I am just wondering if anyone here can help me to better understand Vedic and Buddhst connections, or the lack thereof if you believe so. I am wondering about what the Buddha used and what he might have discarded from Vedic culture.

I am just wondering if anyone here can help me to better understand Vedic and Buddhst connections, or the lack thereof if you believe so. I am wondering about what the Buddha used and what he might have discarded from Vedic culture.

Here's an article I found in my bookmarks tht might be helpful http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/pre_buddhism_history.html

I think you'll finf\d the Hindu and Buddhist view on the history is quite different.

I am just wondering if anyone here can help me to better understand Vedic and Buddhst connections, or the lack thereof if you believe so. I am wondering about what the Buddha used and what he might have discarded from Vedic culture.

Here's an article I found in my bookmarks tht might be helpful http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/pre_buddhism_history.html

I think you'll finf\d the Hindu and Buddhist view on the history is quite different.

Thank you!

My buddy is actually presently writing his thesis on the Vedic influence upon early Pali Buddhism... it's not finished yet but I can pass along your e-mail to him if you would like an e-copy of it when he's done.

The Buddha disappears for some 13 years after his marriage, and then reappears with his pregnant wife. What happened in those years? And why was there no baby for 13 years? It is likely that he went to do the 12 year study of the Vedas as was common at the time (even though he supposedly was not a Brahmin), and then returned home, tried to fulfil his duty as an heir, but quickly became disillusioned and left to try the Samana approach to spirituality, instead of the Brahmin one. He used many terms from the Vedic background of the time, and had a good understanding of all the different views prevalent at the time, though one can argue that this could have been inserted later - such as the bramacala sutta.

Actually there are extraordinary similarities between Jainism and Buddhism. The Buddha may well have drawn more from the Jain Mahavira and the like. The Jains IMO deserve great respect with their emphasis on ahimsa, nonviolence, and they are the most literate of Indians.

They amazingly had animal hospitals BCE. I have to say I think their view on vegetarianism is a lot cleaner cut than the Buddhist one that it is OK to eat meat killed "unsuspected" which simply allows wriggle room.

My buddy is actually presently writing his thesis on the Vedic influence upon early Pali Buddhism... it's not finished yet but I can pass along your e-mail to him if you would like an e-copy of it when he's done.

That would be cool, thank you!