The history of Buddhist thought (lectured by ven. Ilukkewela Dhammaratana) 2010 


       According to the historical evidence, Indian society developed after the big arrival of Āryans. However, until today the date of this event still cannot be exactly given. According to the present scholars, the beginning of Indian history can be dated to 1700 BC.

       However Prof D. J. Kalupahana suggests that 1500 BC was the beginning of Indian society. With the arrival of Āryans there emerged conflicts with Anāryans, Anāryans, peoples who lived in ancient an India. In other words, they were Indian indigenous people. Āryans settled down there, they began indulge in agriculture. Therefore they always had to associate with natural objects. The result was the origination of various rites and rituals. The process of this development can be stated as follows:

       (1) Anthropomorphism
       (2) Polytheism
       (3) Henotheism.
       (4) Monotheism
       (5) Monism

       During the anthropomorphic period, people concerned the natural phenomena as beings. Also, they thought that natural objects were very similar to the human beings. Having considered in such a way, people began to offer simple things such as food, water, milk, ghee, butter etc. to those object. Through these offerings they expected that the natural objects would be pleased. This way the people believed that they were able to receive what they needed.

       Polytheism is the belief in many gods. This time they felt that the natural, powerful phenomena were more powerful than they had thought. Therefore, those forces may have not been satisfied with simple offerings. Hence the people started to do offerings such as killing animals, human beings etc. for the satisfaction of the gods.

       Monotheism is the belief in one god. After some time they wanted to find out one supreme God in the great pantheon of god. This supreme God had to be the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the world.

       Henotheism was the process of changing from polytheism to monotheism. By the time, the supreme God changed once, the God Varua was selected as the supreme God. Later, Pajāpati was supposed to be the supreme God. During Brāhmaic period, the supreme God was Brahma.

       Monism doesn't accept any gods. The concepts of ātman and Brahman were considered as one truth. During the Upaniadic period there were two major concepts as Brahman and ātman. The difference between ātman and Brahman were illusion.

       The people who came from central Asia were of fair color. And the indigenous people lived in India were of dark color. Anāryans were the indigenous people. According to the archaeological evidence, Anāryans were morally good people. They practiced meditation. As it is given in Kesī Sukta of g Veda, they were ascetics. The Sukta states that “Vedic poets became frightened when they saw naked men with long hair.”