History of Buddhism in India

Buddhadharma or Buddhism, as it is widely known today, was founded over 2500 years ago in ancient India by the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. After attaining realization in approximately 531 B.C.E., the Buddha taught widely until his passing in approximately 486 B.C.E.

Tibetan historians hold that by the time of his passing, the Buddha had taught the whole corpus of Buddhist teachings,  encompassing what came to be known as the three major vehicles (Skt. yanas), or cycles of the Buddhist teachings. Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana . Each of these cycles of teaching became popular at different periods in the history of Buddhism.

The Hinayana Teachings

Shortly after his passing, disciples of the Buddha held what has become known as the First Council, which emphasized the the Hinayana teachings. Initially, the Hinayana schools flourished in India, and 18 schools of Hinayana were known by the time of the great Indian King Asoka in the first century B.C.E. During Asoka's reign, Buddhism began to spread throughout Asia, and Hinayana became established in Sri Lanka.

The Mahayana Teachings

The Mahayana teachings became popular after the new millenium and continued to spread throughout Asia in the first century C.E. Over the following centuries, the teachings became a very strong presence in  countries throughout Asia, including Tibet. Buddhist teaching spread along the trading routes, such as the silk route.

In India and surrounding countries, great Mahayana teaching masters such as Nagarjuna, Bhavya, Jnanagarbha, Aryadeva, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Tilopa and Naropa became famous. Buddhism reached its height in China by the Fourth Century.

The Vajarayana Teachings

Although the Buddha taught the Vajrayana to a restricted group of suitable disciples later in his life, the Vajrayana cycle of teachings did not became popular until the Sixth Century C.E. At that time, many of the great Mahayana masters of scholarship took up the Vajrayana path in their later years and left their institututions to practice Vajrayana tantras.

Continue on to the History of Buddhism in Tibet.