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Buddhism - Best Things for You

Buddhism is a variety of teachings The atheists believed it was "man, who
described as a religion or way of life. created God in his own image," whilst the
One point of view says it is a body of agnostics believed that the search for
philosophies influenced by the teachings and contemplation of God was "an exercise
of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama in futility." Both of these beliefs were
Buddha. Another point of view says it is in stark contrast to Hinduism's worship
teachings to guide one to directly of a pantheon of Gods. Buddha championed
experiencing reality. Many scholars the benefits of meditation and reflective
regard it as a plurality rather than a practises over prayer, ritual fasting and
single entity. Buddhism is also known as sacrifices. Buddha's philosophy taught
Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means that salvation lay in one's own hands.
roughly the ""teachings of the Awakened This belief was certainly a revelation to
One"" in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of low caste Hindus, who had been brought up
ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism began to believe that their only hope was to
around the 5th century BCE with the observe the laws of dharma (duty to one's
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly caste) in order to be reborn into a
referred to as ""the Buddha"". higher position in the next life. The
At the time Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) importance stressed on dharma effectively
founded his system of beliefs, Hinduism immobilised lower caste Hindus into a
was the dominant religion accessible to lifetime of servitude and oppression, it
the educated people only. also served to perpetuate the hegemonic
India, during the lifetime of Gautama nature of Indian society. Buddha's
Buddha was "in a state of religious teachings liberated lower caste Hindus.
ferment," it was a period during which For the first time they were given a
the authority of The Vedas was in doubt; feeling of control over their own lives,
this was significant as The Vedas were in the sense that salvation was
central to Hinduism. Therefore, attainable through a course of right
scepticism regarding their authority was conduct and action rather than adherence
seen as scepticism regarding the Hindu to rules made by those in power. Thus
religion itself. The Buddha addressed Buddhism gained support by espousing the
what he perceived to be the shortcomings virtues of freedom for all beings, and by
of Hinduism; he rejected the inequitable preaching that salvation was attainable
nature of the caste system and preached inside oneself.
instead that all beings were equal; by As well as placing emphasis on the
doing this he challenged the supremacy of attainability of salvation, Buddhism also
the Brahmins. It is also interesting to stressed a great deal of importance on
note that Buddhism was the first the accessibility of its teachings. It
"Religion" to indoctrinate women into its was for this reason alone that The Buddha
religious order or sangha. The Buddha preached in Pali, the then common
also held the superstitious nature of language of the Gangetic Plain. Spears-
Hinduism in disdain, as Spears says, "He "Buddha was an opponent of hiding the
(Buddha) was an opponent of the truth in the mystery of a strange
priesthood, magic and sacrifice." Buddha language and unintelligible books…his
advocated rightful conduct over spells message was for all equally…" Thus, a
and charms. This line of thought held factor crucial to determining the success
particular resonance with members of the of Buddhism in India was the level of its
middle class, who were growing accessibility, particularly to the common
increasingly critical of the aristocratic man who had long been deprived of
privilege bestowed upon Brahmin priests. religious or philosophical education,
The priests, in turn maintained their accessibility also fostered a sense of
stronghold over Hinduism by way of inclusiveness.
performing rituals, which were often in Buddhism's success in India lay in its
the form of spells and sacrifice. attempts to be tolerant of, yet distinct
Buddha's open rejection of Hinduism was from Hinduism. Initially this worked,
highly inflammatory, especially to the however as time went on the fusing of
Brahmins. However, Buddha's message of Hindu and Buddhist traditions eventually
equality for all strongly appealed to the meant that Buddhism was simply absorbed
lower castes within Hindu society. Thus, by the dominant Hinduism. Thus, the early
the egalitarian nature of Buddhism, as success of Buddhism in India can be
well as its renunciation of Hindu attributed to its egalitarian, accessible
ritualism and Brahmanism contributed to and peaceful nature, it's addressing of
its success. the social tensions of the day
The Buddha rejected the idea of man's (particularly those regarding Hinduism),
salvation being reliant upon an external and the support and promulgation it
force or being such as God. In this received under several rulers. The social
sense, Buddhism is not a religion, but atmosphere of the time was calling for
rather a philosophy. The early Buddhist reform, and for many this reform was to
sects were either atheistic or agnostic. be found in Buddhism.




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