Write a post to 1) summarize the main points; and 2) make your own comments (analyses, questions, thoughts or anything that may invite further discussions). This main post should be more than 200 words.
The Buddha was born in Lumbini (Rummin-dei), near Kapilavastu (Kapilbastu) on the northern edge of the Ganges River basin, an area on the periphery of the civilization of North India, in what is today southern Nepal. Scholars speculate that during the late Vedic period the peoples of the region were organized into tribal republics, ruled by a council of elders or an elected leader; the grand palaces described in the traditional accounts of the life of the Buddha are not evident among the archaeological remains. It is unclear to what extent these groups at the periphery of the social order of the Ganges basin were incorporated into the caste system, but the Buddha’s family is said to have belonged to the warrior (Kshatriya) caste. The central Ganges basin was organized into some 16 city-states, ruled by kings, often at war with each other.
The rise of these cities of central India, with their courts and their commerce, brought social, political, and economic changes that are often identified as key factors in the rise of Buddhism and other religious movements of the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. Buddhist texts identify a variety of itinerant teachers who attracted groups of disciples. Some of these taught forms of meditation, Yoga, and asceticism and set forth philosophical views, focusing often on the nature of the person and the question of whether human actions (karma) have future effects. Although the Buddha would become one of these teachers, Buddhists view him as quite different from the others. His place within the tradition, therefore, cannot be understood by focusing exclusively on the events of his life and times (even to the extent that they are available). Instead, he must be viewed within the context of Buddhist theories of time and history.
This post discusses the background and context in which the Buddha was born and how it influenced the rise of Buddhism. The Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is in present-day southern Nepal, in an area on the periphery of the civilization of North India. Scholars believe that during that time, the region was organized into tribal republics ruled by councils or elected leaders. It is unclear whether these groups were incorporated into the caste system, but the Buddha's family belonged to the warrior caste.
In central India, there were city-states ruled by kings who often waged war with each other. The rise of these cities brought about social, political, and economic changes that played a significant role in the rise of Buddhism and other religious movements during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. During this time, there were many itinerant teachers who attracted disciples and taught various forms of meditation, yoga, and asceticism, as well as philosophical views on karma and the nature of the person.
The Buddha, although being one of these teachers, was considered different from the others by Buddhists. Therefore, understanding his place within the tradition requires looking beyond the events of his life and times and considering Buddhist theories of time and history.
This post sheds light on the societal and historical context in which the Buddha lived and how it influenced the development of Buddhism. It raises questions about the incorporation of peripheral groups and tribes into the caste system and the impact of the rise of city-states on the spread of religious movements. It also highlights the unique position of the Buddha within Buddhist tradition and invites further exploration of Buddhist theories of time and history.