What (spiritual/religious) terms did the Buddha redefine?
Upvote:3
The Buddha redefined the term "yañña" (sacrifice), sometimes spelt "yajna" or "yajña".
The Buddha discouraged animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, and other extra extravagant ritualistic sacrifices (soma juice drinking etc.), of which I quoted only part of the sutta of AN 4.39 below.
The Buddha however praised non-violent sacrifices, which I think refers to giving gifts (or contributing necessities) to family members.
So, it looks to me like he redefined this term from animal sacrifice to giving charity, which is also supported by this Pali-English dictionary entry.
A similar teaching is given in SN 3.9.
“Does Master Gotama praise sacrifice (yañña)?”
“Brahmin, I don’t praise all sacrifices. Nor do I criticize all sacrifices. Take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of creatures are slaughtered. I criticize that kind of violent sacrifice. Why is that? Because neither perfected ones nor those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a violent sacrifice.
But take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of creatures are not slaughtered. I praise that kind of non-violent sacrifice; for example, a regular gift as an ongoing family sacrifice. Why is that? Because perfected ones and those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a non-violent sacrifice.
AN 4.39
In SN 7.21, the Buddha redefined the ritualistic practice of purification by immersion in water, into purification by immersion in virtues.
In Sigalovada Sutta, the Buddha redefined the practice of prayer directed in six directions.
Upvote:4
The Buddha redefined the term Brahmin :
Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā pārāpāraṁ na vijjati,
For whom the near shore, the far shore or both do not exist,vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
free of anxiety, being detached, that one I say is a brahmin.
Dhammapada 385
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