence, charity, good conduct etc.

8. Fundamental Principles:
► There is nothing permanent in this world
► Everything has a cause for its existence
► law of Karma
► Non existence of God
► Four noble truths(Arya-satya) of life-
1. there is suffering(Dukha)
2. there is cause of suffering(Dukha samudaya)
3. there is cessation of suffering(Dukha Nirodha)
4. there is way for the cessation of suffering(Dukha nirodha marg)

9. Fundamental Principles:
► Opposed to caste system
► Choose madhya pratipada(middle path)
► Nirvana- through the cessation of suffering, it is the highest attainment,
free from the circle of birth or death, liberation or salvation. Param Anand
(supreme bliss)
► Nirvana can be attained through the eightfold path
► Tripitaka (three baskets)- Vinaya pitaka (rules of conduct), Sutta pitaka
(Buddha’s Seremons), and Abhidhamma pitaka (exposition of
philosophical theories)

10. Fundamental Principles:
► Triratnas(three jewels)-1. Pragra(wisdom), 2. Sheel(Activity),
3. Samadhi(concentratiion)
► Two forms of Buddhism-
1. Hinayana: less vehicle, believe in liberation of individual self rather
than collective whole, believes in original teachings of Buddha, do not
believe in idol worship, they follow Pali language.
2. Mahayana: more vehicle, believes in welfare for all, they believe in
heavenliness of Buddha, believes in idol worship and follows Sanskrit
language.

11. Aims of Education:
► To spread Buddhist religion
► personality development
► physical development
► character development
► spiritual development
► intellectual development
► social development
► to remove caste system
► to help the individual attain Nirvana(liberation)

12. Curriculum:
► Religious books- Sutantra, Vinaya,Dharma
► Spinning, weavings, painting, tailoring
► Its education was divided into three
1. Primary education(8 years):
► free of cost
► all children admitted irrespective of caste
► excluded children with physical deformities and sickness

13. Primary Education:
► Reading, writing, arithmetic
49 alphabets of Pali language
Prabajja(going out) ritual was necessary for admission
Three oath- Buddham Saranam gacchami (I take
refuge with Buddha), Dhammam Saranam gacchami(I
take refuge with religion) and Sangham Saranam
gacchami(I take refuge with Sangha).

14. Curriculum:
2. Higher education:
► general knowledge of grammar
► Religion, Astrology, Ayurveda, Philosophy
► Duration 12 years
3. Bhikshu education:
► For monks
► 8 years
► to join Bhikshu education one had to undergo “Upasampada
Sanskara”

15. Methods of teaching:
► Pali was the medium of instruction
► Oral discussions
► Preaching, repetition and exposition
► Discussions and tours
► Conferences and demonstrations
► Meditation in solitude

16. Role of Teacher:
► To propagate Buddhist religion.
► To impart knowledge.
► To help the students in all round development
► To help the students attain Nirvana (liberation)

17. Role of students:
► To follow discipline
► To lead a simple life
► To devote to teachers and to serve them

18. Discipline:
► Punishment is prohibited
► Self discipline through meditation

19. School:
► In Buddhist period students have to stay in Sangha or
Biharas.
► School should be located in peaceful environment
► Centres of learning- Takshila (Islamabad), Nalanda
(Bihar), Ballavi (Gujarat), Vikramshila (Bihar), jagaddala
(Bangladesh), Odantapuri (Bihar)

20. Merits:
► The mentality of constructing big buildings increased and Buddhism is
mainly responsible for that.
► Free from communal narrowness.
► Bhikshuks led life of austerity and simplicity.
► Emphasis laid down on physical, mental and spiritual development of The
peoples
► Politics was not allowed.
► Corporal punishment was not given.
► Relation between teacher and the taught was ideal, teacher as father and
student as his son.

21. Demerits:
► Could not give proper attention to the occupational, industrial,
technical Education so it may be called one sided.
► It gave a severe blow to the social development because Buddhist
Bhikshuks left their family life. So, destruction of families ties.
► Education for women was neglected.
► Non-violent Buddhist education neglected the military training and
uses of weapons which is necessary to protect country.

22. Thank You