I disagree. First what is "Hinduism?"
before you disagree kindly take that question with some seriousness.
Most of the Upanishads were written AFTER Buddha and Mahavira.
so what? then it should be said Gautama is a 'ultra copycat', since whatever Buddha taught existed in vedas, even the core teaching of buddhism 'Sunyata'(void), existed in vedas.
There was neither non-existence nor existence then.
There was neither death nor immortality then.
Rigveda
Therefore, Nirvana is properly neither [in the realm of] existence nor non-existence.
Nagarjuna
The older Vedic traditions per the Brahmins was similar to old Judaism in which the priests ruled the lives of people
kindly quote here verses from vedas saying priests should rule the lives of people !!
that salvation was dependent on obedience to religious laws and sacrificial himsa (sacrifice of animals) to gods...
rubbish !! Vedic tradition is based on the revealed knowledge (sabda) (oral tradition), which has the power to change the life of listeners and liberate them from the dictate of mind and senses (contrary to an ordinary sound). It is self-evident and it does not need confirmation by other means, just like a food is fully capable to appease a hunger. It is transferred by a succession of spiritual masters and disciples (parampara) which assures its intact preservation:
One can never gain sprirituality from books, whether it be texts of hinduism, buddhism or jainsm or whatever it is....
When Buddha was in search for truth there was jainism teachings, and why did not Buddha become a jainist monk while its teachings were true?
The animal sacrifice in hinduism means to sacrifice animal nature within us, that is to stop hurting other beings to satisfy personal interests. Buddha applied this in his life, but buddhists hardly applied, still they talk about ahimsa.
Many scholars attributes the Doctrine of A-himsa NOT to Hinduism, but to Jainism. It was only later that the Upanishads adopted Ahimsa.
and what proof those scholars have?
Quotes from Vedas
Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi Yajurveda 1.1
“O human! animals are Aghnya – not to be killed. Protect the animals.)2-`` .....
Wikipedia - Ahimsa, quotes from Vedas
Reincarnation was not a staple of the older vedas:
"Despite this historical problem, it seems quite certain that the idea of reincarnation had its origin in the ancient speculative philosophies of India. Although some Hindu scholars insist that the oldest of the Hindu scriptures, the Samhitas, teach reincarnation, no clear statement of the doctrine can be found in them. The majority of experts agree that the pervasive teaching of the Vedas is that of resurrection and immortality with the gods, similar to that which is found in other polytheistic religions of the time. On the whole, it would seem fair to suppose that if the early Vedas do not specifically define or speak of reincarnation, the idea was not taught by the early Aryans, who wrote these first Hindu scriptures." - source:
Reincarnation - Mark Albrecht - Chapter 3
After death, the soul goes to the next world, bearing in mind the subtle impressions of its deeds, and after reaping their harvest returns again to this world of action. Thus, he who has desires continues subject to rebirth.
Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.6
source :
Hindu Basics
Who or what tradition first taught the concept of reincarnation? When exactly did the idea of rebirth and reincarnation find its way into "Hinduism?" What year were those writings written in: before or after Shramana, Jainism and Buddhism?
though there existed concept of reincarnation in vedas before jainism and buddhism, dont consider shramana tradition is something outside to vedas, the rishis and sages, the authors of vedas were shramanas and shramanas were rishis (buddha is also known as shakyamuni
), they both are same. It is very common that divine people choses their own path, like buddha did not become jainist.
Buddha or the people who invented Buddhism, spent most of their time refuting Vedic practices.
This is true, Hinduism lost its soul at those times, hinduism was in the hands of priests. Buddha did not started new religion, he just tried to purify corrupted hinduism, so it is said that Buddha reinvented Hinduism.
But later the Upanishads that were writen after Jainism and Buddhism has similar ideas to Jainism and Buddhism, and in many cases also rejects older Vedic practices (such as sacrificial himsa):
Would be more accurate if said jainist and buddhist texts are very similar to vedas.
The concept of Shunyata, non-violence, reincarnation..everything was in vedas.
Many Western and "Hindu" scholars also believe that Jainism and Buddhism are direct continuations of the Shramana Tradition which has existed independent of and parallel to the Vedic tradition.
just their believes, they dont have any idea about origin of vedas.
The ancient Greeks and Romans wrote about the Buddhists and referred to them as "Sramano," or "Samana." Young Novice monks under the age of 20 in Theravada Buddhism are called Samanera meaning "Little Samana" (Samana being the Pali form of the Sanskrit Shramana).
nice
