Chapter 23 5. A country without borders

Look at India first. India, with its majestic holy mountains (Himalayas) and endlessly flowing holy rivers (Ganges), seems destined to become a religious power.Because there are so many things that the West has never heard of, China will never have, and other nations can't even imagine. Like the "caste system". The caste system is a "native product" of India.Simply put, people are divided into four levels: Brahmin (priest), Kshatriya (king and warrior), Vaisya (commoner), and Sudra (slave).This is called "caste", and in Sanskrit it is called "varna", which means "color".Because the skin of the Aryans is white, and the conquered natives are dark.In addition, there are "chandala" (untouchables), who are "untouchables" and have a lower status than Sudra.Caste is inherent and hereditary remains unchanged; barriers between castes are strict, and intermarriage is strictly prohibited.When the system was the strictest, if a "untouchable" was accidentally seen by someone from a higher caste, he would have to hide and commit suicide to apologize.

This is a typical unequal system. The banner of freedom and equality was finally held high. The day when Buddhism and Jainism were founded was also the time when Confucius talked about benevolence and love.But when the Western Jin Dynasty in China became the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the reformed New Brahmanism (Hinduism) revived vigorously with the strong support of the Gupta Dynasty, made a comeback with an overwhelming advantage, and finally became the first religion of the Republic of India. This, why? The reason is also very simple: for more than a thousand years after the demise of the Mauryan Dynasty, the northern part of the Indian peninsula was invaded and ravaged by foreigners.Strong nationalist sentiment gave birth to a strong sense of national identity for the Aryans.This requires religious strength.Compassionate Buddhism and ascetic Jainism are obviously out of date.Only the Brahmins with strong Aryan colors can accomplish this historical mission.

Identity is equally important. Like Jewish. If the Indians are faced with "distress", then the Jews are faced with "suffering".No nation has suffered as many disasters as they did. Wife and child were separated time after time, and country and family were destroyed time and time again.Perhaps, only the one on the ruins of the Second Temple in Jerusalem knows how many tears they shed. In fact, the true founding of Judaism happened when they suffered collectively.In 586 BC, 20 years before the birth of Sakyamuni, in the Spring and Autumn Period of China, when the King of Chu attacked Zheng, Jerusalem was razed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Neo-Babylon.From kings, nobles, priests to craftsmen, tens of thousands of Jews were handcuffed and shackled to Babylon, known as the "Babylonian Prisoners" in history.

This requires a "savior" and a "sense of identity" too much. The first five chapters of the "Old Testament", the so-called "Five Books of Moses", were compiled and compiled by their "prophets" at this time.So there is such a miracle: Once the country is destroyed and the people are scattered, the countless weak and small nations can no longer exist as a nation; only the Jews, even if they live in exile for another thousand and eight hundred years, will still be able to exist as a nation. A great nation stands on its own in the forest of the world.

Now, we know what religion can give people. The first is a "sense of security" because of God's blessing and protection.The second is the "sense of freedom", because true belief can only come from the heart.The third is "identity".For religious people, saying "I am a Buddhist" is no different from saying "I am a Thai 093", and even more intimate. Religion is a country without borders. So, why does our nation have no religion, nor does it need religion?

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