Rachel on Buddhism

For many years In India, social class was determined by birth. Now it is known as the Caste system.Each caste member had a set rule which meant you could only eat, live, and marry the people in your group. There wasn't a way for a caste member to improve there social class.They were in the same class for there lifetime but in order to be reborn into a higher caste they must live life supremely. This is a major example of why the Vedic religion is so strict. Many of the Vedic religion people hated this idea because they couldn't escape the caste system. This was where Buddhism came into place with there concept called Nirvana. This meant ultimate extinction of all sense of self in a mystical state. If nirvana is not achieved the soul is reborn.They teach that after death; a being will continue to be reborn until enlightenment is achieved. Buddhists believe that if you follow The Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path, that endless cycles of rebirth is achievable. Buddhism was based on the fact of reincarnation but nirvana was a concept that help the followers in the Vedic religion to escape themselves from the caste system. The core beliefs of Buddhism was a response to Vedic beliefs.