The birthplace of Buddhism: Nepal or India?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Buddhism is often called the world's oldest religion. Its origin dates back to the sixth century BC. Disputes about the place of origin of this religious and philosophical doctrine continue to this day, and are unlikely to ever stop. It is almost impossible to back up any hypothesis with documentary evidence, because so much water has flowed under the bridge in these two and a half thousand years. States were created and destroyed, their borders changed. Written sources that have survived to our time were created according to oral legends and traditions, because writing on Earth arose later.

Buddha's birthplace

The main contenders for the title of homeland of Buddhism are the countries of Nepal and India. Regarding the birthplace of the Buddha, they managed to come to a consensus, the disputes subsided, the city of Lumbini, located on the territory of modern Nepal, was recognized as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, who later became the enlightened Buddha. This city is now a place of pilgrimage for many Buddhists from all over the world.

It seemedwhat to argue about now? If the country in which the Buddha was born is known, then this country is the birthplace of Buddhism. Alas, if everything were so simple! The basis for endless disputes on this topic is the fact that most of his conscious life, the Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern part of ancient India, in the provinces of Magaji and Kosala. And India's claims to be the birthplace of Buddhism become clear, because such a philosophical concept as Buddhism could be comprehended, formulated and conveyed to students in an accessible and understandable form only by a mature and wise person.

Buddhism: religion, philosophy or…

Language does not dare to call Buddhism a religion, although it is officially recognized as one of the three world religions.

The brightest distinguishing feature of this rather philosophical than religious teaching is a comprehensive, unsurpassed tolerance. Unlike Christianity and Islam, in Buddhism there is no concept of an omniscient and omnipotent god, sin or jihad, it does not require from its adherents the holy recognition of any dogmas and their unquestioning implementation, preaching and spreading of faith. It completely lacks rejection of someone else's faith. Buddhism does not require a person to suffer and perform feats in the name of the Buddha in this life in exchange for eternal bliss after death.

Buddhism encourages a person to lead a moderate, even dispassionate way of life, to cultivate mental and emotional balance through meditation. Mercy and compassion for people can be called the main moral principle of Buddhism.

Buddha for the adherents of Buddhism is not a god, he is the founder, mentor, teacher. Buddhists do not profess faith in an omniscient and omnipotent creator god, capable of forgiving and punishing. According to the philosophy of Buddhism, any person is a particle of God, and anyone who achieves enlightenment can become the next Buddha.

Where is the birthplace of Buddhism?

I would like to answer this question: in the human soul. This is a religion of an ethical-philosophical, and not a mystical, plan, and the main thing in it is improvement, the search for the truth of being, the origins of human troubles and ways to get rid of them. There are no miracles in it, but there are noble truths:

• about the nature of suffering;
• about the origin and causes of suffering;
• about the cessation of suffering and the elimination of its sources;
• about ways to end suffering.

The moral and ethical principles of Buddhism are based on non-harm to the environment and moderation. Adepts of Buddhism throughout their life path educate and develop morality, concentration and life wisdom. And the constant meditations of Buddhists, the knowledge of cause-and-effect relationships between the bodily and spiritual allow you to establish mind control over psychological processes.

Buddhism is not a religion. This is the path… The long journey of a lifelong person to self-realization.

Conclusion

Which country is the birthplace of Buddhism? Unfortunately, the exact answer has been lost in the mists of time, and is unlikely to ever be found. With certaintyonly one thing can be stated: Buddhism arose in a country that was located in ancient times on the territory of modern north-eastern India and the adjacent territory of modern Nepal. And wise people inhabited this country.