| “The core beliefs preached by the historic Buddha and recorded by his followers into sutras and other scriptures were, in part, a reaction to the Vedic beliefs and rituals dominant in South Asia. Buddhism changed over time as it spread throughout Asia, first through the support of the Mauryan Emperor Asoka, and then through the efforts of missionaries and merchants and the establishment of educational institutions to promote its core teachings.” |
The evolution and adaptation of religion as it travels across borders and cultures is natural. Many of the original nuances from the original Buddhist scriptures are lost in translation and interpretations in different ethnic groups and regimes. The fact that some countries regard Buddhism as a religion, and some see it as more of a spiritual belief is indicative of the evolution of Buddhism- it is a very introspective school of belief/religion, and open to personal interpretation; thus, it is not very surprising to me that it changed over time.
Very Insightful!
ReplyDeleteFor some time, Buddha was an ascetic. He didn't like the Vedic religion and rituals of the time. The Buddha also during during a very turbulent time period with constant warfare and religious upheavel. Unlike some religions or belief systems, the Buddha was pragmatic, he wanted others to debate his teachings and not agree with everything he said. One of the strong pillars of Buddhism is the focus on the mind. Meditation helps buddhists to create peace in their minds. As the world changes and becomes more restless, the Buddha might attribute that to peoples minds becoming more restless and uneasy. He quotes, "Change comes from within."
ReplyDeletemy bad stephanie posted this in the wrong place
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