Buddhism: Learn its History, Origin, Doctrines, Eight Fold Paths & More!

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world, Buddhism has its roots in India and dates back 2,500 years. Buddhists hold that enlightenment, or nirvana, can be attained by meditation, hard work both spiritual and physical and good conduct. They also hold that human life is one of suffering.  The sixth century B.C. is regarded as a glorious period in history. During this century, great intellectuals such as Buddha, Mahavira, Heraclitus, Zoroaster, Confucius, and Lao Tse lived and proclaimed their beliefs. The most successful among these were Jainism and Buddhism, which had a significant impact on Indian society. Both religions emphasised and promoted nonviolence, good social behaviour, kindness, and compassion. According to these religions, True happiness is not found in materialism or the performing of rituals.

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Buddhism is a popular topic for the UPSC IAS Exam. It covers a significant part of the history syllabus in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus.

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History & Origin of Buddhism

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• Buddhism arose 2,600 years ago in India as a way of living helpful in enhancing one’s life.
• In the countries of South and Southeast Asia, it is one of the most important religions.
• Buddha is also called Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
• Buddhism was founded on the teachings and life experiences of Siddhartha Gautam, who was born in 563 BCE.
• He was born into the royal dynasty of the Sakya clan, which ruled from Kapilvastu on the Indo-Nepal border in Lumbini.
• Siddhartha had a son named Rahul after marrying Yashodhara. His opulent lifestyle displeased him, and he was worried by indicators of illness, old age, and death he saw in his daily existence.
• Gautama left home at the age of 29, opting for asceticism, or extreme self-discipline, over a life of prosperity.
• After 49 days of meditation, Gautama gained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree in Bodhgaya, a hamlet in Bihar.
• Buddha presented his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, near the city of Benares. Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana is the name given to this phenomenon (turning of the wheel of law).
• In 483 BCE, he died at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, a town in Uttar Pradesh. The incident is called Mahaparinibban 

Rise of Buddhism

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The various causes that led to the growth of this religion are as follows:

Moment Influence

• The 6th century B.C. was a perfect time for Buddhism to spread.
• People were fed up with superstitions, complicated rituals and rites, and blind beliefs during the time.
• The Buddha’s message was a great respite to those who were already suffering under the oppressive weight of Brahmanism.

Simple Doctrines

• Buddhism was essentially simple in comparison to Jainism.
• The people were not perplexed. Rather, its ‘Arya Satya,’ ‘Eightfold Path,’ and ‘idea of non-violence’ were so straightforward that anyone could understand and follow them.
• Buddhism lacked the strictness of Jainism and the complexity of Vedic ceremonies.
• People who had grown tired of Brahminical manipulations of the Vedic religion found Buddhism to be a peaceful and refreshing shift.

Simple Expressions

• The Buddha communicated his message to the masses in common people’s vernacular. The Prakrit language utilised by Buddha was India’s spoken language.
•  The Vedic religion could only be understood because of the Brahmins’ stranglehold on the Sanskrit language.
• Buddhism was simple to comprehend, and people accepted it after being persuaded by its simple philosophy and appealing message.

Buddha’s Personality 

• The Buddha’s personality endeared him and his faith to the public. The Buddha was kind and selfless.
• The masses were drawn to him by his calm demeanour, lovely words of a simple philosophy, and life of renunciation.
• He had moral solutions to people’s problems. As a result, Buddhism expanded quickly.

Buddhism was inexpensive because it lacked the costly rites that typified the Vedic religion.

•  Practical morality, rather than ceremonies and costly rituals, became its guiding element, assisting in the establishment of a healthy social tradition.
• It promoted a spiritual path free of material duties such as ceremonies and offerings to appease gods and Brahmins.

No Caste Discrimination

• Buddhism did not believe in castes. It was anti-caste and treated people from all castes equally.
• Its adherents met together, caste aside, and discussed ethics and morals. Non-Brahmins in particular were attracted to it.

Royal Support

• Buddhism’s quick development was aided by royal patronage.
• The Buddha was a Kshatriya prince himself. Buddhism was patronised by kings like Prasenjit, Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, Asoka, Kanishka, and Harshavardhan, who helped it grow throughout India and beyond.
• Asoka sent Mahendra and Sanghamitra, two of his sons, to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism.
• Kanishka and Harshavardhan dedicated their lives to spreading Buddhism across India.

Influence of Universities

• Universities at Nalanda, Taxila, Puspagiri, and Vikramsila played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism.
• Students studying in these institutes from all over India and from other countries were drawn to Buddhism and embraced it.
• Hiuen Tsang, the renowned Chinese pilgrim, was a student at Nalanda University. His teachers included Shilavadra, Dharmapala, Chandrapala, and Divakamitra, all of whom were prominent intellectuals dedicated to the development of Buddhism.

Buddhist Monks and the Buddhist ‘Order’ (Sangha)

• Buddhist monks and the Buddhist ‘Order’ (Sangha) rendered unparalleled assistance to the propagation of Buddhism. Ananda, Sariputta, Maudgalayana, Sudatta, and Upali, among others, were prominent among Buddha’s students.
• They were adamant in their desire to promote Buddhism throughout India.
• The Buddhist sangha grew throughout India, with branches all over the country. Locals were quickly drawn to these Buddhist ‘Order’ branches.
• They led ascetic lifestyles as either monk (bhikshu) or lay devotees (Upasakas). Their example prompted an increasing number of people to emulate it. As a result, Buddhism spread quickly.

Buddhist Councils

• Buddhist Councils were crucial in the teaching and spreading of Buddhism in India.
• After the death of Buddha, 4 Buddhist Councils were held.

You might also like to check NCERT Notes on Ashoka Life and Dhamma

Doctrines of Buddhism

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The Ariya-Sacchani (four noble truths), Ashtangika-Marga (Eight Fold Path), Middle Path, Social Code of Conduct, and Attainment of Nibbana/Nirvana are the basis of Buddha’s doctrine.

The teachings are not dogma, but rather Upaya (skilful ways or efficient instruments).

Teachings of Buddhism

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The three pillars of his teachings are

Buddha	Founder/Teacher
Dhamma	Teachings
Sangha	Order of Buddhist Monks and Nuns (Upasakas)

Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

The four Noble truths which are at the heart of Buddhism’s teachings are:

Eight-Fold Paths of Buddhism

The Eight-Fold Path emphasises unlearning over learning, i.e., learning in order to unlearn and discover. The path is made up of eight actions that work together to help you get beyond the conditioned responses that keep you from seeing your true self.

The Ashtangika-Marga consists of the following:

Mudras in Buddhism

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S.No	Mudra	Description	Image
1	Dharmachakra mudra	Dharmachakra means ‘Wheel of Dharma’ in Sanskrit. Vairochana, the first Dhyani Buddha, demonstrates this mudra.
2	Bhumisparsha mudra	The word ‘bhumisparsha’ means ‘touching the soil.’  The ‘earth witness’ is another name for it. This mudra depicts Akshobhya, the second Dhyani Buddha.
3	Varada mudra	This mudra represents kindness, compassion, and blessings.  It’s the mudra for realising one’s desire to devote oneself to human salvation.  This mudra is shown by Ratnasambhava, the third Dhyani Buddha.
4	Dhyana mudra	With one or both hands, make the Dhyana mudra.  Amitabha, also known as Amitayus, the fourth Dhyani Buddha, demonstrates this mudra.
5	Abhaya mudra	In Sanskrit, the word abhaya denotes fearlessness.  As a result, this mudra represents safety, tranquilly, and the removal of fear.  Amoghasiddhi, the sixth Dhyani Buddha, depicts the Abhaya mudra.

Spread of Buddhism in India

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• Buddha’s two types of followers: Monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas).
• For the sake of disseminating his teachings, the monks were organised into the Sangha.
• The Sangha was democratically run and had the authority to maintain discipline among its members.
• Even during Buddha’s lifetime, Buddhism advanced rapidly in North India thanks to the Sangha’s concerted efforts.
• Following Buddha’s death, his followers continued on his meditation path and travelled the countryside.
• Until the arrival of the Great Mauryan King – Ashoka – Buddhism was overshadowed by its Hindu competitors for 200 years.
• Following the slaughter of his Kalinga invasion, Emperor Ashoka decided to abandon his worldly conquering agenda in favour of Dhamma conquest.
• Various Buddhist missions were dispatched by Ashoka during the third Buddhist council to places like Gandhara, Kashmir, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and Thailand.
• Ashoka’s missionary efforts spread Buddhism throughout West Asia and Ceylon. As a result, a local religious sect became a global religion.

Impact of Buddhism

Decline of Buddhism

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Buddhism began to fade away from its birthplace in the early 12th century. The following are some of the factors that contributed to Buddhism’s decline:

Corruption in the Buddhist Sangha

• The Buddhist Sangha grew corrupt over time. Receiving rich presents drove them in the direction of luxury and pleasure.
• The Buddha’s teachings were conveniently forgotten, and the Buddhist monks and their preachings began to suffer as a result.

Sects of Buddhism

• Buddhism has had its share of sects over the years. Buddhism’s originality was lost as a result of its fragmentation into several breakaway groups such as Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Tantrayana, and Sahajayana.
• Buddhism had lost its simplicity and was becoming more convoluted.

Use of Sanskrit language

• During Kanishka’s reign, however, Sanskrit superseded these in the Fourth Buddhist Council. Sanskrit was a language of a few intellectuals, rarely understood by the general public, and so became one of the many reasons for Buddhism’s demise.
• Pali, the spoken language of the majority of Indians, was the medium through which the Buddhist message was conveyed.
• The Mahayana Buddhists were the first to introduce image worship to Buddhism.
• They began to venerate the Buddha’s image.
• The Buddhist teachings of rejecting complicated ceremonies and rituals of Brahmanical worship were violated by this method of worship

Buddhists were persecuted

• The Brahmanical faith rose to prominence again through time.
• Some Brahmana monarchs, such as Huna king Pushiyamitra Shunga, Mihirakula (Shiva worshiper), and Shaivite Shashank of Gauda, persecuted Buddhists en masse. The generous donations to the monasteries began to dwindle

Conquest of India by Muslims

• The Muslim invasion of India nearly wiped off Buddhism.
• Their invasions of India became routine, and the Buddhist monks were compelled to seek asylum and shelter in Nepal and Tibet.
• Buddhism eventually faded out in India, its birthplace.

Check out the article on Hinayana and Mahayana Sect with this link!

Hinduism and Buddhism

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• Hinduism is concerned with comprehending Brahma, or existence, from within the Atman, which approximately translates as “self” or “soul,” but Buddhism is concerned with discovering the Anatman, which roughly translates as “not a soul” or “not self.”
• Achieving the ultimate existence, according to Hinduism, is a process of removing corporeal distractions from life and eventually understanding Brahma’s nature inside.
• In Buddhism, one lives a disciplined life in order to pass through and learn that nothing in one’s self is “me,” thereby dispelling the illusion of existence.

Buddhism Facts for UPSC Prelims

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UNESCO’s Heritage Sites related to Buddhism

Eight Great Boddhisatvas

Way Forward

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• The revival of the Nalanda University project and the promotion of Buddhist studies in well-established universities would bring the international community together.
• To popularise India’s affiliation with Buddhism abroad, a Buddhist tourist campaign like the ‘Incredible India’ effort is required.
• Effective implementation is a critical task for the government. Buddhist diplomacy would go a long way toward preventing China’s rise, deepening its ties with Asian countries, and assisting it in achieving its regional and global power goals.

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UPSC Previous Years Prelims Questions

Q1. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2020)

1. Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana — Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following:

1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals

Which of the above is/are the features/ features of Mahayana Buddhism? (UPSC 2019)

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism? (UPSC 2013)

(a) The extinction of the flame of desire

(b) The complete annihilation of self

(c) A state of bliss and rest

(d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension

UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions

1. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (UPSC 2020)
2. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate. (UPSC 2016)

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