INDIAN UNION MINISTER DECLARES IN KARNATAKA THAT BUDDHISM IS FOR CASTLESS SOCIETY
Posted on May 9th, 2012
By Walter Jayawardhana
The Hindu newspaper quoted the Indian Union Minister for Labour and Employment M. Mallikarjun Kharge of having said ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that Buddhism was the one religion whose foundation was laid firmly on the philosophy of equality, casteless society and the principle of non-violence.
Speaking after inaugurating the 2,556th Visaka Buddha Poornima celebrations at the Buddha Vihar on the outskirts of Gulbarga in the state of Karnataka May 6 Sunday, Mr. Kharge said Buddhism was the only religion that could help establish society in which everyone had equal rights. He said Buddha Poornima was an important day in the Buddhist calendar the world over. Mr Kharge said Buddhist philosophy would be relevant always and whenever the world faced a crisis or faced the threat from terrorism and violence, everybody spoke of Buddhist philosophy of non violence and tolerance. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Buddhism would be evergreen and relevant alwaysƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
The Sinhalese chronicles, Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa, mention Mangaliputtatissa, a contemporary of Asoka and reputed to be the emperorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s teacher and mentor in connection with Karnataka. He had sent missionaries to Mahshaka (southern region of Karnataka) under Mahadeva, and to Banavasi (the heart of Karnataka) under Rakkhita, to preach the gospel. That would firmly indicate Buddhist prevalence in Karnataka.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-In point of fact, Buddhist doctrine held sway in Karnataka even before AsokaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s time. Mahisasana, a form of Hinayana Buddhism, spread after the first convention of Buddhism in Rajgraha (477 BC) to Avanti, and to areas south of it to what are todayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Thus, while Asoka accepted Buddhism only in 268 BC, Buddhism was prevalent in Karnataka two centuries prior to the Mauryan monarch.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Mr. Kharge felicitated Jnanpith Award winner and writer Chandrashekar Kambar on the occasion. Dr. Kambar delivered a special lecture on Buddha and the relevance of Buddhism.
Earlier, Mr Kharge accompanied by his wife Radhabai, his son Rahul, Dr. Kambar, MLA Sharanprakash Patil, Gulbarga ZP president Deepaknag Punnshetty, Mayor Somasekhar Melinamani offered floral tributes to the idol of Lord Buddha. Thousands headed to the Buddha Vihar to pay obeisance to the Buddha.
A team of Buddhist monks, including Toyotona Banteji from Thailand, Sumadeva Banteji, Anuba Darshi and others paid obeisance to the Buddha and participated in the main function.
May 9th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Buddhism is called by some as “refined Hinduism”. The highest form of Hinduism is Raj Yoga (Meditation), which Buddhism encompasses.
May 9th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
It is wrong to say Buddhism is refined Hinduism since whole Hindu culture is based on caste system. Lord Buddha fought very hard to remove this caste system since no one is suppose to born in to the slavery.
I also think, one reason India is way behind greater achievement is due to Hindu caste system since vast majority who are poor are not given due respect from the law makers… This cycle is greater hinderance to Indian societies growth. On the other hand Chinese are very conscious of their peoples sufferings in outer fringes.
When you do business with Indians you find that they are very dishonest and sleazy…
May 10th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Sirih,
The highest Hindu teachings are beyond the Caste System. The highest Hindu teachings are the Four Yogas, i.e. Kriya (Action), Bhakthi (Devotion), Gnana (Knowledge & learning), and lastly and most important, Raj Yoga (Meditation). The Four Yogas are the ‘refined Hinduism’ akin to Buddhism, particularly Raj Yoga, as Buddhism lays great emphasis on Meditation as in Bhavana in the triad of Dhana, Seela & Bhavana.
It is the Laws of Manu that contain the Caste System, not the Four Yogas. Yoga means Yoke to reach God Within. Most of the Hinduism practised today is in rituals, offerings, prayers & celebrations. Though nice to participate in, they do not equal the Four Yogas.
It is true that the Buddha said that a person is low born or high born only through their actions, thereby dismissing Caste.
May 10th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
I largely agree with Fran Diaz’s comment on Hindu and Buddhist PRACTICES, but Sirih is right to say that Buddhism is not “refined Hinduism” in certain respects, which Sirih did not specifically identify.
For example, the CREATION of the universe by the God Brahma is a Hindu belief, but IS NOT a Buddhist belief.
The karmic link between CAUSE and EFFECT, and REINCARNATION after death, are shared Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, while the CESSATION of the cycle of rebirth and death ending the journey through samsara is a unique and central belief of Buddhism, but not Hinduism.
In my view, these are some of the KEY CONCEPTUAL differences, distinct from shared religious PRACTICES such as MEDITATION.
May 10th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Elaborating further, the CESSATION of the cycle of rebirth and death that ends the journey through samsara is the goal of Buddhists.
This is Nirvana, attained by INDIVIDUAL EFFORT through enlightenment and the eradication of desire. NIRVANA, the END-STATE of the samsaric cycle of death and rebirth, is a unique and central belief of Buddhism, but not Hinduism, which does not include such an end-state achievable by individual effort.
The fact that Nirvana can be attained by ANYONE, solely through his/her OWN EFFORT is KEY to why Buddhist is fundamentally opposed to caste and other forms of discrimination.
In Buddhist belief, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, low or high caste, peasant or king, man or woman, EVERY PERSON is equally ENDOWED with the ABILITY to attain Nirvana through his/her own effort.
That ability is not LIMITED or CONSTRAINED by any accident of BIRTH or acquired PRIVILEGE.
May 10th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Ananda,
Agree with all you say.
That MEDITATION is a key practice in the Hindu Yogas is what I was trying to emphasize. People who Meditate together form peaceful and lasting relationships. This is a good way for working toward a lasting Peace in Lanka, for both Buddhists and Hindu people – Meditate together, whatever their situation in life.
Since Hindu people tend to absorb any religion into their own Hinduism, such as calling Jesus an Avatar of God, calling Buddhism ‘refined Hinduism’ is their way of absorbing Buddhism into their fold, to feel comfortable with the Teachings of the Buddha. After all, the Buddha was born in India and lived there. I think the Buddha ‘belongs’ those who love his Teachings, wherever they live in the world.
May 11th, 2012 at 6:01 am
I believe there were many attempts to call Buddhism a minor subset of great Hindu religious tradition by latter day Brahmin scholars Shankaracharya et al.
THey have successfully introduced many beliefs to Buddhism such as caste segregations even to monks, Astrology, many local gods, manthras, Was Kavi, Seth Kavi, animal sacrifices, Yagas and Homas.
Anagarika Dharmapala had a major contest at the courts against local Hidu Zamindars to establish that Buddhist Philosophy in distict from multi thiestic Hinduism with its Kovils of Polychrome Pyramids to get Bodh Gaya declared as a venerable place for Buddhists.
I personaalyan oftheopinion that Buddhistphilosophy is understanding of the continuous yearnings of senses, the Anithya, Dukka, Anathma- instantaneous nature of the sensory world, Paticcca Samuppada and thatis totally different from Hindu philosophy rooted in worldly order. It is the motion against the tide to look back at the world with the purity of a new born child, devoid of attachments, allegiances or prejudices, not meditation and yoga to as a means of achieving short term bliss and physical well being.