Buddhist

History of Buddhist identity

Buddhist identity has evolved over more than two millennia, shaped by religious, cultural, and political contexts. In its earliest stages in India, followers were identified primarily as Sramanas—ascetics committed to , ethical living, and renunciation—rather than as "Buddhists." After the Buddha's death, Buddhist communities organized around viharas, and identity was often tied to adherence to the Vinaya (monastic code) and the Pāli Canon or Sanskrit scriptures.