The caste system used in Hinduism was discarded by the Buddha, giving everyone an equal chance at Nirvana. As long as someone heeds the Four Noble Truths and follows the guidance of the Eightfold Path, that is. The Four Noble truths are, “one, all life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. Two, the cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire. Three, the only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirtue, and four, the way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path.” (Ellis and Esler, 80). The Eightfold path, as previously mentioned, is composed of eight rules to living a good life. They are “right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation.” (Ellis and Esler, 80). “The first two steps involved understanding the Four Noble Truths and committing oneself to the Eightfold Path. Next, a person had to live a moral life, avoiding evil words and actions. Through meditation, a person might at last achieve enlightenment,” which signifies that they can then pass on to achieve Nirvana (Ellis and Esler, 80). The point of having now caste system is to offer Nirvana to all people, regardless of their birth and social class. In that sense, a Buddhist born poor and lowly has just as high a chance of reaching Nirvana as a Buddhist of richer and higher classed society. All Buddhists are, in a sense,
The caste system used in Hinduism was discarded by the Buddha, giving everyone an equal chance at Nirvana. As long as someone heeds the Four Noble Truths and follows the guidance of the Eightfold Path, that is. The Four Noble truths are, “one, all life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. Two, the cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire. Three, the only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirtue, and four, the way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path.” (Ellis and Esler, 80). The Eightfold path, as previously mentioned, is composed of eight rules to living a good life. They are “right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation.” (Ellis and Esler, 80). “The first two steps involved understanding the Four Noble Truths and committing oneself to the Eightfold Path. Next, a person had to live a moral life, avoiding evil words and actions. Through meditation, a person might at last achieve enlightenment,” which signifies that they can then pass on to achieve Nirvana (Ellis and Esler, 80). The point of having now caste system is to offer Nirvana to all people, regardless of their birth and social class. In that sense, a Buddhist born poor and lowly has just as high a chance of reaching Nirvana as a Buddhist of richer and higher classed society. All Buddhists are, in a sense,