Buddhism stresses that people can find enlightenment through love, gratitude, and respect for all life. The philosophy also teaches that "Nirvana," a state of complete inner peace and happiness, can he achieved when people free themselves from material concerns.
Siddhartha's philosophy, known as the dhaima, emerged in opposition to the violence, suffering, and inequality he witnessed in Indian society. Siddhartha felt that war, animal sacrifices, and the caste system (which ranked members of Indian society by heredity) all undermined peace and degraded life. The slaughtering of animals for religious or ceremonial rituals, such as the abhishekha or ashvumedha, was a common practice during the fifth century rt.c. These rituals, performed by the Brahmans, involved the killing of horses or other animals to illustrate a king or chief's power. The sacrifices were part of the popular religions of the day, most of which were based on the worship of various deities. Siddhartha, who felt it was wrong to kill any form of life, condemned the animal sacrifices-as well as any type of murder-in his teachings. He specifically denounced the Brahmans, who were supposed to be the spiritual and moral guides of society, for their participation in the killing of animals and sanctioning of war.
