Few Anecdotes Of Buddha And Buddhism

Buddha wanted to discover only a philosophy. He never intended to start a religion. In fact, the rituals and sacrifices, festivals and ceremonies of Hinduism only made him to explore a new path.But no philosophy can stand aloof. That is the lesson of history.So his followers made a religion out of it, and this gave rise to Hinayana and Mahayana.Buddhism did not thrive in India, because of the inherent strength in Hinduism even though the religious activities gave much room for criticism and despair among people.

The Four Noble Truths were propounded by Buddha.

There is a quote from Digha Nikaya:

It is through not understanding, through not penetrating the Four Noble Truths, O Bhikshus (Bhikkus in Pali), that we have wandered round this long, long journey of rebirth, both you and I.What are these four noble truths?

a) The Truth of Suffering
b) The Truth of the Cause of Suffering
c) The Truth of the Ceasing of Suffering
d) The Truth of the Way to the Ceasing of Suffering.

Sankara had great regard for Gautama Buddha.His guru's guru Gaudpada also had great regard for the Buddha.In fact, Sankara's books reveal that he did not disturb the basic irrefutable tenets of Buddhism, when he codified Advaita. He only improved upon it.Sankara was sometimes, for this reason, criticized by the Karmavadins as Pracheena Buddha, the hidden Buddha.

Buddha did not touch certain points in his philosophy, because he felt that these need not be investigated.

1.The position of God or Brahman.
2.The concept of Heaven and Hell.
3.The cause of the suffering is karma, but how karma comes, he did not want to explore, because he did not believe in many births for an ordinary person, and since karma and vasanas are dependent on many previous births, he did not go into that area.

Buddha fought against casteism, but was not willing to permit women in Sanghas. Only a few women were permitted into the Sangha during his lifetime.

Buddhism spread to China and later to Japan and other south Asian countries, thanks to the efforts of Nagarjuna.Zen Buddhism had its roots in China and later spread to Japan.

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