Buddhism

The founder of Buddhism was Gautama Buddha, who was born in 566 BC at Lumbini, located in the foothills of Nepal. One night he left his palace in search of truth and ultimately attained the true knowledge at Bodhgaya. He then began to be called Buddha or the enlightened one.

He delivered his first sermon at Sarnatha near Varanasi. This event is known as dharma-chakra-pravartana (turning of the wheel of law). He also established his samgha here. He died at the age of 80 in 486 B.C. at Kusinara or Kusinagar near Gorakhpur in eastern UP.

Buddha asked his followers to avoid the two extremes of indulgence in worldly pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence and asceticism. This philosophy of madhyama marga or the Middle Path is reflected in all the issues related to Buddhism. The main teachings of Buddhism are encapsulated in the basic concept of four noble truths or arya satya and eight-fold path or astangika marga.

Four Noble Truths

  1. Buddha said that suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world and is like an ocean of miseries.
  2. Dukkha samudya i.e. every suffering has a cause.
  3. Dukkha nirodha i.e. suffering could be extinguished.
  4. Dukkha nirodha gamini pratipada i.e. there is a path leading to the extinction of dukkha.

He said that every thing in this world like birth, old age and death leads to suffering. If one wants to get rid of suffering one has to conquer the desire.

Eight Fold Path

This removal of desire can be achieved through eight fold path. These are:

  1. right faith
  2. right resolve
  3. right speech
  4. right action
  5. right living
  6. right effort
  7. right thought
  8. right self concentration

Buddha used Pali language spoken by masses to propagate his teachings. Buddha allowed lower varnas and women to join the sangha. Four Buddhist councils organised over different periods played a significant role in the propagation of Buddhism. In the fourth council during the reign of Kanishka, Buddhism split into two major sects called Hinayana and Mahayana.

Mahayana adopted Sanskrit as its language and started worshipping Buddha in the form of an idol, while Hinayana continued to follow Pali and treated Buddha as a guide.

Buddhism became weak by seventh century AD but the impact of Buddhism can be seen in all spheres of life in Indian history. Buddhist scholars created many literary texts like Tripitaka, Milindapanho, Buddhacharita, etc. Buddhism became an inspiration for the promotion of art and architecture, in the form of stupas, rock cut caves and paintings. These can be noticed at Sanchi, Bharhut, Amravati, Ajanta, etc.

Buddhism inspired Gandhara and Mathura schools of art. Buddhism by opening its door to all the classes challenged the superiority of Brahmanism and gave better social position to lower castes.