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