Was Buddhism an affront on Hinduism?

[Guest guest]

Let me share my thoughts in this regard. Buddhism is a search for the

alternative truth and not a rejection of existing truth.

 

 

The search for alternative truth has begun even during the days of

Krishna.

 

Krishna, influenced by Ghora Angiras and Aristanath, two jains of his

time, has followed Yoga. He has opposed Karmas and rejected Indra's

influence over them. In the process, he has won over Indra atleast

three times. Knowingly or unknowingly, he was the main cause behind

the collapse of Varna system (which was proposed by Indra in the

first place) through MBh war. Yet, he was respected amongst the

varna/karma following populace. Ironically, he was made the Lord god

in the all important Raja suya sacrifice.

 

This is so, only because he was a kshatriya. His personal affront

on the Varna and day's social order had to be ignored in favour of

his political importance.

 

All the affronters on Varna, if they are not Kshatriyas, were not

tolerated in unequivocal terms. Rama of axe ,though successfully

could attack the political power of the kshatriyas, had to lose the

war, since he was respectfully banished from society. Later, he was

put down by Rama,incidentally a kshatriya and a vociferous supporter

of Varna. Same Rama has also killed Ravana, whose mistake was to

cross the limits of Varna and claim political power against Indra,

though he was a Brahmin( hence, has no right to political power).

Sambuka, a sudra who tried to change his varna , was ruthlessly killed

(Penance of a sudra is not a sufficient reason to kill him. Remember

Valmiki, another sudra, has also done penance to write Ramayan, ie he

pursued the occupation of a brahmin , but he has made no claims to

brahminism)Another conversion aspirant, Matanga was skillfully

discouraged.

 

Compare all these cases with the successful conversion of Viswamitra.

Viswamitra, a kshatriya, was jealous of the intellectual prowess of

Brahims and aspire to be a brahmin. He successfully subdues opposing

Vasista-who could survive a murder attempt on him but could not

withstand the death of his children,masterminded by VM-into a meek

submission of acceptance.

 

Thus, the affront on varna by kshatriyas are tolerated but not by

others. In the same vein, kshatriyas of post MBh, have rejected

karma. They have developed Upanishads, which have proposed the

hierarchy of Karma,Dharma, Jnana and Brahman.

 

Buddha has only continued this thread. Buddhism was no rebellion on

Hinduism. Just like his predecessors, Buddha has rejected karma in

favour of Nirvana (Brahman by any other name???)

 

You would find the same streak in Asoka too. His edicts are echoes of

the preachings of good behaviour found in Upanishads- Matr devobhava

&c, Rtm cara etc. He too has rejected Karma and karma related

festivities in favour of good behaviour (or Dharma), thus upholding

the hierarchy proposed by Upnishads. You will observe that he has

neither rejected Brahmins nor did he reject the other Hinduism

related beliefs such as Devas and Punarjanma.

 

Thus, rejection of Karma was a process found in Kshatriyas of all

times and it cannot be taken as a rejection of Vedas.

 

On the other hand, post Buddha, his teachings have become an

alternative religion, creating ripples in Hinduism. This has led to a

rejunevation of Hindu karmas. A side effect is the growth of

influence of casteism, over that of tribes, and reinventing the Varna

system, by fixing the occupational castes into the framework of

(practically extinct) Varnas.

 

 

kishore