Doctrines and Features of Buddhism and Causes of its Spread

At a Glance

• Core idea Suffering from desire; nirvana
• Path Ashtangika marga and middle path
• Three elements Buddha, dhamma, sangha
• Language Pali
• World religion Through Ashoka
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Ancient History: Religious Movements, Mahajanapadas and Foreign Invasions

Where Does It Fit?

This is the fifth topic of the category on religious movements. The previous topic covered the Buddha’s life, and this one covers his teachings. The next topic covers councils and decline. Previous topic: Gautama Buddha and the Rise of Buddhism.

What Did the Buddha Teach?

In short: a practical path from sorrow to nirvana, without god, soul or ritual.

The Buddha was a practical reformer who took note of the realities of the day. He did not involve himself in the fruitless controversies about the soul (atman) and Brahma which raged in his time, but addressed worldly problems. He said that the world was full of sorrow and that people suffered on account of desires. If desires are conquered, nirvana is attained, and man is free from the cycle of birth and death. To eliminate misery he recommended the eightfold path (ashtangika marga), attributed to him in a text of about the third century BC: right observation, right determination, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness and right concern. A person who follows it is freed from the machinations of priests. He taught that a person should avoid excess of both luxury and austerity and so prescribed the middle path.

He laid down a code for followers on the lines of the Jaina teachers: do not commit violence, do not covet the property of others, do not use intoxicants, do not tell a lie, and do not indulge in sexual misconduct and adultery. These tenets are common to the social conduct ordained by virtually all religions.

What Are the Main Features of Buddhism?

Buddhism does not recognise the existence of god and soul, which can be seen as a kind of revolution in the history of Indian religions. Because early Buddhism was not enmeshed in philosophical discussion, it appealed to common people, and it particularly won the support of the lower orders because it attacked the varna system. People were accepted into the order without any consideration of caste, and women were also admitted to the sangha and brought on a par with men. Compared with Brahmanism, it was liberal and democratic. There are three principal elements: Buddha, dhamma and sangha. Monks, once enrolled, took vows of continence, poverty and faith.

Why Did Buddhism Spread?

Buddhism appealed to people of non-Vedic areas, where it found virgin soil for conversion. The people of Magadha responded readily because the orthodox brahmanas looked down on them; Magadha was placed outside the holy Aryavarta, covering modern UP. The personality of the Buddha and his method of preaching helped: he fought evil by goodness and hatred by love and kept his calm under abuse. Pali, a form of Prakrit, used from around 500 BC, brought the doctrine to ordinary people. The sangha, whose doors were open irrespective of caste, creed and sex, organised preaching, and Buddhism made rapid strides even during the Buddha’s lifetime, as the monarchies of Magadha, Koshala and Kaushambi and several republican states adopted it. About two hundred years after his death, Ashoka embraced Buddhism, which was an epoch-making event: through his missionaries it spread into Central Asia, West Asia and Sri Lanka and became a world religion. Even today Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tibet and parts of China and Japan profess Buddhism.

As an analytical point, the early rule that slaves, soldiers and debtors could not enter the sangha shows that the movement, though egalitarian in caste, adjusted to the new property relations, which is examined in Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance. The preceding social background is in Causes of the Rise of New Religious Movements in the Sixth Century BC, and the royal patronage is in Ashoka’s Dhamma and Internal Policy.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Core doctrine Frequent Prelims theme
• Comparison With Jainism
• Spread Ashoka and Pali

What Came Next?

The next topic describes the Buddhist councils, the decline of Buddhism and its significance. Next topic: Buddhist Councils, Decline of Buddhism and its Significance.

Key People and Terms

• Nirvana Release from rebirth
• Ashtangika marga Eightfold path
• Sangha Monastic order
• Dhamma Teaching
• Pali Language of early texts
• Middle path Avoiding extremes

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about teachings and causes of spread. These points add depth.

• Teaching Practical, anti-ritual
• Social Anti-varna, women
• Spread Pali and patronage