0
What else can I help you with?
What is the major denominations of Buddhism?
budhas fat
Who are the pale skinned ancestors of many northern Indian?
India, has in many countries has had invasions, migrations and complex links with its neighbors for thousands of years. The phenotype of skin pigmentation is not an objective indicator of genetics alone. What is known is that much of India and Pakistan have the genetic marker R1a1 haplogroup. This genetic marker is specific to Southern and Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Iran in significant numbers Furthermore Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi (among others that are in and have influenced the Indian subcontinent) are Indo-European languages. The use of the R1a1 genetic tracer, European & Caucasian phenotypes, and the language similarities between the Indic to Slavic and Germanic Indo-European languages are strong evidence of possible migrations and settlement into North and Northwestern India by European and or Caucasian tribes.
Is the Buddha a saint?
No, saints are not part of Buddhist belief as saints are, in the common definition, holy. There is no "god" or holy aspect in Buddhism. Buddhism does have people who are great teachers, leaders and so on that inspire others to follow Buddhist precepts. Individuals who are closer to acheiving Nirvana or who have reused to enter into Nirvana to return to the cycle of death and rebirth are such inspirational beings. In many cases, the Boddhistvas, the teachers mentioned above, are venerated in much the same way that Christians venerate the Saints. They may also be accorded special supernatural powers as a result of their enlightenment. Avalokiteshvara is one such Boddhistava and is usually seen as a quasi-divinity with multiple arms and powers to protect his charges.
Why can't Buddhists eat meat?
Some people in India accept the cow as a sacred animal (according totheir religious beliefs). It would be considered sacriligious to kill the cow, and so they allow cows to wander freely and die natural deaths. And eating an animal that has died on its own is considered to be a really bad idea in terms of a person's health. It might have died of a communicable diseased, it generally begins to rot right after death, and so forth. Some people in India are also, no doubt, vegetarians, who would not eat any animal. However, generally, it is the religious issue that specifically bans eating beef. Even if the cow died a natural death, it is still sacred; it would be like eating a homeless person who has died overnight--we woudn't do it, and they won't eat a cow.
