Studies in the Origins of Buddhism c19.7

c19.7

The Buddhist Way and the Upanisads.—Of this view we can, again, notice an anticipation in the Upanisadic thought-world, where at one place, Dharma is declared the Law, following which the sun rises and sets, which is the same to-day as to-morrow (Bṛ. Up. I. 5. 23). In this sense it continues the older conception of Ṛta. But Dharma generally stands in the Upanisads for moral and religious observances,⁴ and in Bṛ. Up. I. 4. 14, it is interpreted as the principle of Well-being which holds society together, the king of kings, the Truth.⁵ In orthodox thought, Dharma came to be used primarily for sacred law governing man’s conduct in society.⁶ In contrast with the Buddhist usage, which is more metaphysical,⁷ the Brahmanical usage of Dharma places greater emphasis on its social and institutional aspect. Besides, the Buddhist usage emphasizes the impersonal and autonomous character of Dharma, while in Vedic usage it is closely connected with the will and ways of gods.⁸ Finally, whereas Buddha based his Dharma on personal intuition (Paccattavedaniya), the orthodox Vedic view bases it on faith and revelation (vide Śabara’s explanation of Dharma as codanālaKṣaṇa).