HISTORY OF ASIAN RELIGIONS
It is a naked truth that any religion is a universal fact of human experience in this life and it is never about only wherever human history. So, one scholar called that man is defined as religious animal. Such an idea of universality of religion is congenial to the Judea Christian tradition. The writer of the Old Testament in the book of Psalms declared for understanding that the “heavens as the glory of God and the firmament sloweth his handi – work”. Again there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. The whole word is encompassed by the glory and the handi – work of the Almighty God. The Hebrews began their explosion to the Jews of his time in the throne of culmination of their hopes in Jesus as their Messiah.
The historians of both Judaism and Christianity provided more evidence and did not grow like mushrooms in darkness. Both of the religious progressed more powerfully and established. Due to this there were some vital changes in pagan religion also. Judaism and Christianity were well aware that they were not the only religion in this world. There are some other religion in India as well as in other countries. Which possess the awareness of themselves. The character of any religion in general is highly complex and universal. So, it is quite necessary and appropriate to give some introduction about the true nature of religion itself. For the purpose of correct understanding let us study about four important religions of Asia namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. These four religions which are originated in India are like Judaism and Christianity. These major important religions mankind possessed in the world. They might have been approached by people, from the stand point of basic understanding of the religion itself.
Religions in general are classified in a variety of ways. The four religions we are talking about in this article are limited by their geographical sources. These religions are confined to particular area of Asia, prior to 1947. (when the British withdrew as a colonial power). It was known as in many aspects historical and cultural background that made India survived to the present day inspite of the influence of Colonialism India was split into two countries during the second world war, politically. But here we are dealing with the religion Geographically, but not connected to political matters, how India and Pakistan were separated.
Historically Buddhism was founded in India, but spread throughout Asian countries. But Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism remained within India and Pakistan only. Let us study about these religions in chronological order. According to history, Hinduism was the first and the oldest religion in the world various scholars were of the opinion, that it was born about 2000 BC. Then the Sikhism is said to be the youngest religion. The birth of Sikhism had a link with its founder guru Nanak. He was born in 1469. The other religions are like Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Jainism, Judaism, Shintoism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism. These above mentioned religions may be considered as living religions. But there are some more other religions which must be either living or dead. Those were connected to the ancient societies.
They were Phoenicia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylonia, Mexico and Pure. Regarding these religions, some scholars are not sure of their existence to-day in the world. And the four religions that are going to be discussed in this topic are still alive. There are some religions which may be considered in terms of their aspiration of universality. Such great religions are only three that proclaim universal acknowledgement. They are Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. The English word, “religion” is derived from Latin “religia”.
At times the deeper meaning of religion is not at all signified by the use of that word or words connected to it. For example it has been suggested that religion is primarily an intelligent activity. This saying appears to be correct, that religion is identified with theology and philosophy. This would provide an intellectually definable explanation of the created order. Religion may be feeling of dependence upon the divine power under all circumstances in ourlife. It may involve positive emotional experiences such as joy and wonder experiences that are exceptional to the ordinary living. It is a general fact that in any religion, morality plays very important role. In other words, the code or core of religion consists of commandments of ethical conduct. And the nature of religion has been defined as the implantation of the noblest social values provided by a concerted society. And also religion will possess many a social function. Let us examine two points which may help us to understand correctly. The first and foremost point and function of a religion is to maintain social order. Then every social order requires the sanctification of different approved methods for the well – being of the individual. Second point is religion has the function of sustaining the equilibrium of the individual. It is filled with various experiences and sometimes throw men into a condition of imbalance. Throughout life man is threatened by the inescapable death. There is valuable meaning to the idea that religion is the institutionalized ethics of a society or of a group in the society. The nature of religion is sometimes confusing or contrasted with the nature of magic, morality and science. To say in brief the investigation of the relationship between their characteristics will increase the understanding of the true nature of the religion.
Generally people who are sceptical about the validity of the claims of religions will simply say that all religions are basically magic. This assurance is based on the assumption that religion and magic are false Religion and magic are both similar and dissimilar. They are closely related or identical at a number of points. Normally they do not seek to supplement science and its methods. Both religion and magic involve a ritual system. A ritual is rarely created to be performed only one’s Religion and magic are co-related. They may be valued as dissimilar. Several anthropologists had shown primitive peoples have differences on the subject of priests layman, magician, client relationship. As a matter of fact, religion and morality are like religion and magic which bear an ambiguous relationship between them.
This ambiguity is partly described and partly through dispute among the anthropologists. This argument is what came from between those in human history. Some experts came to an understanding that religion came first. The true relationship between religion and morality can be described in three ways. The people believe that their quest for the eternal salvation is separated from the moral values. The point is religion and morality are closely related and even identical. For example, to most of the Jewish people, it would be different to agree that the Ten Commandments are just moral bindings and same as the case with Christian morality.
Jews and Christians would uphold the moral laws of respective religions is not at all qualified looked at essentially either as Jewish or Christians. They believe in the moral codes which reflect the will of God. However in western societies where the Judeo – Christian traditions provide religion and morality have not been always viewed as intrinsically interrelated. Many western Jews and Christians have been more concentrated with moral matters than with abstract theology connected to the church Religion and morality may be seen as different things but they must be interrelated.
These two bear a very complex relationship with each other. By no means, they can be assumed to be identical. Castcism in India for example plays a pevotal role and so to say a cardinal feature of the social organization. Like different castes in India there are also various customs in Hinduism which are quite distinct social features in spite of their separateness. Their interlinked morality, the maintenance of the highest ethical standard are concerted basically with human relationship. HINDUISM
The most popular religion in India is Hinduism. It is considered if oldest world’s living religion. Some scholars put the date of its birth about 2000 BC. And may agree that the historical period of Dbelia and Hinduism began with the invasion of Aryan tribe somewhere about between 1500 and 1200 BC. When Shintoism is the international religion of Japan, Judaism is also ancient one. But these religions cannot be compared with the oldest religion Hinduism. It is also one of the largest living religion. Some of the largest religions are – Buddhism .Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism and Islam. Hinduism is certainly noteworthy for its largeness and more members of adherents.
Hinduism is further notable because it has mothered. Some other religions than other contemporary faith and most of the existing religions are context by themselves. A notable exception is Judaism with forms baseless to two more living religions namely Christianity and Islam. Hinduism has given birth to three more religions called Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Among them it is only Buddhism that eventually crossed the believers of India and entered some countries in Asia.
These three religions have developed with different principles and customs. They developed their own history also. Now let us consider the four religions Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism separately and what their fundamentals are for our understanding. In this context, the readers are advised to keep in mind one thing that is all these religions have close relationship as far as observances are concerned. They are bound together and the most important thing is they have all grown up in a single complex curtain. So, they can be compared to a true. The common root system is Indian culture. The trunk of the true religiously speaking is Hinduism, the other religions which are treated as her children can be called the branches of that tree. The trunk and the branches can be studied separately but their relationship is lesser and most wonderful.
Actually, Hinduism achieved fundamental understanding of reality and life. But the other three religions are limited to their own way of life. Hinduism no doubt distinctive in character because it being single largest religion confined to a particular area. This area is called Geographically India and Pakistan. Shintoism is also special in its own way. It is completely confined to Japan only. Then other religions like Jainism can be seen in modern India and Pakistan. And Taoism is fully confined to China only never crossed its boundaries.
Hinduism is the major religion and currently of the people of India as well as considerable number in Pakistan. Even though it is a religion of particular people, it has influenced greater part of Asia. Archaeological findings also affirm the direct and indirect influence of Hinduism outside India, in literature sculpture, architecture, language and religion. It is highly recognized today in India and other parts of the world. Since the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the question has arisen between the two countries religiously and politically. The government of India is no doubt a secular country. It did not declare Hinduism as a more attractive in the aspect of Indian way of life. It is really interesting to note in this context the dedicated and much feeling sect of people with nationalistic bent of mind and too much particotism toward their religion Hinduism formed a party called “Jan Sangh” or “All India people party”. Their motto is to establish one permanent religion called Hinduism. This party strongly advocating nations traditions that India should become a country of one religion Monotheistic (one religion). In such circumstances to-day with the influence of inside and outside Hinduism is undergoing serious consequences.
Regarding the founder of Hinduism there is no authentic information historically or any other source. But it is believed by historians and other scholars that it developed gradually by itself. Since four thousand years. With all the required ethics and other formalities, religiously and culturally. Other religions like Judaism had developed with all believable accounts and it was established by a person called Prophet Moses. According to some sources. Some other scholars believed that Judaism was founded by the patriarch Abraham leaving aside all the different opinions, it is made clear that Judaism has developed very systematically and continuously with wonderful heritage by Prophet Moses. If at all any founder of any religion is there, it was only a man to be remembered for such great achievements but never a woman. Some of the world’s religions have not only a personal founder but also they could have some disciples. The best example is Christ the founder of Christianity has twelve disciples.
They served with Him as long as He lived and continued their service even after His death. They played a prominent role in propagating about Christianity and secured a place in the Christendom. But for Hinduism, there is no such person or disciples to its credit. The Aryans who invaded India in ancient days can hardly fill the bill. The personal founder of any religion enjoys the opportunity by reason of his authority. Yet a complex social system, such as Hinduism had a beginning and this involved people. The “Vedas” for instance are assigned to names. They contained specific reformers to manual phenomena. It is said, Hinduism had a beginning and that has been experienced in a tradition.
Hinduism is a single religion and from another views point it is an amalgamation of many. It combines religions, beliefs and forms all these things we see later. Even though Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism were the children of Hinduism they are treated as separate religions today. It is surprizing that some elements of Christianity and Judaism can be found in it. Hinduism is not like a building planned by an architect, but it is like a river making its way from small and distant beginning and never ending in its course. This is a consequence possessed a sense of charity toward all ideas and movements. Hindus have been tolerant toward one another. At the time of partition of India by the British released the murderous antagonism which existed even today between Hindus and Musuim.
As already indicated earlier Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion of the world. So, its history must be obvious and with complex details. The history of Hinduism does not follow briefly the history of India in the chronological order. It was initially the creation of a society which predates the Aryan invasion of India. According to Archaeological findings that began in 1922 in Punjab, and the Indus valley showed that a highly developed culture was in existence between 3000 and 2000 BC in ancient cities of Harappa and Mohanjodaro. And the pre-historic capital city was Punjab. It was situated on the left bank of the river Ravi and Mohenjodaro means (mount of the dead) on the right bank of the Indus. It was about four hundred miles to the southwest Sind.
These two cities mohenjodara and Harappa were like contemptory settlements of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The excavations contributed considerable support in the Indus valley civilization for a number of historical features of Hinduism. For example, they discovered the remains of a place where ceremonial oblusion were performed as they are in Hindu temples today. Water is a symbol of Hinduism for purification which must have had its origin. Some other findings of anthropological survey from the pre Aryan culture was the worship of the mother goddess sitting on a stool in the position of a yogi in meditation. It is nothing but the prototypes of the Indian god siva as the lord of the beasts and symbol of the male and female generative organs. This point of view of the two ancient cities was some how challenged by some scholars. Those authorities were under the impression that they were concerned to Sumerian civilization but not to Indus valley civilization.
Then about 1500 BC some different religions had been introduced into the deserted and ruined cities. At that time, the Aryans otherwise known as Indo-European stock and language who were tall light skinned entered through the possess of the Hindu Kush mountains into India. They found the earthen cities were in ruined condition, which must have been destroyed by the barbarians from the west. The term “Aryans” significe to the linguistic group like “Semitic”. This word also represents a group of people who migrated about 1500BC from the region between Southern Russia and Turkistan. Then a part of that group carried their language “Sanskrit” to the west where they found counter parts in Europe who comprised the “centum” linguistic group including Latin, Greek, Celtic, Teutonic, German and Slavonic languages.
Those Aryans settled in small villages of Punjab with their cattle and letter spread into whole India. They believed themselves that they were of noble birth and decent. They contrasted themselves with the dark skinned people that were already living in that area called Indus valley. So, with that comparison the Aryans called those people “dasa” which later became “slave: in Sanskrit. Then the word “Dravidian” come into existence which alsi means “dasa”, gradually the Aryans began to conquer the surrounding places and declared themselves superior and more intelligent.
The importance of religion in that era was noted in three successive stages of literature. The Vedas, the Bahamans and the Upanishads. Then regarding their gods and goddesses “Indra” is the god of “power” and “varuna” the god of righteousness. Afterwards, a series of supreme dailies was acknowledged praja pati or Lord of creation Aditi or infinite, prana or life, kala or time, Rita or cosmic order, remained as the most important idols of that time. The Bahamans were considered to maintain sacrifice rites. They encouraged ritualized religion. The rituals among defined and elaborated excluding among Bahamans.
The Upanishads represented contemptation movement in Hinduism which grew up in the parts as a response to the works of priestly and sacrificial period. They laid the foundation for all philosophical thoughts on Hinduism. The Upanishads contributed a number of fundamental concepts to later Hinduism. Such as Brahma (ultimate reality) atman (the self), moksha (deliverance from the chain of finite existence) samsara (world of phenomenal existence) karma (moral laws of causation) and Jnana (saving knowledge). Both gods and sacrifices fall into background with the coming of the Upanishads into Hinduism.
King Darius of Persia occupied the South western part of India where Hinduism was the strongest shortly before 500 BC. Alexander the great invaded Punjab in 326 BC. The Maurian dynasty was established by Chandragupta around 232 BC. Then emperor Asoka as Buddhist made Buddism a dominant religion in India. Finally the Mauryan empire came to an end in 185 BC. After that dynasty, northern India was successfully invaded by Greeks, Sakas, Parthians and khushans. Theise kushans were an Iranic tribe and the most popular among them was kong kanishka, who lived during second century AD. The we come across a powerful Sassanian empire in the west. It was called Gupta dynasty in India . Then the period between the fall of Mauryan empire, in 185 AD and the fall of kushan empire about 300 AD was called traditionally an epic period. This period was specifical in Indian history because Hinduism was revived.
Then the great Indian epics called the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad-Gita were composed and became very powerful and influenced literature. Along with the three great books, three sects of Hinduism also came into existence. They were vaishnavism, the worship of the god Vishnu or one of his carnations Saivism, the worship of the god Siva, Saktism the worship of the consorts of siva. Due to this radical change, Hinduism spread not only throughout India but also into some Asian countries like, Sumatra, Java, Bormeo, Malaya and Indo -China. Actually during the period of Guptas, Hinduism impressed a lot. In addition to that, the production of literature like puranas, piaes legends about deities and heroes.
It is said even through the efforts of some devoted students the Hinduism blossomed to a golden age, during the reign of Guptas. Then during eighth and fourteenth centuries Indian societies and Hinduism were threatened politically. India was divided between Indian conquering powers and the followers of Islam. Among their rulers who ruled India were Ghazini Mahummad and Mahaammad Bin Tughlak. In course of time, Hinduism began to decline, especially in Northern part of India, but the same Hinduism flourished well in South India. A noted philosopher Sankara charya, was born in a Brahmin family in the North Travencore. He renounced everything in this world. Then as a religious leader, he travelled the whole India and established four monasteries which are in existence even today.
The philosophy of sankaracharya is called “Advaita”. It is completely based on Bhagavad-gita, Upanishads and other traditional scriptures. The Buddhist school of philosophy and system as “Sankya” yoga, Mimanasa, Vedanta were not accepted by sankaracharya. But he stood strongly for the vedic faith which is really orthodox. He was only instrumental in mitigating the influence of repulsive expression of Saivism and Saktism i. in 1526 with the advent of Marshal dynasty and its popular founder was Babar. He was the descendants of both Tamer Lang and Jenghis khan. Among the Moghal rulers the most popular king was Akbar a renowned king. In his time, the Islam achieved its widest geographical coverage. As a great ruler Akbar was successful in uniting different states, races and religions into a relatively harmonious whole. Above all he was a great teacher of universe. He tried his best to bring together all faiths into one religion called “Din – I – llahi”
There are some more philosophers who contributed their might for the modern Hinduism. Among such great men, the first one was Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who founded Brahma Samaj which is based on National Anthem. Throughout his life, he advocated only Hinduism and remained as a true Hindu. After his death, this Brahma samaj was taken care of by Devendranath Tagore. Then after Raja Ram Mohan Roy, another philosopher came into lime light and his name was Swami Dayananda, who founded “Arya Samaj”. And this samaj taught people the fundamentals of Hinduism. The next popular leader was of course Sri Ramakrishna. His point of view of religion was so universal and he was able to assert that all religions were the glimpse of Devine and in such case a living synthesis is necessary. The life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna were well known in America as well as in Europe through the frequent visits of his faithful disciple Swami Vivekananda with his own intellectual caliber he applied the teachings of Ramakrishna not only to the religious traditions in Hinduism, but also for the social welfare.
With his leadership and influence, Swami Vivekananda established more than hundred centers in the world known as Ramakrishna Mission. In recent times some more leaders cameout from the public and some more leaders came out from the members one was “ Sri Hurobindi Ghosh”. According to him, the principle task of Hinduism was to keep man free from the dragging limitations of human existence. Many people came even from outside of India to be benefited by his teachings and practices. He taught his special type of yoga also.
Rabindranath Tagore, was called one of the greatest poets of modern India. He possessed a strong nationalism and all human explaination. The main source for his views Tagore found in ancient Hinduism. As a great poet, he became very popular with his famous poem “Geethanjali”. He interpreted some of the ancient literature of Hinduism into modern times. Then comes the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. He was called the greatest modern Hindu. He followed the method of non-violence which was accepted as a virtue among Hindus. Through this means only he brought freedom to India. BUDDHISM:
Buddhism was the only religion that originated in Indian subcontinent which later became the religion of the world. It is like Christianity and Islam claimed as international religion. It was in existence half a millennium of Jesus Christ and became first international Missionary religion. Buddha himself was an active missionary. The disciples of Buddha were entrusted with two responsibilities by Buddha himself. Buddhism was unknown and was not permitted and remained distinctive among the universal religions such as Christianity and Islam.
In their history, Christianity and Islam have used forces to convert people into their respective religions. Among the great kings who embraced Buddhism was Emperor Ashoka who ruled India during third century BC. The range of this religion is no doubt enormous. For its development it appears it has taken about twenty four hundred years. It is a complex religion. It includes mysticism, magic, ritual forms of yoga, a detailed psychology and other elements. In China for example, the art of the Tang dynasty frequently described as among the finest in the world. It is believed they belonged to Buddhists.
Buddhism has hundred percent tolerance toward other religions. It is strange to find Hindu duties in the Buddhist ceremonies where these two religions have been in direct contact to each other. The war like spirit is totally discouraged in the religion. The code of conduct of behavior would govern the Samurai known as Bushido and Zen Buddhism.
This religion has found its favour in the past and present among the ruling dynasties of Asian countries and in other countries such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia etc. Buddhism like Jainism came into being in sixth century BC. Buddha like Mahavira reacted to the principles of Hinduism of his day. He was intensely personal in his religion. Buddha means the enlightened one. According to historical calculations, Buddhism is to-day one of the largest religions in the world. It is said, about 100 to 440 million followers are there as true believers of Buddhism. It is really a most significant force from the countries like china, Japan, Laos, Cambodia, Ceylon, Korea, Nepal and Thailand. From these countries, China has taken the initiative to prepare a rough figure and that figure came up to 150 million. Buddhism is not to-day what it has been in the beginning. So, one must look into the past and then compare it to the present. FOUNDER OF BUDDHISM:
Buddhism is a title which means “the enlightened one”. This title was conferred on the founder of the religion by those people who recognized his spiritual attainment. He was born in Gautama family. He was given the name Siddhartha. He was an Aryan of Kshatriya caste of the Sakya clan. This clan inhabited the area bordering on the Himalayas south of Nepal. His father was Suddhodhana. He was the prince of states and wealth. He might be called even as raja of Sakya clan. His mother Maha, a name filled with symbolism gave birth to Buddha in a fertile land called Lumbini gardens near Nepal while the parents were on their journey. It became difficult for scholars to find out the correct dates of birth and death of Buddha. Still they gave the probable dates as 560 and 480 BC. So, in the town of kapilavastu, he was born. It was about one hundred miles from Benares. When Buddha was nineteen years old, he was married to Yashodhara. After he got a son he despised everything and left the royal palace with a firm decision to achieve something in life. He became a monk with five disciples and started his missionary journey. His disciples thought to be perfect in everything. They thought about his mildness and goodness as unchangeable in the whole world. They proclaimed him as the king of universal kings.
According to traditions, he was able to appear and disappear as his will. He performed many miracles. He gave sight to the blind from birth. He cured deaf from the birth. The crippled also received their healing, Throughout history the Buddhist has been disagreeing on one point. It is the point of veneration. It is to be accorded to Buddha. At the time of his death, his disciples became two groups. Some of them venerated him as divine spirit and others not. Actually, there are more statues of Buddha in the world than any other divinity.
The history of Buddha became very complicated. After his deatha A great council was held at Rajagriha. It was presided over by an aged Kasappa and upali, a prominant disciple repeated the rules of discipline of the order. They called those rules “Vinayakapitaka” . Ananda recited the so called basket of serrmons. In addition to all, there is the bible of Buddha also, in Sanskrit. It is known as “Tripitaka”. That book is conviniently divided into three parts as rules, sermons and teachings.
Emperor followed this religion very seriously. He was a man of the people and the people of surrounding areas to accept Buddhism. According to him, it was a great gift. He was so much immersed in that religion, and he himself began to teach publicly about the dharma or teaching of the essential Buddhist way of life. He followed the way of life of Buddha and set an example to others. He built hospitals, dug wells. He constructed a series of stupas in memory of the life of Buddha. Later he himself dained as a monk, but he could not lead that kind of his kingdom as well as administration Ashoka was not a theologian or philosopher. He was only a strong believer in his missionary movement. But, after the death of Ashoka, Buddhism started its decline in India.
Buddhism began to decline due to some internal problems also, partly because of Muslim invasion. They happened destroy all the monasteries, schools and shrines. They even killed the monks who had the religious Zeal. In addition to the war, Buddhism was already divided into two sects. All these things caused people unable to understand the religion properly. The two sects were - “Theraveda” and “Mahayana”. This Theraveda was found primarily in ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Combodia and Loas whereas Mahayana sect had its own influence in China, Tibet and Japan.
The doctrinal differences between the two sects of belief required are discussion Mahayana Buddhism has developed in philosophical system, but Theraveda sect is not concerned with abstract thoughts Mahayana teachings were continued in Sanskrit language where as Theraveda teachings were in “pali” script. The sacred scriptures of this religion are based on the teachings of the Buddha. They are called, “Tripitaka” or three baskets sectarian of the whole. The first one is known as the basket of “Discipline”. (Vinayapitaka). The second is called “the basket of Discourses”. (Sutrapitaka). The third is the basket of ultimate things (Abidhamma). ThisTripitaka is translated into English and it is available in more than a dozan books.
The first tripitaka of the basket of discipline briefly contains the rules and regulatuions for monks and nuns for their good conduct of life. The second pitaka, the basket of discourses is with addresses given by Bddha himself. It is composed of five collections of a variety of topics. The third one is called the scholars documents. It depicts the philosophic basis of existence with its interest centered in the primary value of Nirvana. Mahayana Buddhism was characterized by a number of quite distinctive sects. and these sects would reflect the development of a way different rituals which are philosophical and scriptural. There were hundreds of divisions of lesser important made Buddhism a highly fragmented religion.
The Yogakara school of Mahayana Buddhism was founded by two brother, Asanga and Vasubandha, traders of northwest in about 400 AD. But this dissappeared from India in 400 AD though it is still active in countries like china, Japan and Tibet. Many people were attracted by that sect in those three countries. Another form of Mahayana Buddhism was in existence in Tibet. This sect is called “Lamanism” which means the “Superior one”.
The true character of Buddhism is highly diverse. It may be impossible to give a comprehensive description regarding its teaching about God. Actually the original Buddhism and later its school teach that there is no God in the traditional meaning. According to their philosophy Buddhism is nothing but atheism. Buddha did not teach anything about God and had immediate followers continued the same method. As a result of it, they never thought of the doctrine of creation and with that there is no ultimate origin. They understood that there are thirty seven planets in existence. Among them there are four lowest states which are known as the states of unhappiness and above them there are seven happy states in which human beings live. Again there are six planets called lower heavenly beings. Then seventeen planets all based on desire and above them are twenty planets called higher heavenly beings.
Buddhism also teaches about belief in reincarnation. They say death is not the end of everything. The result of death is immediate rebirth. Their understanding is that, the physical form of body is only the shell of more essential existence. Then according to their teachings Nirvana is not a magation of self. It is a blessed state where in thirst for all kinds of worldly desires would be eliminated in a person. People dispise everything and concentrated more on God. In pali language Nirvana means “No desire”. In sanskrit its meaning is “the blowing out” what is blown out of flame of craving. Nirvana is logically inexpressive concept. The long history of Buddhism is the principle of the wonego (anotta). The doctrine of nouege significe that the individual ego is a delusion.
Buddhism is purely a religion for individuals. It does not contain systematic teaching, what is necessary to the society. In such ease society does not support individual in his quest for Nirvana. As a matter of fact, Monastie life is considered in Buddhism as superior in position and in the observances. This religion also allows the laymen to be Buddists with certain code of conduct which contained five important prophibitons. They are:-
1) Do not steal.
2) Do not kill,
3) Do not commit adultery
4) Do not tell lies
5) Not to drink intoxication.
This religion teaches about individual salvation also. Buddhism protested against castcism in India. Because of that reason Hinduism openly discouraged the spreading of Buddhism specially in India, but got good encouragement in some Asian countries, as there are no casts in those countries.
Another good thing this religions has done was it has encouraged social gatherings or social forms. People clubbed together and forgot their Easticism if at all there is any and social status. They enjoy themselves as Sangha Buddhism never had canonized system of organization. There is also no person in whom the supreme religious authority like the people of Vatican (Pope of Roman Catholic Christianity) but it has developed into a major religion. It has many devotees in Asia. Busshism is no doubt India’s contribution to the world. Chapter : 13