I was reading a detailed analysis of Jainism and Budhisam and their influence on the evolution of HInduism..
In fact, if we analyze in depth it will be seen that ahimsa in terms complete abstinence from causing harm to any living being or to a great extent even to non living things was stressed more in Jainism..
And Buddhism was in fact more relevant at the time of its predominance as an instrument of social change as it made successful forays fighting against the traditional ritualistic Hinduism which gave a lot of significance to fire oblations and animal sacrifices.. and of course the dominance of the Brahmin caste..
Budhism was Kshatriya oriented, and in fact its objections to sacrifice of animals was, to be frank, more being used as a ploy to prune the wings of the ritualistic brahmin rather than as an article of faith made out of pity or love for the animals killed..
True, Buddhism made the society more free, objective and egalitrian and Bhagavan Buddha deserves all reverence.
And, with due respect for Gandhiji and Mandela, about whom it is claimed that they were influenced by Buddha, my frank view is that their stands of peaceful resistance was a matter of expediency as they were shrewd enough to realize that their political movements did not have the firepower to match the powers they were up in arms against..
True, they either derived strength from the Madhyama Marga or Pantha principles... the middle path or path of reconciliation, from earlier seers or alternately used the names or cited as authority their teachings, to convince and gain authenticity and gain acceptance and legitimacy for their action plans..
Admitted,, we cannot ever fail to praise Buddha for his role as a social reformer, and a rebel against ritualism and elitism..
But it is a tragedy that with the advent of or split up into Mahayana, Heenayana and Vajrayana Schools, the same noble religion disintegrated into ritualism..
You know, all types of Tantric worship and use of flesh, wine and sex as means of spiritual attainment appears with only changes in names and chants, in vajrayana buddhism too
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