VAJIP.

AN{ & RAVI

BUDDHIST TRADITION

Buddhism emerged around 6rr, century B.C. This was the time of
Nlahajanpads in ancient lndian history Buddhism was a reliqiolls movemenl
BLrddhism challenged Brahmanic tradition. According to Bhiku parekh we do
not trnd
a radical break from the past Buddhism continue to share the basic believes of
Hinduism Buddhism conlinLre to betieve in karma theory. Buddhisn alvJays gave
ifirpottance to Dhatllra or etilics. However Buddhism differs from Btahmanic kadrtion
in f ollo\,''ing'!,r'ayS'

(i) Buddhism denied the supremacy of Vcdas.

(2) Euddhist kadition is treated as Sramnic tradition. lt means the traclition of

individualism in lndian thinking. lt differc from individuaiism of the west. Here,
individualism means faith in the capability of man to attain qvan and nirvan to
I imsclf. (on his ownl

(3) Buddhist rejected the caste hierarchy.

{4) Buddhism rejected gender based social stratiilcation

(5) Buddhism establisherl Kohtriya

- vaislrya altiance in place of Brahmilr
l(ohtriya alliance. Since it was the trne cf Mahajanpadas. Buddhist potitical
ihoLlght foclls on Republican {orm of government

Republicanism of that time is not similar to the republican of present lt was

rnore ihe rule of certain eiite clans/families.

Buddhist tradition revised the importance of assembiies ie sabha and

samitis. I
lj
)

Buddhism prespnt the con|Jctudl theory of slate they oeny ,r.e orvrne orrgtn
ot the state. People assembled together and selected the noblesl man afitong
themselves to act as king. According to Buddhism, every
thing was good in the
beginning. With the origin of property and famity,
the ia'i of man begins. This ted to
the feeling of mine and thaine This led io the beginning of conflict
in society
Although eternal law was existjng btu it became
lmpossable to regulate the
behaviour of individual. Thus the state became necessary.
ln Buddhism king ts a
Monk who has won over ihe materiat needs. He
is a person !!ho knows Dharma

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VAJIR.LM & RAVI
The contractual theory of origin of
tl@!6&E'@!E
State, is the most important principle of
F
@
Buddhist political discourse. 1'i,.

lhe second most impodant aspect of Budclhist

i5-
poriticar discolrrse rs the
imporiance of ethics According to
Appadorai, the fo.emost duty of king ls €1-
to rule
.ighteously. According to professor VR.Mehta
there is an absollte emphasis on
moral principles in Buddhism with respect @"
to governance.
ei"
, Bu.ldhism rejects materjal pleasLrre lt
rejects the Lokayata vie\,! !,/lth respect
tc forelgn policy atso we see ideatlstic cp,,
perspeclive in llLr.ldhism
q.".
Buddhism suggests the principle of panchsheel BLrddhisrn stressed
'-hqio rs {ol, rdn(a wheteas .Sh
Htndu tradttions are inpqdltta an Buddhist
tradition is
eqalitarian si
Source of Buddhist poiitical Thought
@.-
are:
(1) Buddhist literature _ tike tripittaka,n,Jataka
stories.
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