The Holy Trinity
Before the study of Buddhism was presented in Inida, Indians worhsiped the Holy Hindu Trinity. The Holy Hindu Trinity consisted of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; these were the three significant gods of the second millennia B.C.E. When the Aryans invaded, most darker-skinned Harappa-Mohenjodaro native people became slaves, while the others attempted moved to South India. As Paurava Empire began to descending the eighth century B.C.E., the Empire broke into smaller states. The changes that occurred made the Indian society become a period of abstract and religious deliberation. As people were speculating their religion, many turned to Buddhism because of their progressing lack of faith in the Hinduism they previously worshiped.
Conditions that Led to the turning point of Buddhism
Buddhism was taught at a time when Hinduism, the
most popular religion at that point in India, had become strictly controlled by priests and upper classes. Buddhism gave people who were not as high in power a chance to become spiritually enlightened; Buddha believed there was hope in everyone. The Buddha was first a prince that would've been an ignorant ruler if he did not leave his palace until he witnessed suffering, sickness, death and enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, realized the world was not just one big happy place and realized he had to do something about it.
Below is a drawing of a Chinese Painting from the Tang Dynasty, showing two of the scenes Buddha encounters on his journey outside the palace.
most popular religion at that point in India, had become strictly controlled by priests and upper classes. Buddhism gave people who were not as high in power a chance to become spiritually enlightened; Buddha believed there was hope in everyone. The Buddha was first a prince that would've been an ignorant ruler if he did not leave his palace until he witnessed suffering, sickness, death and enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, realized the world was not just one big happy place and realized he had to do something about it.
Below is a drawing of a Chinese Painting from the Tang Dynasty, showing two of the scenes Buddha encounters on his journey outside the palace.
Holy Trinity
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/study/history_buddhism/buddhism_india/indian_society_thought_time_buddha_.html
Conditions
http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/buddha/home_set.html
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZOH9sYJZZ34J:www.relationalconcepts.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket%3DLgsXujQjq_E%253D%26tabid%3D73+buddhism+relational+concepts&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiPOSU9clLLs54wo_Ws9UhTr7Y-GsdB6ycLR2yEKNfV5tWzy3VAZpZs3KZp_xL6A4Koa86ddp6wk8FGvKwoOlCbiBby5UFH5wstIwEAi9fvBksq3ALHoV_b5EvRH6bdajkVRLQz&sig=AHIEtbQlXo0_TqAh-SML2g-Gl_7AYiifpA
http://www.mmiweb.org.uk/gcsere/revision/buddhism/lifeofbuddha/4_4sights.html
http://orias.berkeley.edu/visuals/buddha/Life.html
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/study/history_buddhism/buddhism_india/indian_society_thought_time_buddha_.html
Conditions
http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/buddha/home_set.html
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:ZOH9sYJZZ34J:www.relationalconcepts.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket%3DLgsXujQjq_E%253D%26tabid%3D73+buddhism+relational+concepts&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiPOSU9clLLs54wo_Ws9UhTr7Y-GsdB6ycLR2yEKNfV5tWzy3VAZpZs3KZp_xL6A4Koa86ddp6wk8FGvKwoOlCbiBby5UFH5wstIwEAi9fvBksq3ALHoV_b5EvRH6bdajkVRLQz&sig=AHIEtbQlXo0_TqAh-SML2g-Gl_7AYiifpA
http://www.mmiweb.org.uk/gcsere/revision/buddhism/lifeofbuddha/4_4sights.html
http://orias.berkeley.edu/visuals/buddha/Life.html