Without Practice, there is no Buddhism

"It's not intellectual; it's not even an understanding, it's practice"

Monks, I do not say that the attainment of gnosis is all at once. Rather, the attainment of gnosis is after gradual training, gradual action, gradual practice. And how is there the attainment of gnosis after gradual training, gradual action, gradual practice? There is the case where, when conviction has arisen, one visits [a teacher]. Having visited, one grows close. Having grown close, one lends ear. Having lent ear, one hears the Dhamma. Having heard the Dhamma, one remembers it. Remembering, one penetrates the meaning of the teachings. Penetrating the meaning, one comes to an agreement through pondering the teachings. There being an agreement through pondering the teachings, desire arises. When desire has arisen, one is willing. When one is willing, one contemplates. Having contemplated, one makes an exertion. Having made an exertion, one realizes with the body the ultimate truth and, having penetrated it with discernment, sees it.

— MN 70
Buddha

[Phaelyn]

When Buddha said that, there was no Buddhism. No electricity, no cars, no light bulbs, no phones, no internet, no planes, no paved roads, no bicycles, no books, just a few rare scrolls here and there, not many could read or write, no radio, no plumbing, people dropped dead all the time from things easily treated today, there were no antibiotics then, no good medicines or treatments. People were extremely lucky to make it to age 30. The world's population was around 300 million. Over 8 billion today. I'd guess the total number of persons who knew of Buddha was around 200. If you didn't physically live near him, there was no way to learn of him. Books say he had around 60 followers during his life. Some of these included his ex wives and his mother and other relatives. Religion is pretty amazing for making people from the past known for centuries. But then many, many religions have come and gone and are not known anymore. Like Manichaeism that was a major world religion the died off last century. The founder of that religion, a Persian Gnostic named Mani in the late 3rd Century will soon be forgotten if not already by most.

But yes Buddhism needs followers, people practicing it's rituals and methods for it to survive. Otherwise, it could disappear like Manichaeism.

A couple more...

Mithraism. This cult of Mithras, a Sun deity of Indo-Iranian origin, was popular all across the Roman Empire. It died off due to the rapid ascent of Christianity and the weakening of the Western Roman Empire.

Ājīvika. There were three major Indian philosophical schools that emerged as Śramana, i.e. ascetic, alternatives to the Vedic Hinduism. Buddhism and Jainism have survived up to now. Ājīvika school disappeared in the 14th century AD.

[HITESH SHAH]

Originally Posted by Phaelyn

When Buddha said that, there was no Buddhism. No electricity, no cars, no light bulbs, no phones, no internet, no planes, no paved roads, no bicycles, no books, just a few rare scrolls here and there, not many could read or write, no radio, no plumbing, people dropped dead all the time from things easily treated today, there were no antibiotics then, no good medicines or treatments. People were extremely lucky to make it to age 30. The world's population was around 300 million. Over 8 billion today. I'd guess the total number of persons who knew of Buddha was around 200. If you didn't physically live near him, there was no way to learn of him. Books say he had around 60 followers during his life. Some of these included his ex wives and his mother and other relatives. Religion is pretty amazing for making people from the past known for centuries. But then many, many religions have come and gone and are not known anymore. Like Manichaeism that was a major world religion the died off last century. The founder of that religion, a Persian Gnostic named Mani in the late 3rd Century will soon be forgotten if not already by most.

But yes Buddhism needs followers, people practicing it's rituals and methods for it to survive. Otherwise, it could disappear like Manichaeism.

A couple more...

Mithraism. This cult of Mithras, a Sun deity of Indo-Iranian origin, was popular all across the Roman Empire. It died off due to the rapid ascent of Christianity and the weakening of the Western Roman Empire.

Ājīvika. There were three major Indian philosophical schools that emerged as Śramana, i.e. ascetic, alternatives to the Vedic Hinduism. Buddhism and Jainism have survived up to now. Ājīvika school disappeared in the 14th century AD.

Interesting study of history and interesting questions . Very few can have it .

Aajivika was Nastik school of thought meaning 'no god' negative school of thought .It's death is natural . manichaeism was a duality school of thought which too perished .

Do u think widespread buddhist followers in ASEAN countries / south Asia / Far east, there is any threat to Buddhism

[sky]

" Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation. Do your best.”

Originally Posted by sky123

" Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation. Do your best.”

Nail. Hit Hammer.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Phaelyn

When Buddha said that, there was no Buddhism. No electricity, no cars, no light bulbs, no phones, no internet, no planes, no paved roads, no bicycles, no books, just a few rare scrolls here and there, not many could read or write, no radio, no plumbing, people dropped dead all the time from things easily treated today, there were no antibiotics then, no good medicines or treatments..

' Some of these included his ex wives and his mother '

From what is known and accepted in Buddhism, the Buddha had One Wife and His Mother died days after He was born....

[Phaelyn]

Originally Posted by sky123

' Some of these included his ex wives and his mother '


From what is known and accepted in Buddhism, the Buddha had One Wife and His Mother died days after He was born....

according to the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya and several other sources, the Buddha in fact had three wives
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaśodharā

The Mūlasarvāstivāda (Sanskrit: मूलसर्वास्तिवाद; traditional Chinese: 根本說一切有部; ; pinyin: Gēnběn Shuō Yīqièyǒu Bù) was one of the early Buddhist schools of India. The origins of the Mūlasarvāstivāda and their relationship to the Sarvāstivāda sect still remain largely unknown, although various theories exist.

The continuity of the Mūlasarvāstivāda monastic order remains in Tibetan Buddhism.

His genetic mother yes, Maha Pajapati Gotami, the aunt and foster mother of the Buddha, who raised Buddha as his mother, was ordained by Buddha into his order. She became the first ordained Buddhist nun. She was responsible for the creation of nuns within Buddhism according to many stories. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/...a/2_23lbud.htm

[sky]

Originally Posted by Phaelyn

The Mūlasarvāstivāda (Sanskrit: मूलसर्वास्तिवाद; traditional Chinese: 根本說一切有部; ; pinyin: Gēnběn Shuō Yīqièyǒu Bù) was one of the early Buddhist schools of India. The origins of the Mūlasarvāstivāda and their relationship to the Sarvāstivāda sect still remain largely unknown, although various theories exist.

The continuity of the Mūlasarvāstivāda monastic order remains in Tibetan Buddhism.

His genetic mother yes, Maha Pajapati Gotami, the aunt and foster mother of the Buddha, who raised Buddha as his mother, was ordained by Buddha into his order. She became the first ordained Buddhist nun. She was responsible for the creation of nuns within Buddhism according to many stories. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/...a/2_23lbud.htm

Yes it was His Foster Mother and Aunt not His Mother.....

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Phaelyn

The Mūlasarvāstivāda (Sanskrit: मूलसर्वास्तिवाद; traditional Chinese: 根本說一切有部; ; pinyin: Gēnběn Shuō Yīqièyǒu Bù) was one of the early Buddhist schools of India. The origins of the Mūlasarvāstivāda and their relationship to the Sarvāstivāda sect still remain largely unknown, although various theories exist.

The continuity of the Mūlasarvāstivāda monastic order remains in Tibetan Buddhism.

His genetic mother yes, Maha Pajapati Gotami, the aunt and foster mother of the Buddha, who raised Buddha as his mother, was ordained by Buddha into his order. She became the first ordained Buddhist nun. She was responsible for the creation of nuns within Buddhism according to many stories. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/...a/2_23lbud.htm

I see nothing wrong with the Buddha having multiple wives. That was a main custom at one time. As for me, I can not remember how many times I have been asked by Buddhists in predominate Buddhist countries if I have 4 wives. The odd part of these requests was they were all done by women except for one old man.

I suspect back in King Asoka's time, 'history' may have been changed to make Buddhism more acceptable but also to 'cover up' issues dealing with King Asoka himself.

[Phaelyn]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

'history' may have been changed to make Buddhism more acceptable

That was mentioned in the Wikipedia article I read. That monogamy became the norm and multiple wives was looked down on.

This was a little quote about Buddha's first wife and son joining his order:

Some time after her son Rāhula became a novice monk, Yaśodharā also entered the Order of Monks and Nuns and within time attained the state of an arahat. She was ordained following Mahapajapati Gotami (Buddha's foster Mother) that first established the bhikkhuni order. She died at 78, two years before Buddha's parinirvana (death)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaśodharā