Blog 3

In Hinduism, castes were a social system that stated that an individual belonged only to the sector of society in which he was born (without any possibility of social mobility). This was decided by his actions in the preceding life (Karma). He could belong to one of the four castes (the priests, the warriors, the householders or the servants) or he could belong to the “untouchables” - Dalits, individuals of the lowest class who were not permitted to have contact with the other groups. This kind of recurring cycle of birth, life, death and reincarnation was called Samsara, or wandering around. The solution to Samsara was Moksha, the release.

Asceticism was practiced by the followers of the Jnana Yoga. Ascetics were part of an elite, they practiced the way of the knowledge and wisdom, and searched for what is real, trying to avoid maya (the illusion). Ascetics were dead to their families and unattached to everything in order to live lives of spiritual contemplation.

Buddha knew all the religious practices and beliefs of Hinduism. When he decided to pursue the enlightenment he searched for the two most important Hindu masters of his day and he learned all that the yogis could teach him. Then he joined a band of ascetics and he “outdid his associates in every austerity they proposed” but the experience only convinced him of the futility of the asceticism. That gave him the foundations for his program: the principle of the middle way between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence. He created a philosophy that combined “a cool head and a warm heart.” That could be called “a religion of infinite compassion.”

Buddha took all the aspects of the Hinduism, reformed them and created a religion that turned to a very generous, intelligent and gentle way to do things. One must be able to act in a responsible and considerate way towards the others and also oneself. I think the core of Buddhism consists in great percentages of respect, gentleness and equanimity. I am presently living with a Chinese family and they practice Buddhism. I enjoy watching how quietly and naturally they perform their rituals and address their God. I have noticed they mention the Buddha and his teachings every time they need to solve a problem or to explain to me the reason why they act like they do. The influence of Buddha, his cool head and warm heart and his principle of the middle way between all the extremes still can be seen in the acts of his followers.