[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [Studies in the Origins of Buddhism](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957) › c19.30 # Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c19.30 Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c19.30 - **Language:** English ### [c19.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19.30) What the Way was not.—The negative aspects of the way are more or less clear. External sacrifice and the superstitious worship of Nature-deities were opposed by Buddha.²¹ Real sacrifice and worship, he held, were internal and consisted in the practice of virtue.²² Similarly he opposed the extreme austerities which contemporary Samaṇa sects like the Nigaṇṭhas and the Ājīvakas practised.²³ This, however, must not be taken to mean that he condemned all austerities indiscriminately.²⁴ He appears to have conceded to asceticism a limited usefulness.²⁵ Further, in as far as the contemporary “mystic” practices were undertaken to attain to this or that Deva world, Buddha considered them unsatisfactory,²⁶ although he himself appears to have taught a “Jhānic” - [Previous: c19.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19.29) - [Next: c19.31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19.31) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.pande-1957.c19.30) · Pramāṇa