How did Buddha get so many followers and even start his own Religion?

Answer 1

Lot's of folks out there willing to follow anyone that will lead. IE: Jim Jones and David Korresh.

Answer 2

Buddha didn't start a religion. In fact, Buddhism isn't even a religion in the strictest sense. It is but a way of life.

He had followers streaming to him because he gave answers to "existential" questions which affected mankind deeply. He was not for religion and whenever the question of God/god came up he would remain silent.

"Buddhism" began to be labelled a religion when his "disciples" took Buddha's "way of life" to the masses. It is no longer pristine. Most of the basic teachings of the Buddha have now been distorted.

Answer 3

Major religions seem to have been started by the followers themselves, not the leader they attribute the religion to. The Buddha didn't say, "I'm going out tomorrow and start a religion so people can follow me around." He discovered a way to deal with the human condition, namely, to understand the nature of and overcome things that caused displeasure, misery, anguish, pain, etc.

The Buddha did not disparage other religions, he never claimed to be god nor prophet, but simply a teacher. He invited people to apply what he did with his own life to see for themselves if what he discovered also helped them coped with the human condition. He invited people to test, investigate, question what he taught and if they didn't agree nor found it helpful, they were not obligated to stay nor follow him.


P.S. The historical Buddha was not the "fat, chubby bald guy" (hehe) If you thought that, please research more regarding "HOTEI" or "PUTAI" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotei).

Answer 4

Buddha was a wealthy Hindu prince that was ignorant of human suffering in his kingdom until he personally saw the suffering of his people. After that he rejected his wealth and royalty to seek inner peace by meditating under a tree.

After 6 days (I think) he found inner peace and preach to the populous. His teachings were morally sound and people naturally flocked to his charismatic leader.

In history the people with the best charismatic skills usually have hordes of followers because people can’t think for themselves.

Answer 5

Buddhism began with the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, who was born in the small Indian kingdom of Nepal in 563 BC. He was born into the Kshatriya caste (warrior caste). He had a normal upbringing, married and had one child. However, at the age of 29, he felt he needed to travel and meditate to understand the suffering he saw around him.

Siddharta Gautama visited many teachers of different religions and found Hindu meditation useful. One day while meditating under a bodhi tree near the city of Benares, he attained enlightenment - a state where he was free from desire and suffering. He felt that people should find this state for themselves and then, if they were able to, try and find it for others, too, through meditation, amongst others. He began to teach these ideas in Nepal and India and they spead widely.

In 269 BC, Asoka became the ruler of the Mauryan Empire in India. At first, his main ambition was to lead the Mauryan army to fight and extend the empire by force. In AD 278, his army fought a fierce and bloody battle to capture the Kalinga, a state on the east coast of India. It is said that about 100,000 were killed - a result that made Asoka feel that he had enough of violence. He converted to Buddhism.

Asoka did not stop trying to influence other countries; he just stopped trying to do so by force. Instead, he sent political envoys and missionaries to other countries to spread his beliefs. He had many dome-shaped structures, called stupas, built to hold Buddihist writings and other holy objects called relics. He also had paintings and carvings of the Buddha set up in many places, and had Buddhist teachings carved and set up on stone walls. He urged everyone to live by Buddhist teachings, and sent missionaries to other countries. These Buddhist missionaries were important Brahmins and they often convert the ruler of the places they visited.

Adapted from Insight: A Learning Journey into the Ancient World of India, Southeast Asia and China

Answer 6

It wouldnt be hard to start a new religion. just start telling people whatever they want to hear. Look at Jim Jones. He would have had many more followers if they didnt all commit suicide.

Answer 7

Wow, that's new to me? quite? i assume, possibly you opt for a minimum of area of a rustic to start up your own faith to make it genuine, yet whilst it in basic terms in secret, regardless of one follower you additionally can kind a clean faith.

Answer 8

well, he didn't start a religion or cult, he started a philosophical movement, that in all effects promotes peace with fellow human beings and peace of one owns mind.

Answer 9

The same as any other wannabee religious leader. He started in India and just spoke to people about his ideas as he traveled, and those that found them interesting followed him and spread those ideas. All it takes to start a religion is a charismatic leader.

Answer 10

i guess because buddha is big that he can cuddle the followers see on his statue.