Buddhism: Origin and Evolution

'Primitive' Buddhism

Siddharta Gautama or Sakyamuni who lived in the 400-500 BCE is the 'originator' of Buddhism. The canonical accounts of him are filled with legends many of which were fabrications of after days. Resentful of the caste discrimination and priestly tyranny of the Brahmins, this original thinker was in earnest search of escape from existence which involved considerable sorrow and suffering. He renounced his high estate to become an ascetic to master the secrets of deliverance from sorrow that eventually led him to master the means of gaining spiritual insight.

Sakyamuni practiced and taught that human had the power to be liberated from the endless cycle of the sufferings of deaths and rebirths. His teaching is Nirvana (literally means "blowing out" or "to extinguish")—the elimination of all desire and suffering to reach a blessed state of "enlightenment"—the final stage of reincarnation.

His system of belief which arose as a revolt of Brahmanism's materializing of God threw away rituals altogether. His compassion and benevolence soon gained many converts along the Ganges Valley that led to the gradual gathering of a group of monk-followers. Sakyamuni then became known as Buddha, the "Enlightened One".

Mahayana—the Mystification of Buddhism

It was not until 250 BCE that his teaching was rigorously promoted by the great Emperor Asoka who adopted it as his state-religion that it became an "organized" religion, spreading quickly to S.E. Asia—to China by 61CE.

As the religion extended its range and influence, it became more metaphysical and ritualistic, investing Buddha with supernatural and legendary attributes so that heresies and discords constantly cropped up. Achieving spiritual salvation and the attainment of Nirvana became the actively-pursued goal of the monk-followers.

However, the elimination of all desire and suffering to reach a blessed state of enlightenment is most difficult to achieve as 'Primitive' Buddhism practically confined salvation to the very select few such that it was not conducive to the propagation of Buddhism as an organized religion.

For the unification of the Buddhist theology—and the suppression of "heresies"—the First Great Council was held in Northern India towards the end of the first century which gave rise to the Mahayana doctrine that substituted for the simple morality of Buddha. Mahayana containing a system of mysticism and sophistic nihilism in the background offered a "Vehicle" for easy, speedy and certain attainment of a state of Buddha and deliverance to Nirvana, the haven of the Buddhists. Its adherents called it "The Great Vehicle (大乘)" while contemptuously calling the Primitive Buddhism "The Little Vehicle (小乘)" which they alleged was only fit for low intellects.

To secure the orthodoxy of Mahayana, it was alleged that Sakyamuni had hidden an apocalyptic treatise, "the means of arriving at the other side of wisdom", which claims to be a compromise between the then extreme views then held on the nature of Nirvana and is known thereof as the system of the "Middle Path".

By developing the supernatural side of Buddhism and by rendering salvation more accessible and universal, Mahayana appealed more powerfully to the multitude that helped to secure ready popularity.

About the end of the first century, the Kanishka Council affirmed the superiority of the Mahayana system. Versions of inflated Buddhist Canon from varying sources were published that idealized Buddha which led to the creation of metaphysical Buddhas and celestial Bodhisattvas, and innumerable demons and deities as object of worship with their attendant idolatry which Sakyamuni had expressly condemned.

Vajrayana Tantrism—the Corruption of Buddhism

About 500 CE arose the next great development in Indian Buddhism—the cult of Yoga or the ecstatic union of the individual with the Universal Spirit. Derived from Hinduism, the practice of abstract meditation was grafted onto Mahayana. This Yoga parasite containing the germ of Tantrism soon seized strong hold of its host.

About the end of 500CE, female energies and consorts were allotted to the various Celestial Bodhisattvas which were given forms of goddesses and ogresses bestowed with supernatural power that were specially worshipped. Such was the form of Buddhism that was first introduced into Tibet by 640 CE.

During the next three or four hundred years, Indian Buddhism became still more mystical leading to the development in the 10^th century the polydemonist doctrine, the Kalacakra (时轮大法, the "Time of the Wheel"), with its demoniacal Buddha, calling itself Vajrayana (金刚乘密宗, the "Thunderbolt Vehicle" ).

Through its myriad of esoteric doctrines and initiation rites including tantric sex, Vajrayana promises a "short cut" to salvation and spontaneous attainment of enlightening. Vajrayana quickly attracted widespread acceptance.

In those declining days of Indian Buddhism, the Mohammadan invasion (from Afghan) in the latter end of 12^th century swept through India effectively stamping out Indian Buddhism. Many monks and ascetics were driven out of the country; some went to Tibet that led to the revival of Buddhism in Tibet—the Upper Route Second Diffusion.

Sources:

L. Austin Wadell: Tibetan Buddhism with its mystic cults ...

Foster Stockwell: Tibet - Myth and Reality.

Victor and Victoria Trimondi: The Shadow of the Dalai Lama.

CKH: 2010/02/20