佛教何以在印度消失

Why Buddhism Vanished in India

印度佛教曾对印度的生活和文化有过深远而正面的影响,但印度佛教却逐渐衰落和最终消失。究其根源是佛教取代不了印度的传统的根底——种姓制度。种姓制度虽然严酷,但是对经常处在动乱和纷争之中的印度次大陆的百姓,最起码给了人的身份的认同和归属感,这也意味着人生的安顿。何况印度教比起婆罗门教而言,它既提出了种种维护种姓差别的办法,也设计了使这种差别免遭破坏的防御和修复机制。佛教最终淹没在印度教的洪流之中。

Though it once profoundly and positively influenced India＇s life and culture, the Indian Buddhism gradually declined and finally vanished, the reason of which, traced to the source, is clear： the Indian Buddhism could not substitute for Indian＇s traditional foundation, theclan system. Although India＇s Clan System seemed severe, it at least gave the identification of human status and a sense of belonging to ordinary people in the Indian subcontinent who were frequently subjected to turmoil and dispute. At the same time, it meant a kind of calmness in life for ordinary people. Compared with Brahmanism, Hinduism not only proposed all sorts of means to maintain the Clan System, but also designed certain kind of mechanism to avoid the collapse of this system and its ways of restoration when in need. Therefore, the Indian Buddhism ultimately submerged within the mighty current of Hinduism.