--- In [email protected], Vaj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > One of the reasons Buddhism had such a large impact and spread > initially was because of what Vedic religion was doing in some > kingdoms: it was driving them into bankruptcy. In particular the > vedic horse sacrifice--which sometimes involved copulation with a > male horse and then it's slaughter--had becoming increasingly > elaborate and grandiose.
One of the reasons I love Roger Zelazny's "Lord Of Light" is that he captures this aspect of Buddha's life, the rebel preaching a more pure form of teaching and fighting against a system that had grown corrupt and oppressive. Some aspects of the popularity of Buddhism in its early days remind me of the popularity of Catharism in medieval Europe. The Cathars represent a return to the purity of spiritual teaching that was self-generated and self- sustaining, and that required no "intercession" by a priest class who, by that time, were in it only for the money. Similarly, the main reason the Hindu priesthood was so down on Buddha and his teachings is that he was cutting into their livelihood by telling folks that they didn't need priests to realize their enlightenment. It is a source of never-ending amusement to me that soon after he was safely dead and gone they co-opted him into the Hindu pantheon and claimed that he was "really" an incarnation of Vishnu. :-)
