Buddhism originated as an antinomial system, facing the opposition of both vaidika and theistic Brahmans, who socially identified themselves with the agrarian world. The two models of society generated in early historical India never merged and Buddhism was gradually and often violently reduced to importance.
Doctrinal debates, which soon turned into ordeals, were instrumental in the suppression of the Buddhist lite, mainly formed by intellectuals of Brahmnical descent, this being proof of a dramatic rift in the brahmanavarna. It was eventually the caused the final downfall of Buddhism. The former were obliged to transfer political power to the latter but had a free hand in social repression. |
