Today, I discuss my thoughts and views on The Silk Road. As interesting as I find it, I will admit I was taken aback by the mention of Venice in the video; "The Silk Road: Where East Met West." I was floored to learn of the presence of many Arabian artifacts present in Europe, especially Venice!! Yes, you read correct....Venice!! "Wherever he looked, he saw the orient; windows everywhere that belonged to the Arab world. Venice is full of traces of the trade on which its wealth was based; memories of a network of business connections known today as The Silk Road, that once stretched across the Mediterranean sea into the very heart of Asia." (Silk 3:43-4:07)
The book mentions Tiantai Buddhism in China which the video fails to highlight. Exploring the origination and purpose of Tiantai Buddhism is intriguing while also complex and confusing. Reading about the monk, Zhiyi (Chih-i) who founded Gouqing monastery and initiated the teaching of "Tiantai" Buddhism is enlightening. "Although Zhiyi is recognized as the founder of Tiantai, he was (as is so often the case) largely responsible for pulling together and giving a coherent form to currents that had been developing for centuries before his time. Zhiyi played the role of a peacemaker, a compromise maker, who brought together the disparate and often feuding members of the family of Buddhist teaching in China." (Bresnan 382-383)
Transportation and Expansion- The Silk Road Camels
As I watched the video and made my notes on my read from Chapter 16: Early Buddhism in China by Patrick Bresnan, I could find myself wondering why there was no mention of the rich presence of Muslims in China in the book. The video, on the other hand, describes the impact of the Muslim traders in Chinese community and how religion came with them. "Hmmm, lamb kabobs, which I'm pretty sure was a Turkish dish. Everywhere I look, there are people wearing Islamic prayer hats and this is nothing new. It's not some recent wave of immigration. I think you'll agree I could be forgiven if I became confused. And the fact there has been a Muslim community here since the eighth century is entirely due to The Silk Road; to the lines of trade and communication it established. The Muslims who came here weren't tourists or captives; they were traders." (Silk 8:05-8:43)
"Trade brought these people here and religion came with them inevitably as naturally as their luggage." (Silk 10:49-10:56) This passage right here gives me a better understanding of how religion flows with people through their travels, trades, commodities and despite language barriers, it somehow still manages to flourish and leave a legacy behind for future generations to come.
Also learning of Zhiyi's emphasis on the nurturing of compassion in all things is enlightening. "The mortal enemy of acceptance is hatred. The strength of hatred (and its fellow traveler, anger) is the perfect gauge of the strength of ego. And the ego, the illusion of a private self, is what Buddha held to be the greatest obstacle to liberation. It was for this reason that Zhiyi emphasized the nurturing of compassion in all things. Compassion and hatred cannot dwell together under the same roof." (Bresnan 384)
Citations
National Geographic Society. “The Silk Road.” National Geographic Society, 22 July 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/silk-road/.
“R/Videos - India, China, and the Maritime Silk Road: More than Just a Trade Route.” Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/ngaqsd/india_china_and_the_maritime_silk_road_more_than/.
To say I was educated on the traditions of both Confucianism as well as Daoism would be a gross understatement!! Growing up and to date, I consider myself somewhat of a snobbish quote freak 😊😊 but is that really true? Whoaaaa....let's just begin our conversation by having my little acknowledgement or public service announcement shall I say with me saying I have a lot more research and learning to do.
I shall begin by introducing my reads for the day; Chapter 13: Confucius and Confucianism & Chapter 14:Daoism from 'Awakening' by Patrick S. Bresnan. These two chapters bring to light three influential non-Buddhist traditions native to East Asia.
As I started reading through chapter 13, I began to have the realization on how intrigued I already was on learning about the early life of this great philosopher named Confucius.
Confucius was born in 551 BCE. And was a native of Eastern China. Having lost his father at the age of three, he was raised by his widowed mother until the age of nineteen when he married and settled down. Confucius had a brilliant mind, was always interested in learning, especially the study of the ancient history and culture of his people.
As a scholar, the suffering of the common people was the central concern of Confucius. "Confucius was a very compassionate man, and the suffering he saw everywhere among the common people moved him to action." (Bresnan 307) As Confucius looked back to the past Zhou dynasty; a feudal era that would eventually give way to the Han dynasty, he identified prominent figures of the era, 'sages' to whom he attributed almost divinely inspired wisdom. With this knowledge, Confucius set out to bring a healing reformation of the social order, considering himself a transmitter. He would reveal the truth of Dao, which, to Confucius, meant the right "way" for men to live.
Daoism, on the contrary, is undoubtedly a reaction to the teaching of Confucius. The Daoist tradition is divided into two very different species: Philosophical Daoism and Religious Daoism. The central teaching of Philosophical Daoism is found in two fascinating works; the Dao De Jing and the Zhuang Zi.
"Daoism is founded on a deep love of nature, a love of the organic wholeness of nature. Mankind- that is, human society- is seen to be an integral part of the natural order, and as such, human life is potentially a perfect expression of the play of the Dao. To the Daoist, restoring humanity's proper harmony within the natural order thus becomes the only matter of real importance." (Bresnan 338)
After the demise of the Zhou dynasty, the four centuries preceding it- ravished with feudal warfare, ravaging armies, brutal conquest , ruined crops and villages, contributed towards the formation of the Period of Warring states. Unsurprisingly enough, this period also became known as the Period of the Hundred Philosophers. Upon Confucius's demise, he was survived by a community of disciples dedicated to preserving the teaching of the Master. One such disciple who remained steadfast was Mencius (his Chinese name was Meng Zi). One can almost think of the relationship between Confucius and Mencius as that of Socrates and Plato. Both Confucius and Mencius had commonalities they shared; both were itinerant philosophers who failed in their desire to hold powerful public office, both were products of the Period of Warring states, they were from the same general region.
What I found rather interesting is how both men had equitable agreements as well as vast disagreements on their teachings and thoughts. "Of greatest importance was the basic agreement between them as to the truth of Dao, theright "way" (that is, the natural right way) of conducting one's life. Both men believed that right education could transform the wild infant into a man of junzi, a "Superior Man", a sage- and that achieving sage-hood was the only legitimate goal of life. Mencius fully agreed with Confucius that the family is the basis of the social order and that the maturing of compassion begins within family. Then through right education, compassion can be directed to move outward, ultimately to encompass the universal family." (Bresnan 318)
"Perhaps the most salient point of difference between Mencius and Confucius concerns purpose. Confucius, was the Superior Man's reason for being in terms of government service. On the other hand, Mencius, focused on right living, not right governing, as the proper goal of the Superior Man." (Bresnan 318) While Confucius focused on building an elite system of scholars, selected through a series of examinations to enter the ranks of the governing class and dedicate their lives to serving wisely and being a model for all, "Mencius believed that everyone is at least potentially capable of becoming a sage because he believed in inherent "goodness" of human beings. Mencius added this element to the teaching of Confucianism." (Bresnan 319) I must say I am glad he chose to add this element as it brings much more depth to the teaching. The story Mencius shares about the child about to fall into an open well is quite relatable and pulls definitely pulls a string in the heart. It's a pulsating pressure cooker of emotions comprising of empathy, compassion for the fellow human beings, morality and human goodness.
Quote by Mencius
Daoism seems to be the very antithesis of Confucianism. As noted in chapter 14, when the young Confucius ventures out to meet Lao Zi- an older contemporary of Confucius, he comes out of the meeting having a profoundly moving experience. "Don't have anything to do with that man. He is a very dangerous man!" (Bresnan 336)
The Dao De Jing comprises of only 5000 Chinese characters and is arranged into eighty-one "chapters". "Like the Analects, the Dao De Jing is largely addressed to the ruler, offering that person many sage and often, ambiguous pieces of advice. The Daoists were passionately opposed to the Confucian system but why? "The problem, in the eyes of the Daoists, was the nature of the remedy that Confucius proposed for reestablishing the harmony that had been lost. The Confucian "system" aroused the ire of the Daoists, because, basically, they felt that not only did it fail to restore man to his natural state, it actually made things worse! The simple, natural life that the Daoists cherished was seen to be smothered in the complex, highly formalized way of the Confucian system." (Bresnan 339)
Religious Daoism talks about the Yin&Yang.
"All of nature exhibits a wonderful harmony. The harmony results from the interworking of the basic forces of nature, which the Daoists refer to as yin&yang. Derived originally from the Chinese words for moon and sun, yin&yang stand symbolically for the dual forces of nature that are the most elementary of all. Yin, the passive force , associated with the feminine principle, is the force that maintains and regulates. Yang, the active force, associated with the male principle, is the force that initiates action." (Bresnan 352)
The most important and fascinating aspect of Religious Daoism is the quest for immortality. "Immortality could be had by ingesting a drug!" (Bresnan 355) However, that didn't quite pan out. What drug? Where would it be produced? What were the ingredients? Such were the many questions that never flourished and though there might have been drugs made, they resulted in many deaths, including those of some Tsang emperors. Ouch!
Citations
Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, 2022.
Buddhism is a non -theistic religion, meaning there is no belief in a creator God. It is one of the world's major religions, originating in India in 563-483 B.C.E. It developed through the series of three realizations as Buddha experienced them along his journey and each of the three have a momentous impact on one's self as one reflects on their life on this earth. "We may put it in the following way: in his first great realization, Buddha concluded that there is no self-fulfillment through self-indulgence. In the second great realization, he concluded that there is no self-fulfillment through self-denial. His third great realization was the sudden awareness that there is no fulfillment at all- no self-fulfillment, period. There can be no self-fulfillment because there is no self to be fulfilled!" (Bresnan 212)
Siddharta Gautama, an Indian Prince, who would later go on to become the Buddha, had his 'Awakening' at the age of 9 as he stepped outside of the comfort of his fathers kingdom and onto the lands of the regular people to attend the Plowing festival with his father- the King. It is here that had his first bouts of mindfulness as he sat watching the plows working their way, dirt being unraveled, worms squirming through to the top layer, only to be eaten by birds. "He realized that everything was connected and that all actions had consequences. This simple observation would become one of the cornerstones of his teachings known as Karma." ( Life, 13:24-13:33)
The Beliefs of Buddhism The Four Noble Truths
Buddha wanted to be known more as a teacher than a leader." At the time of his dying, Buddha chose not to name any one particular person to stand in his place but left his disciples with the following words "be islands unto yourselves. Be lamps unto yourselves. Be a refuge to yourselves." (Bresnan 206)
Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths. "The First Noble Truth deals with the reality of suffering. It is universal, and it is the essence of the human problem. In the Second Noble Truth, Buddha identifies the cause of the suffering. He then goes on in the Third Noble Truth to assure us that release from suffering is possible, that every man and woman is capable of Awakening to the truth that brings freedom from suffering. In the Fourth Noble Truth, Buddha lays out the way of life that can lead one to Awakening. That way of life is referred to as the Noble Eightfold Path." (Bresnan 223)
After Buddha's death, many sects of Buddhist teachings emerged; however the Two Main Schools that exist and are prominent are Theravada and Mahayana.
Theravada Buddhism is the oldest surviving form of the Buddhist teaching and is more traditional and rationale based.
The Pali Canon constitutes the definitive core of the Theravada Buddhism. It was the PaliCanon that defined the character of Theravada. "In addition to nourishing their own practice, the Buddhist monks and scholars of the time were there for the purpose of formally establishing an authentic body of Buddhist scripture. It was their hope that they could reach an agreement on a fundamental corpus of documents that faithfully preserved Buddha's teaching, including his teaching regarding the proper organization and discipline of the Orders within the Sangha. After many months of work, the members of this Great Council put their seal of approval on a collection of writings that has come to be known as the Pali Canon. (Bresnan 243)
What is the meaning of the word Theravada? "Theravada literally means "teachings (doctrine) of the elders," but in more everyday language, we could translate it simply as "the orthodox tradition." Through his teaching, Buddha had shown humanity how to liberate itself from its own characteristic form of suffering. Theravada's reason for being was to preserve and promote that teaching. The goal of Theravada, therefore, was to provide a nourishing context within which any person who wished to make the effort could strive to become an arahant, that is, a fully awakened man or woman." (Bresnan 252)
Mahayana Buddhism believe that it is selfish to solely focus on ending one's own suffering on ending one’s own suffering. As a result, they define Bodhisatva's as future Buddha's who have compassionately and selflessly delayed their own attainment of Buddhahood until they have helped others towards liberation. "Diversity is the most immediately apparent feature of the Mahayana. Mahayana opened its arms to embrace a huge variety of Upaya (ways of practicing the Dharma). In Mahayana, there is something for everyone. Included within this new openness was the appearance of decidedly religious practices. It is in the development of the Mahayana that Buddhism begins to take on a distinctly religious character.(Bresnan 268)
What was it about the character of the Theravadin tradition that opened the way for the rise of the Mahayana? Why did Mahayanists refer to the Theravada tradition as "Hinayana"? "The Theravada tradition was viewed by some as too rule-bound, too conservative, too elitist and too narrow in scope.What initially fueled the rise of Mahayana was a deep dissatisfaction on the part of some with the traditional interpretation of Buddha's teaching by the dominant majority, the Theravadins. It seemed that the only genuine Buddhists were the members of the monastic orders; the laity played hardly any part at all. Theravada had become far too self-centered.
The Mahayanists referred to the Theravada tradition as Hinayana as the hina-yana is known to be a small vehicle; in this case, a small ferryboat , to transport the teachings of Buddha. Now with the rift between the two schools, the label was created because the Hinayana only has room for the elite few and is simply lesser and therefore, inferior to the larger vehicle; the Mahayana. (Bresnan 264)
Citations
Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Routledge, 2022.
National Geographic Society. “Buddhism.”National Geographic Society, 7 July 2020, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/buddhism/.
Offenberg, Christian. “The Buddhist Museum at the Golden Temple in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Editorial Photo - Image of Gold, Religious: 170574591.” Dreamstime, https://www.dreamstime.com/buddhist-museum-golden-temple-dambulla-sri-lanka-largest-best-preserved-cave-complex-image170574591.
“The Two Main Schools of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana.” Buddhism Info, https://buddhism.info/the-two-main-schools-of-buddhism-theravada-and-mahayana/.
Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield Diorama-Museum of Bhagavad Gita (Los Angeles)-2020
This rendition of The Bhagavad Gita by Jack Hawley is not merely a quick, fast knowledge into the Hindu culture but a superbly written, thorough publication which will most definitely captivate its readers.
The Bhagavad Gita opens up with the blind, old King Dhritarashtra requesting his Minister, Sanjaya, to narrate the battle between his sons, the Kauravas, and their cousins, the Pandavas. The Pandavas are led by Arjuna, the Great and Mighty warrior; who has now asked his chariot keeper, Lord Krishna to take him into the middle of the battlefield. As Arjuna comes face to face with the opposing armies, looking into the eyes of his relatives, teachers, and various friends and comrades, he loses all his will to fight.
Now begins the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna with Krishna taking Arjuna as his disciple, assuming his true role as the Divine teacher.
The Bhagavad Gita reiterates the main idea as acknowledging and understanding the concept of your True Self, also known as Atma. As one progresses through the chapters, one stumbles upon the conversation where Krishna explains to Arjuna once a person has control over their mind, they are able to control and eradicate any worldly desires out of their mind. Krishna explains to Arjuna that to attain the Supreme Goal, one has to act accordingly and goes on to further give examples of how nature contributes and works hand in hand. Krishna emphasizes to Arjuna the importance of the Atma (the True Self Within) and elaborates that once one has attained pure contentment and peace, they no longer have any dependence on anybody and have nothing to gain or lose by either action or inaction. "The point, old friend -and this is very important - is to do your worldly duty, but do it without any attachment to it or desire for its fruits. Keep your mind on the Divine (Atma, the Self)". (Hawley 32)
Bhagavad Gita Quotes
This book teaches us the very essence of life, of humility and devotion through service to the Divine, the Godhead, the Brahman!
The final advice that Krishna gives to Arjuna is to use the sacred knowledge bestowed upon him to lead humanity from the darkness of ignorance to enlightenment, from the perishable world of nature to the imperishable world of Spirit, from the non-Real to the Real, from utter sorrow to eternal bliss. It is in the conclusion that Krishna urges Arjuna to give himself fully to him (Krishna) by intense devotion and self surrender, to take heed of all his teachings and the advice and guidance Krishna has thus far given to Arjuna.
"Fix your mind on Me. Give Me your whole heart. Revere Me always and bow before Me only. Make Me your very own. By these acts, you shall discover Me and come to Me. I promise you this because we are forever linked through love, this greatest of unifying forces. This Divine love is both the means for reaching Me and the ultimate goal of all human existence; indeed it is the pinnacle of human spiritual achievement." (The Bhagavad Gita, 165-166)
Arjuna's dharma in the end is to shed any doubts he had harbored within and lead his army to war as the great warrior that he is. By letting go of his ego and performing his duties selflessly with no attachment to the outcome and doing it as an act of devotion to the Divine, Arjuna will be able to convert his earthly existence into worship. "Do not renounce action itself but only the sense of doership. Thus, even while engaging in worldly actions be but an instrument of the Divine. When you surrender there is no weariness in your work. As you are fully concentrated on Me, you will come home to Me in eternity." (The Bhagavad Gita 163) "You can do no greater harm than fail to follow your inner truth! You have been nurtured into the duties of a warrior-leader. Your aptitudes, temperament, and disposition are such that you must oppose wrongdoing in the world. Facing this righteous fight you cannot simply decide on impulse to practice renunciation and quietism. This ego-driven decision of yours creates a conflict in your personality. You inner nature will prevail in spite of your ego. Do not yield to this egoism and disgrace yourself." (The Bhagavad Gita 164)
As I read through each chapter, I was taken aback by the enormity of wisdom shared by Krishna in his conversation with Arjuna. The following quotes resonated deep with me "Cast from yourself all egotism, violence, arrogance, desire, anger, and attachment. Turn your back on luxuries and property. Possess very little, and shed any sense of 'mine.' Be calm, at peace with yourself and all others. Enter into the supreme state of unity with Me- I who am Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss." (The Bhagavad Gita 163) I am glad to have actually read The Bhagavad Gita by myself as it enlightened my knowledge of the Hindu culture and its roots laid so deep within, giving me much more understanding and depth of what is a larger segment of the many deities I have known through these years.
On the contrary, what I struggled with is how The Bhagavad Gita conflicted with my own religious beliefs. However as a devoted person of my own strong beliefs and religion, I found solace in my faith and my Ultimate Creator and to this day, my own religious identity remains steadfast.
I felt very uncomfortable in places where Krishna mentions loving him, coming home to him! "Be very clear about the crucial importance of love. To love is to know Me. The act itself of loving is indeed the experience of really knowing Me, for I am Love, Arjuna! To love is to know my inner most nature, the Truth that I am. Is is through this sacred and deep knowing that you gain access to Me and become one with My own Self. Loving is knowing God! As a deep knower of the Godhead you actually become the Godhead." (The Bhagavad Gita 163)
Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita- A Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2001.
How Does the Bhagavad Gita Impact Our Daily Lives? - Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlocFPImNlo.
Life Changing Advice by Lord Sri Krishna - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdWq3P_o7_Q.
*, Name. “Summary of the Bhagavad Gita.” The Bhagavad Gita with Commentaries of Ramanuja, Madhva, Shankara and Others, 7 July 2017, https://www.bhagavad-gita.us/summary-of-the-bhagavad-gita/.
Indus: An Unvoiced Civilization video and Bresnan Chapter 1: India Before the Vedas;Awakening by Patrick S. Brennan; two very enriching materials which have deepened and enlightened my knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilization as well as The Indo-Aryans and the Aryan conquest. The very purpose of this blog is to compare and contrast the two sources of materials as we gain an insight into an era of civilization that has yet to be deciphered.
The video title highlights the Indus Valley seals, which were used for trading but have "yet to be deciphered". (Indus:7:03) It talks about the town of Dholavira and Mohenjo-Daro and realistically gives a deeper peek into what life was like back in the days.
The book; however, shares a different sentiment. In chapter 1: India before the Vedas; we learn a lot more about the caste system, the Indo-Aryans and their conquest as political rulers as well as the sacrificial prayers offered by the Brahmins to please the gods and
"persuade them to exercise their powers on the community". (Bresnan:20)
Through watching the video, I gained a well rounded view of the town of Dholavira; its advanced water reservoirs along with the Fortress and the urban district. "Dholavira was also well equipped with a sophisticated water system. The water systems run both above and undergrounds." (Indus:11:41) There was no mention of the reservoirs, nor the fortress in the text as to engage the readers or to provide an insight into the political significance of the Fortress for the town of Dholavira. "The city was surrounded by its many reservoirs. The city was divided into into two sections; the urban district and the Fortress." (Indus 15:21)
"The Fortress was the center of Dholavira's political and economic activity. There were many public facilities and the area was lined with aqua ducts." (Indus 16:13)
Whilst reading Chapter 1: India before the Vedas, I was intrigued by the Theory of the Indo-Aryan Migrations. The potrayal of the Indo-Aryans as people of political power through the use of force and weapons isn't too appealing. "According to the theory of the Aryan Conquest, the Aryans, in the form of a great conquering horde, moved eastward from the Indus Valley into the great Ganges plain of North India. (Bresnan:11)
"The Aryan Conquest theory likes to picture the invaders as epic warriors. When the Aryans had to fight for possession of new land, they proved themselves to be most formidable." (Bresnan:11)
While the video fully marvels at the engineering and genius of the water systems in Dholavira, the book fails to describe or include anything at all. Bresnan mentions the excavations at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa as to only give a glimpse. "Their cities, constructed mostly of mud brick and fired brick, were marvels of engineering. They were especially clever in the technology of water management, with municipal drainage systems that surpassed anything the world would see again until Roman times." (Bresnan: 6)
The video; however, fails to acknowledge the Indo-Aryans or the caste system in India. It brings to light the civilization as a non-violent occupation with bright and successful trading through the use of Indus seals. "Seals have Indus characters and pictures that are yet to be deciphered." (Indus: 7:03)
The video also mentions the advanced civilization without any political power. " 4500 years ago, the people of the Indus brought forth a highly advanced Urban civilization. This was mysterious civilization, full of pleasure without war and with hardly any signs of existence of a king or any form of absolute authority." (Indus: 36:07)
SanthiSanthi is an avid traveler and primary contributor to the blogs at Trawell.in. She has explored most of the states in India and gained vast knowledge on tourist destinations in India and abroad. She also contributes content to other travel websites. “Interesting Facts about Dholavira – a UNESCO World Heritage in Gujarat.” Trawell Blog, 11 Aug. 2021, https://www.trawell.in/blog/interesting-facts-about-dholavira-a-unesco-world-heritage-in-gujarat.
Admin. “Dholavira - Latest World Heritage Site of India [UPSC Notes].” BYJUS, BYJU'S, 23 Dec. 2021, https://byjus.com/current-affairs/dholavira-unesco-world-heritage-site-india/.
