ABSTRACT
In the second lecture I spoke about the way in which the Buddha’s teaching evolved from the general religious movement, which had grown up in opposition to the
caste, as both a social and a religious entity. After seeking-unsuccessfullyrelease from by means of severe ascetic practices and the meditation techniques taught by contemporary teachers, he succeeded by means of his own meditative practices-unique as far as we can tell, since no one else is known to have gained release in precisely that way before him. His message that it was possible to gain release ( ) from , and to attain , in this unique way, was taught, by word of mouth, first to his former associates in ascetic practices, and thereafter it was spread by the Buddha and his followers throughout Magadha and the surrounding areas.
