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Lord Buddha and the Buddhist Tradition
The 6th century B.C.E. holds a significant place in the history of mankind. This period is known as the age of spiritual awakening. During this period many religious leaders were born and there arose many waves of spiritual knowledge in various regions of the world. In Iran, there
was Zarathustra (the founder of Zorastrianism); in China Confucius (the founder of Confucianism), and Lao Tzu (the founder of Taoism), were influencing people through their philosophical teachings. There was also a wave of spiritual revolution taking place in India. Its
pioneers were Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha.
The revolution in India was not merely one of religious fervor, but also involved the political and social arenas. Throughout this period of transformation the people raised their voices against the rituals and violent sacrifices of the established Vedic tradition. The caste system was also questioned openly during this period, and many other aspects of the prevailing tradition were seen to be governed by selfish motives.
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