Telling the Story of the Silk Road

The Highway to Trade

Buddhist adoption in Asia, through the Silk Road

Expansion of Early Buddhism

As we read Chapter 16 from Bresnan's Awakening: An Introduction of the History of Eastern Thought and watch The Silk Road: Where East Met West, we are introduced to the journey of Mahayana Buddhism and its evolution in China through the Silk Road. The Silk Road is connected all throughout China and other pars of the Eurasian continent, stretching from east to west and also south into India. The road helped trade move back and forth, also giving opportunity for "Buddhist ideas, Buddhist books, and even Buddhist monks to enter the flow and move wherever the Silk Road may take them" (Bresnan 377). One city that largely established Buddhism was Xian, "seen as the beginning of the Silk Road" (Silk, 7:43 - 7:46). But as time passed in China's capitol city Xian, so did the livelihood of Buddhist culture. 

Similar Statue of my family's

I find the history of expansion of Buddhist culture very interesting because growing up Chinese and Filipino American, I never really associated Buddhism to be originally practiced in India. My family would have Buddha statues sitting (in Lotus position) at the entrance of our door, and before we exit, we would have to rub his belly for good fortune. And being so young, I thought these practices were a main apart of my Chinese culture. I agree with Bresnan's comment, saying that Mahayana Buddhism making its way into China through the Silk Road and becoming strongly intergraded with its culture is "a very interesting intermediate step that most people in the modern world have never heard about" (Bresnan 377). Because I am one of those modern people, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more. 

The Ancient Trade Route

As we gain knowledge about the Silk Road, I noticed that the text only briefly introduces us at the beginning of the chapter while the video mainly focuses on the topic throughout. Each source started with the length of the route, describing it to be the source of trade and culture expansion. "Along its many miles, there was money to be made. But the people on the Silk Road not only bought and battered goods, they also exchanged ideas and techniques" (Silk, 1:47 - 1:58). Unlike the text, the video doesn't state which exact ideas and techniques were exchanged in the beginning, "Buddhism traveled far ahead, hitching a ride on that fascinating highway of trade, an extremely long caravan route that connected China with other parts of the Eurasian continent" (Bresnan 377). After the brief introduction of Buddhist travel, the text describes what they brought and exchanged on their journey. To further expand my knowledge of trade on the Silk Road, I watched this video from Crash Course History on YouTube:

The Influence of Cultures on Europe

One topic in particular that I found interesting was the influence of Eastern culture on European cities, such as Venice, Italy. As we know, the Silk Road carried on for many miles throughout different regions and exchanged not only goods, but cultures and their ideas and techniques. Near the beginning of the video Sam Willis, the video's main historian, mentioned that in 1844, Charles Dickens visited Venice and have a very strange feeling that it wasn't an European city, "but an oriental one that was troubled by the wild luxuriant fancies of the East" (Silk, 3:06 - 3:28). Meaning that Dickens found much of Venice's environment to be influenced by Eastern Asian culture and Muslim styled architecture. Safe to say that the influence of Eastern culture, most likely came from the stream of trade. As someone whose visited multiple cities in Italy, one including Venice, it never occurred to me before how different it was compared to maybe Rome or Naples. 

Work Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. 6th ed., Routledge, 2018.

Downes, Richard. "The Silk Road: Where East Met West." BBC UK, performance by Sam Willis, Season 1, Episode 1. Accessed 25 Apr. 2021.

Kartapranata, Gunawan. Buddhist Adoption in Asia, Mahayana Buddhism First Entered China through the Silk Road. 31 Jan. 2014. 

The Story of Daoism and Confucianism

The Right "Way" or "Road" to Live

As I continued to read Chapters 13 and 14 of Bresnan's Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, I encountered two influential non-Buddhist traditions native to Asia's eastern region, Confucianism and Daoism. Both of these traditions focus on one's self-improvement through discovering positive-negative (yin & yang) energies of the world's natural order for universal harmony. Although Confucianism and Daoism share some subtle qualities, they are not the same. Daoism was formed later after the lifetime of Confucius, and appears to be the "antithesis of Confucianism" (Bresnan 335). Daoism focuses more on balance and the natural forces of life, while Confucianism focuses more on social order and it's relation to the environment. 

Disruption in Our Universal Harmony

The Teaching of Confucius
Portrait by Wu Daozi
685 - 758 CE

Confucius said that human society had gotten out of harmony with the larger natural order that is it apart of. When we hear the term natural order, we think of a moral source driven by unspoken rules of the universe, but it is much more than a set of unspoken principles. Natural order comes from the balance between our environment and our human nature. From Confucius judgement, he saw men as apart of nature, and we as humans must not be in conflict with that natural order. He believed that "there is a right ordering of society that is natural to it, in the same way that there is a right ordering to all of the things of nature" (Bresnan 308). Confucius witnessed the imbalance of harmony between the evolution of human's society and it's part in the larger natural order. Meaning that human's selfish and evil acts are what corrupts the harmony within our universal nature. During Confucius's day, society was organized through rank and generation, which lead authority to be taken advantage of. He found living under leadership and Government, which is established for men to feel protected, felt more oppressive. In Confucius's eyes, the highest concern was reestablishing the ordering in society. And before we can reach "Confucianism's system promise to fashion a society that is harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous" (Bresnan 301), it must begin within family and applying the wisdom we learn and encounter with our present situations. Confucius's vision of a reestablished human society, will bring back the universal harmony within our larger natural order.

The Basic Forces of Nature

Yin&Yang Symbol

Have you ever heard the saying "opposites attract and complement each other"? You could compare this with the Philosophical Daoist concept of yin&yang, that "harmony is the result of the innerworkings of the basic forces of nature" (Bresnan 352). The term originally comes from the Chinese words for moon and sun. The black and feminine-side of the symbol Yin, is the passive force principle that maintains and regulates, in which is also characterized as the dark and negative side. The white and masculine-side of the symbol Yang, is the active force principle that initiates action, also characterized to be the light and positive side. One cannot exist without the other, they are the balance within the forces of nature. 

Work Cited

Bresnan, Patrick. Awakening: an Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. 6th ed., Routledge, 2018.

Daozi, Wu. The Teaching Confucius.

Mnmazur, Klem. Yin and Yang Symbol. 7 Dec. 2007.

Telling the Story of Buddhism

Tracing Back to Early Buddhism

Amitabha Buddha
Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco
Steve Prezant

As we read Chapters 11 and 12 of Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought by Patrick S. Bresnan, we discover new ideas and thoughts: the evolution of Buddhism, the underlying importance of Ashoka's role in the development of the Buddhist tradition, the rules of Theravada Buddhism, who or what is a bodhisattva, and other religious concepts and characteristics Buddhism shares. Or is this Yogacara? and what you're reading right now "simply doesn't exist; it's an illusion, a creation of the mind" (Bresnan 285). I'll be digging deeper into the explanation of why there is no such thing as "Buddhism", and the Mahayana Buddhist's interpretation of reincarnation.

Buddhist? or Buddhism? What is it?

Early Expansion of Buddhism

In the centuries immediately following Buddha's death, Buddha's teachings and principles were being morphed into a new modern day term we now call Buddhism, but there is no such thing as "Buddhism". To hear the term Buddhism, it can be easily confused and familiarized with religious groups such as Hinduism or Judaism. As we've read in previous chapters before, Buddha does not refer to himself or his teachings as a religion with a god or set of leaders, but as a "way of life". The suffix -ism, is a suffix that is usually added to a word that represents a specific practice, system, or philosophy. With the help of Buddha's followers after his death, his teachings were becoming a huge part of India's varied culture. "As the tradition developed, there was much interplay, much give-and-take between the Buddhist and others" (Bresnan 246). Meaning, since a lot of his practices were being interpreted and taken by other religions, the teachings of Buddha was being interpreted as a religion. But as we study the origin of Siddhartha Gautama (aka Buddha), we know Buddha does not refer to his practices as a religion but a "way of life" and a science of the mind. 

The Reason Behind Existence

Reincarnation is a term that is highly familiarized with most human beings. Most people identify the term as the belief that the soul, upon death, rebirths itself, and comes back to earth in another embodiment or form. Each religion, such as Mahayana Buddhism, has its own interpretation and reality of what reincarnation really is. The Mahayana refers to reincarnation as samsara, the cycling of existence, or a cycling process that has a continuous flow of energy. Another way of saying that our current human life is apart of the cycling process. Meaning "with regard to human beings, though, the particular character of the flow is generated by karma, the consequences that follows every kind of volitional act" (Bresnan 290). So unlike Hinduism's belief of their atman being reborn into another body, Mahayana believes that the cycling process itself and our energy, is the one being reborn and regenerated back into the world. I find this interpretation very interesting and uncommon because as I watched the video below, he uses an analogy of taking a drop of water and putting it into another body of water, and how we can't extract that same exact droplet of water because it(s energy) has already became a part of something else. 

The Start of My Spiritual Awakening

These two chapter readings are probably my favorite part of this unit's journey. Maybe even the whole semester so far. I've never thought of defining reincarnation the way Mahayana Buddhist do, and as I've mentioned before in past blog posts, I am not religious, and I think this is one of the most eye opening and influential ideas to my own spiritual awakening.

Work Cited

Gabriele. “What Is an -Ism?” English Language Blog, Transparent Language, 19 Feb. 2012, blogs.transparent.com/english/what-is-an-%E2%80%93ism/.

Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.

Hoden, Vernerable, director. What Is The Difference Between Reincarnation and Rebirth? - Zen Buddhism. YouTube, Dharma Gate Zen, 7 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW5WlEkFszw.

Kartapranata, Gunawan. “User:Gunkarta.” Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Feb. 2012, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gunkarta. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Buddhism

O'Brien, Barbara. “The Six Perfections of Mahayana Buddhism.” Learn Religions, Dotdash, 27 Apr. 2019, www.learnreligions.com/the-six-perfections-449611.

“Reincarnation.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/reincarnation.

The Bhagavad Gita: Book Review

Arjuna and Krishna Chariot Painting

An Essential Path to Wisdom

The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley, is written to inspire and help one understand themselves and their surroundings spiritually. It revolves around Hinduism and it's core beliefs. The Gita is a story about two families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, going into battle for their rightful spot onto the kingdom of Hastinapura. Prince Arjuna, a Pandavas brother, is accompanied to war with his 'old friend' Krishna, who is there to help guide him into the right path.

"I'm utterly confused as to what is my duty. I'm asking you to help me, not to just tell me to go out and fight. I beg you to tell me what I should do. I am your pupil; be my teacher, my guru. I take refuge in you and surrender to you. Please instruct me, beloved Krishna, show me the way" (Hawley 12). 

Union with Divinity

As somebody who does not worship any religion or beliefs, reading The Bhagavad Gita gave me a new profound perspective of yoga. I've taken a physical yoga class here at Cosumnes River College before, but we never learned the background of how it became or how it evolves you as a person spiritually. 

"When the mind become still and quiet, the Self reveals itself. At these depths one experiences the joy and peace of complete fulfillment" (Hawley 60).  

 I've learned the practices of meditation and relaxation, and in these moments I feel so alive, so powerful like the world is mine, as if I could achieve whatever I wish. "In this supreme state you desire nothing else whatsoever and cannot be shaken by any calamity. To be in this mental state is to know the real meaning of yoga (union with God)" (Hawley 60). I learned that yogi is not only just seen within ones self, but within everything around you, all creation. 

The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutra

The practices of Yoga also relates to how we treat the environment. If one believes that we are always in touch with God around us, our perspective and attitude shifts which gives out a more positive energy! 

Book Cover
The Bhagavad Gita

Knowledge is Sacred

If you are someone who is looking for a new perspective outlook in life, I would recommend reading The Bhagavad Gita. It is a powerful story filled with poems and enlightenment, and secrets to help you become successful in your daily lives. 

"It's sole purpose it to lead humanity from the darkness of ignorance to enlightenment, from the perishable world of nature to the imperishable world of spirit" (Hawley 165).

This story teaches you that the more you learn and evolve your knowledge, the more freedom and happiness you will find around you. Treating yourself and the environment with more knowledge will leave a feeling of contempt within your body, soul, and state of mind. 

Work Cited

Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners. New World Library, 2011.

“The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutra.” Youtube, Yoga International, 15 Aug. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2Kk15Epbc&t=305s.

Valley, Painting. “Welcome to the Online Museum of Illustration Arts. Feel Free to Explore!” PaintingValley.com, Public License, 2020, paintingvalley.com/download-image#krishna-arjuna-chariot-painting-23.jpg.

Unlocking a 'Knowledge of Truth'

Over 3,000 years ago, during the Vedic Age, there were two civilizations who shared common regions, yet had different principles to their way of life. As one declined, the other emerged and sought. I will comparing be the Indus Valley Civilization to the migration of Indo-Aryan, while using quoted sources from Patrick S. Bresnan's: Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought, and Indus: An Unvoiced Civilization video. 

In Bresnan's book I learned a lot of the Aryan's history that were not mentioned in the Unvoiced Civilization video. The Aryan's were conquerors compared to the mellow calm Indus people. There was a story of the Aryan's that is known to be referred to as the "Aryan Conquest". They were known to be 'epic' warriors, and portrayed to be very tough and unforgiving. As I quote, "When the Aryan's had to fight for possession of new land, they proved themselves to be most formidable" (Bresnan 11). It was once said that the Aryans were migrating east towards the Ganges plain of North India, passing through the Indus Valley. Compared to the Indus people, the Indus people worried more about day to day life. They had very few weapons. As the narrator in the video said, "Weapons were very simple. The ruins of the Indus do not show even the slightest reference to war. There are no signs of fire or destruction" (Indus 35:03).

Indo-Aryan Migration into India, c. 1750 B.C.

                                          Source

In the Indus: Unvoiced Civilization video, the narrator emphasizes on different occasions that the Indus people were not violent and had almost to none materials of any war weapons. I quote, "This was a civilization, full of pleasure, without war, and with hardly any signs of the existence of a king, or any form of absolute authority" (Indus 36:25). This lead to an interesting theory that the Aryan, while they were migrating, may have brought themselves to conquer the remains of the Indus Valley Civilization. Thankfully it is said that "The theory of the Aryan Conquest took form well before the evacuations that revealed the existence of the Indus Civilization. After its discovery, it would indeed be difficult to continue to maintain that the semi-barbarian 'Aryans' were the bearers of superior culture" (Bresnan 12). This disputes the theory that the Aryans had anything to do with the disperse of the Indus Valley Civilization. 

Weapons from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

Source

Works Cited

Bresnan, Patrick S. Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought. Milton:    Taylor and Francis, 2017.

Nagasawa, Tomoni, director. Indus: An Unvoiced Civilization. FFH New Jersey, 2000.

“Map of Aryan India.” Aryan Civilization, aryancivilizationelijah.weebly.com/map-of-      aryan-india.html. 

“15. How Peaceful Was Harappan Civilization?” Edited by Dave Vasant, Harappa, Harappa Archaeological Research Project, 2020, www.harappa.com/answers/how-peaceful-was-harappan-civilization.