The caste system in India is an example of how strictly structured Vedic religion was. Those who practiced this religion were born into a caste and varna, each with a specific set of rules that guided an individual's daily life. There was no ability to improve one's social class during a lifetime. Instead a person had to accumulate enough karma, so he or she could hopefully be reincarnated into a higher caste. The system was rigid, and each persons' role and identity were predetermined before they were born. According to the Vedic religion, there was no way to escape this cycle; reincarnation was eternal.
Buddhism became dominant in Southeast Asia because it liberated those who were unhappy that one's spirit could essentially never rest. Both the Vedic religion and Buddhism have a strong focus on reincarnation, but what was appealing about Buddhism was the concept of Nirvana. By following the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path, a person would be reincarnated into an animal/human being/etc. until he or she achieved a broader understanding of the world and stopped suffering. At this point, Enlightenment can be achieved and one would reach a state of Nirvana, escaping the cycle.
In my opinion, Buddhism makes so much sense, especially Theravada Buddhism. According to The Art of Buddhism, "an individual is responsible for his or her own journey towards enlightenment." The concept seems so simple, so my question is: Why is Buddhism not a more popular religion?
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