Religious and Spiritual Impact of Buddhism on modern Indian Life

Buddhism greatly influenced the Indian religion. It gave to Indian people a simple and popular religion. The main contribution of Buddhism to Indian life is in the domain of architecture, sculpture and painting. The stupas, viharas, chaityas that were built at Sanchi, Bahrut, Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Amravati, Taxila and other places are simply remarkable. The Sanchi Stupa with its beautiful ornamental torans is considered a masterpiece in architecture. The cave temples of Ajanta, Karle, Bhaja, Elloraetc show their achievement in rock cut cave temples. The Ajanta painting depicting touching scenes of Buddha’s life are world famous. They bear a testimony to the heights reached by them in the field of painting. This Buddhist art forms a glorious part in the history of Indian art and architecture. They fostered a new awareness in the field of culture. Buddhism established intimate contact between India and foreign countries. It also helped in assimilating foreign influence in Indian culture.

It rejected ritualism, sacrifices and dominance of priestly class. It has also left its permanent mark on Indian religious thought. Buddhism appealed to the masses on account of its simplicity, use of vernacular language in its scriptures and teachings and monastic order. Buddhism left deep impact on the society. It gave serious impetus to democratic spirit and social equality. It opened its doors to women and shudras. Buddhism encouraged abolition of distinctions in society and strengthened the principle of social equality. A dundamental tenet of Buddhist religious- spiritual ideology is that all the human beings are bound by their  own karama. It is the deeds of a person which determine his/her fortunes in this and the next life. The doctrine recognized the freedom of every person to select a way of life sutiable to his or her way. In others words it is ones inner worth and moral excel Buddhism has been a great force for peace in the India as well as in world. The Buddha's policy of peace, self-sacrifice, kindness and charity etc has impacted our whole society. The declared foreign policy of the Government of India is based on the five rules of conduct, the Panca-sila, itself a Buddhist term, which allows for the possibility of peaceful co-existence between peoples of different ideologies.

A remarkable change came over Buddhism in the course of time. From its earlier form of ethical religion, Buddhism changed into the Mahayana doctrine which deified the Buddha and devotion to the person of the Buddha became the dominant feature of the religion. A follower of the Buddha no longer cared for the deliverance of his own self, but preferred, out of compassion (karuna) for his comrades, to defer his own deliverance; he was even prepared to be born again and again if he could thereby help his fellowmen to achieve their deliverance. Thus the change from the selfish 'turning away from the world' (nivrtti) to the beneficent activity of help and service to others (pravrtti) was largely responsible for gaining public support. In philosophy also Buddhism turned from the pluralistic to the monistic conception of the universe. It is universally admitted that India owes to Buddhism the beginnings of her plastic arts. Buddhism became a source of inspiration for equality, truth, compassion, non-violence, friendliness, lovingness, etc not only in India but wherever Buddhism went.