Origin of Suffering: thirst for pleasure, power, long life, etc. are the causes for sorrow. . The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering ( Nirvana ): complete stopping or release from sorrow.
. The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to Cessation of Suffering: the Noble Eight fold Path or the Middle Path. Buddha’s Middle or Eightfold Path (Astangika Marga) ( ) Right Views; ( ) Right Resolve; ( ) Right Speech; ( ) Right Conduct; ( ) Right Livelihood; ( ) Right Effort; ( ) Right Recollection; ( ) Right Meditation. Hence Buddha did not mention or talk about God.
He neither accepted nor denied the existence of God. Buddhism advocated equality. It preached non-violence or ahimsa and love towards all. However, it was a moderate religion compared to Jainism’s insistence on ahimsa.
It promoted trade and capitalism as it was against waste and advocated frugality. Jobs involving any form of killing were forbidden. Trade in weapons, living beings, meat, liquor and poison were not permitted. XI History - Lesson - - Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects Buddhism also lost its royal patronage after Harshavardhana.
In contrast, the Vedic religion got royal patronage first from Pushyamitra Sunga and later from imperial Guptas. The role of the exponents of Bhakti movement like Ramanuja, Ramananda also helped to restore the glory of Vedic religion. Toramana Coins The invasion of Huns gave a deathblow to Buddhism. Toramana and Mihirakula, the two Hun chiefs had a deep-seated hatred for the Buddhists and they almost liquidated the Buddhists living in the north-west India.
To make matters worse, the Rajput rulers who could not reconcile to the Buddhist concept of non-violence, and as ardent advocates of Vedic religion started persecuting the Buddhists. Finally the invading Arabs and Turks forced the Buddhist monks to flee from India and seek asylum in Nepal, Tibet and Ceylon. In consequence Buddhism faded away in India.