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Studying the religious and secular history of ancient India, it seems like the 6th century BCE was a time of growth in the Ganges watershed. Population, wealth, technology, all were making advances throughout the last couple centuries, and in the 6th century it seems these developments pushed society toward a cultural instability, leading to cultural reform and rebirth. As these trends caused change in the societies along the Ganges River, many people began to see the old Vedic religion as unsatisfactory for their spiritual needs, especially as they began to be challenged by the ascetic Sramana movements.

Why were Buddhism and Jainism the big winners in this environment, out of a myriad of other sects, such as the Ajivika or the Carvaka? I'm sure Buddhism and Jainism received numerous advantages over the centuries because of state patronage during different eras, which can be quite random. Also, I don't think it would be controversial to say that these faiths might have been more attractive than others, and easier to propagate through proselytes. The Ganges River watershed should be seen as a laboratory of selective processes, with different beliefs and faiths competing against one another for dominance. That these first two are remembered throughout the world and still guide the lives of many millions should be evidence that they were more "fit" for different reasons, inherent or accidental.

If we cast the dice again in these early period, though, what might we change from accident alone? First of all, though cultural and religious movements might remain in a general sense, we could get a completely different cast of characters to determine the specifics of this renaissance. People, with different upbringings, and different genetic profiles, are one of the most important things that change if we simply throw any random divergence into this environment. What are some of the possibilities with this new cast of characters in India during the Axial Age?

First of all, I think someone like Mahavira would have arisen in the 6th Century BCE. Jainism seemed to be the final product of the Sramana ascetic reformism that began centuries before the 6th century. The religion is older than Mahavira, with historical records extending back to at least the 9th century BCE. That some charismatic ascetic would emerge during this period to codify the movement and provide it new energy seems like a development with a relatively high probability. That Mahavira would be someone higher up in society seems probable as well... it was this class of people that were the most exposed to new ideas from childhood, and had the wealth to explore them and take part in new ideological invention. Their origin story would also be more attractive... the idea of a rich lord giving up his privileges is an attractive one, and inspires loyalty and consideration. As such, Jainism may come out of northern India relatively the same way as it did in OTL, even after we roll the dice again, just with a leader much like Mahavira with a different name. He will most probably introduce a few divergent details, but the huge majority of the religion was already there by the time he becomes its leader.

But what of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha? I believe this to be a different case. Many analyses of the Pali canon seem to show it was the product of a single charismatic thinker. He introduced several ideas that were new to the environment, such as a more coherent understanding of the universe, the cause of suffering, the path towards enlightenment, new practices... etc, etc. Buddhism definitely drew on many ideas that were already in northern India, and were part of the Sramana movement, but it seems apparent that Buddha left an important mark on the religion. If we toss the dice again with Buddha, we could get something very different.

What niche did Buddhism fill in the ideological breeding ground that was ancient northern India at this time? IMO, it seems that there was a need for a "Middle Way", between the severe ascetic movements and the traditional Vedic religion. People wanted new ideas, to solve problems that were becoming more apparent with the Vedic religion, and new practices that would not be linked so closely with the societal hierarchy of power and wealth. Much as how Islam provided the Arabs with justification to ignore tribal divisions and integrate themselves into a new brotherhood and sisterhood with their countrymen, Buddhism allowed practitioners to abandon the divisions of the ancient Indian society and enter into a stronger unity with their neighbors and communities. There's also to be something said of the Ninefold Path, and the focus on meditative, Yogic practices, which gives the practitioner new ways to understand the world, their life, and how to remove suffering in their life. For anyone who has meditated and practiced yoga, you'll know also that there is something in it that is physiological. There is a physical reaction that is very positive from meditating and the yogic arts, that can be healing and soothing.

Buddha created a huge complex theology, the Pali canon being so large that it would inspire countless divisions over various specifics. But it seems to me that Buddhism survived not just because of its state patronage in different periods, and its ability to create committed missionaries, but because it provided an option out of the old polytheism to join a brotherhood, and tools to improve life satisfaction, such as the Ninefold Path, meditation and the yogic arts. If we roll the dice again, it seems likely that someone could recognize the possibilities of this toolkit and create a different "Middle Way".

I'm going to present an idea of mine for a divergent Buddhism, from an alternate "Enlightened One", but at this point I'd like to encourage you to criticize my analysis and provide other details if you'd like. And alternate visions of your own Buddha. Those discussions will be completely welcome in this thread.

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My alternate Buddha is born sometime during the 6th century BCE along the Ganges to a wealthy family, either a rich merchant or a noble of some kind. In his adulthood he leaves home to wander and pursue higher truths, much like Mahavira and Sautama. He practices asceticism, and like Sautama realizes that the more he punishes himself, the worse he feels. He doesn't feel like self-punishment is exactly the right path towards enlightenment and happiness... something about the Sramana is off. He instead cleans and feeds himself normally and turns towards meditation. He discovers that meditation is more fruitful in his life, in fact it... starts leading him to... some epiphanies about life... no, not just epiphanies, these are REVELATIONS about the truth of the UNIVERSE! The more time he spends learning the yogic arts and practicing them, he is filled with more and more inspiration. The whole world seems to unravel around him and reveal its secrets to his mind.

The most important Truth that is revealed to him is that, after his death, there is no reason for him to be reincarnated after his life time, he could as easily be reincarnated a million years in the past. He could be reincarnated into any person, animal, plant, object, in any time period, depending on his karma. For all he knew, he could be the tree that grants him shade, or the farmer's daughter who gives him water when he knocks on her door. And if reincarnation goes on for eternity, there would be enough time for him to be everything around him. If that was the case, there would be no reason to have different spirits or souls... it seems like it would be much easier to say there is only ONE spirit, living as every object or being or god in all of existence. Why would that be the case? Because... because this spirit created everything so that it could experience it! There is nothing else outside of itself, it doesn't want to live only in emptiness and darkness, so it decided to create everything, to be everything, to experience everything through incarnations that extend into infinity!

He realized that he was The One. Not one of the many gods and goddesses that the Brahmans professed to know and communicate with, but THE ONE, experiencing this life now, but the One that has been everything, and will go on to be everything. Every person is The One. Everything is The One. He was higher and more important than even the gods. And so was everything else.

Why had so few discovered this? Was he the first? Maybe, but he definitely wouldn't be the last. Everyone needed to experience what he was experiencing, the union with all, the realization that everything is the same being, in a different stage of existence. Society would become a utopia if only the lord realized the servant is himself in another life, and if the slave realized that even though he suffered, he was or would be in another life Shiva himself. The husband who beat his wife needed to realize he was beating himself. The hunter needed to realize he hunted and ate himself. The only way to awaken to this truth was not to subject oneself to punishment and destitution, but to quiet the mind and give it the time and space to realize its awesome potential and identity.

In time, with further learning, he became Buddha, "The Enlightened One". His awakening to his divine nature and connection with everything around him was just the beginning. His message spread further and further with the years...

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This alternate Buddha will end up using the same toolkit as OTL's Buddhism, but with many variations on the theology. It would have its own schisms and challenges, but ultimately I think the core idea that everyone and everything is God, experiencing itself throughout time, would resonate with many people. I believe it would have a chance for survival and propagation.

Any thoughts? Ideas on your own divergent Buddhas?
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