BUDDHA'S DOCTRINE OF UNIVERSAL FLUX

DOCTRINE OF UNIVERSAL FLUX

The influence of power and circumstances has, at times brought vital changes in society. Today, Nepal the birth place of Lord Gautama Buddha, is ruled out by a devout Hindu king who is a follower of the Aryan culture, in the light of a constitution. In the land of Lord Buddha the number of Buddhists as shown is not alarmingly negligible but deserves to be considered. The Buddhists of Nepal were forced to embrace Hinduism in the reign of King Jayasthiti Malla, the consequence of which is that Nepal today is a land of violence and various castes, But the picture of India our neighbouring country, is a different one.

As a result of discussion in the Indian Parliament while framing the constitution of New India, four religions were declared powerful in the world. These religions are 1. Hindu religion 2. Islam religion 3. Christian religion and 4. Buddhist religion. The learned body appointed to frame constitution was unanimous in its verdict about Ashok as the greatest king of India and Buddhism as possessing the principles of greatest good of the greatest number, on account of its proper study of History and catholic outlook. In the classification of religions Hindu religion as given the lowest place. Thus the independent India becomes a secular State.

The Government of Secular India accepted the Ashoka-pillar as its National Symbol in place of Hindu symbol. The Dharma Chakra of Buddha and the National Symbol of Ashoka were incorporated in the National Flag of Secular India. This historic momentous decision of the parliament was neither resented nor objected to by any scholar of any religion, while the constitution was being framed no discrimination was shown on the basis of differences of sex, caste, creed and color. For this achievement, India can be proud of.

Religion and Society

Sentiments and beliefs can not but influence human beings. thus if religion-the essence of emotion and faith not only builds society but destroys it also. The elash and conflict in our life is due to our sectarian sentiments which are instituted and nourished by religion. Our society needs religion because man is a social being and has sentiments and belief. Moreover, The changing pattern of society is bound to have its repercussions an religion. Today no Government bothers about conferring special benefits on any sect or group and hence it does not side with any religion. When it is considered a sin for a Government to side with a sect or group then it is sheer foolishness to declare a Government or a country as professing a certain religion.

Clashes between two groups, races and sects have occurred as a result of sectarian sentiments and these clashes result into enmity between individuals. History provides examples to the fact that the bad feeling between individuals and sects has resulted in cresting vast differences gradually, which has destroyed the age old established Unity.

Society and Caste-System

Our age calls for solidarity fraternity, the want of which will lead us to destruction. Hence the principle which hampers their realization can not be useful.

Caste-System is the enemy of Unity. Modern Society is against granting any right to an individual on the basis of birth. The hypothesis that Brahma is the creator of the universe and the four castes Brahmin, Ksyatriya, Vaisya and Shudra derive their origin from four organs of Braham's Body. that is, mouth, arms, thigh and sole of foot respectively is untenable today. There is no question of touchability and untouchability in a society in which the criterian for sanctioning rights is merit and merit alone. Such problem sis easily solved in a secular state. But the problem is how will a country, professing its adherence to a certain creed, solve such problem ?

Unity is a relative term and derives strength from liberty and equality the idea contained in 'Let' all be happy will remain a cherished dream if every body serves a Brahmin and the poor Shudras spend their life by serving all, India became a slave country only when a particular race was authorized to possess weapons and to use them But she attained freedom only when she got a leader ho was against caste-system. Unity among human being is essential to maintain liberty. In order to preserve this liberty in India, Mahatma Gandhi sacrificed his life. It is a blot on the face of Independent India that the father of Nation was shot dead by a Brahmin. What an irrational act it was ?

According to Gautama Buddha, the division of society into castes is good for nothing. Activity and occupation should be the basis of division was the preaching of Buddha. Caste is not an instinctive quality in man (Bashista Sutra), the Brahmin has not his origin from the mouth of Brahma (Assalayan Sutra), the caste system is meaningless even from economic and ethical point of view (Madhur Sutra), the Brahmins hence have no right to allot duties to others (Asukarika Sutra); etc. These and similar other teachings of Buddha are true and valid even to our age – an age of science and technology.

Let us consider one of the four facts about origin of caste-system. A women gives birth to a child, such her breast to enable it to grow, but its origin is attributed to Brahma's mouth, the same woman gives birth to another child and brings it up by sucking her breast, but this time its origin is attributed to Brahma's feet. How illogical the arguments sound What is the basis of such illogical arguments ?

The caste-system has cutlived its utility so soon because its basis was birth. It granted a particular job to an individual if he was born in a certain caste. But such would not have been the consequences of it, had it been based on occupation. It would have been a scientific approach and must have ingrained into man a sense of respect for others profession. In this caste activity or occupation would have been the principle of division into Brahmin and Shudra. If viewed from this angle the two religions- Buddhism and Hinduism are poles apart. It is a matter of pleasure at well as of satisfaction that the down-trodden Harijans are embracing Buddhism today.

The spirit of surrender

The spirit of surrender strengthens and encourages man but it also weakens and infeables him. So far as Buddhism is concerned it has no such spirit and so it can not effect the individuality. Buddha was no God, nor was he any incarnation out of the ten incarnation of God. The idea or 'ism' of incarnation originated after Buddha. In the beginning incarnation was limited to ten but later of it multiplied to twenty four, and we should not be astonished if these ten incarnations of today are multiplied to ten millions. Therefore Buddha was no incarnation and those who attribute it to Buddha are far from the truth. He was even, not an angel of God. He is merely the intelligence of man, and therefore, he claims himself to be a guide, a touch-brearer to the humanity gropping into darkness. Addressing his most trusted disciple Ananda, Gautama said, "Try to enlighten thyself and enter into thyself." The true spirit of surrender demands that you have polite and civil manners towards Buddha and are grateful to him, Buddha, unlike Shri Krishna who takes responsibility of delivering his devotees, does not take the responsibility of delivering his devotees. There are no such gods as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh who are supposed to be the creator, preserver and destroyer respectively of this universe, nor are there deities who are invested with the responsibility of protecting cities, villages and countries in Buddhism. There are even no sanctions for sacrificing animals and lighting holy fires for propitiating gods in Buddhism.

In Buddhism, the individual depends on his intelligence the power of reasoning. Buddha asks whether Brahma is creator of the universe or not is to be reasoned out by the individual because he possesses both intelligence and power of reasoning. If Brahma is creator and preserver of Universe, let him remain so but we have to perform out duties. If it is so then why we spend our labour in such futile actions as in bowing down our head to Vishnu for his help. The most astonishing thing is that Brahma without Vishnu is non-existent, but it is matter for consideration why does Vishnu extend his help to the protector, Maheshwar ? A theist can assert that all these are the manifestations of Maya of God, But I would like to thank the Maya of God for all these. The fact is that we should not be confused by the jugglery of words and instead we should strive to enter the world of knowledge and truth.

The concept of these ways of surrender in Buddhism connotes something else, which has been described a bove in its context. now let us understand Buddhism as it was preached by Buddha. There are four noble truths, eight noble paths and the doctrine of dependent origination.

Origination of paramount importance in Buddhism

One who has read and pondered over it can embrace it. One who protects and helps spread it is known as 'Snagha'. It is composed of eight 'Pudgalas'. Therefore, it is clear that eight kinds of capable men who can translate the teachings of Buddha into practice I their life are called 'Sangha'. The eight 'Pudgalas' are :

(1) They who walk on the Shrotapatti path.

(2) They who have realized the Shrotapatti fruit.

(3) They who walk on the Sakridagami path.

(4) They who have realized the Sakridagami fruit.

(5) They who walk on Anagami path.

(6) They who have realized the Anagami fruit.

(7) They who walk on Arhant path.

(8) They who have realized the Arhant fruit.

One who is free from the sentiment of self, wrong vision, doubt and subsidiary doubt is said to have realized the Shrotapatti fruit. According to Buddha's doctrine of rebirth, such persons would take only seven births in this world if they were to take birth at all. In the same way greed, envy and attachment are weak in a Sakridagami man, and only one birth is possible for such persons. An Anagami man is free from greed and envy envy and attachment is weakened in him. He delivered after taking birth in the pure Brahmaloka.

Every religion provides deliverance, but the doctrine of deliverance as laid down by Buddha is based solely on the pious actions of man and not on full spirit of surrender. In the opinion of Buddha, the notion of the present life and the after life is formed and informed in the light of one's mental conditions and actions. Hence he (Buddha) is prayed as a preacher who preached in the interest of good mankind. This original quality of Buddhism is responsible for the separate indentity of it, and so long as this original quality exist no religion can absorb it. History is clear about the causes of rise and fall of Buddhism. It should be known to Buddhists why and when Buddhism declined. Buddhism can not be effected by turning any monument of Buddha into temple of god or goddess. The doctrine of incarnation can never find a place in Buddhism and all attempt to absorb Buddhism into Hinduism will be futile and useless. Buddha, the lover of non-violence can not be an incarnation of Ram nor can one who left his wife be an incarnation of Sri Krishna who enjoyed in the company of 16,000 charming girls. There is difference between the earthly and the unearthly life as there is difference between the creator and the destroyer of pain.

We surrender ourselves to Buddha, but it would not be impossible for us to attain the state of Buddha if we had left the habbit of deserving difficult work as impossible; for one who is free from ignorance, Maya, attachment, envy and greed and preaches others how to be delivered from them, is called Buddha.

According to Buddha, one has to reap the consequences of one's doings, and no one else. Buddhism, like Hinduism, does not hold God responsible for one's doings and undoing. Buddha never preached that one can surrender to him for succour and deliverance from pain even when one's actions are the sources of pain. "It is I who began the battle of Kurukashetra which resulted in so many deaths." Such assertions are there in Gita and not in Buddhism. Nor is there is any such convincing explanation as was offered to Arjun about the arrangement for the killer and the killed in Heaven, which landed Arjun in Hell in the end.

In the opinion of Buddha, the very fact of taking birth, growing old, sufferings from desire and death is the cause of pain. Thereafter wrong vision and wrong deeds are causes of physical and mental pain. The invisible God has no concern with pain or pleasure to man. Hence to surrender oneself to God is meaningless.

Lumbini and Kapilavastu

Our deeper understanding of humanity has led to our greater appreciation of Buddhism. It is a matter of pleasure that the noble Buddha was born in Nepal. People flock from every nook and corner of the world to visit to his birth place. But it pains to realize that we have miserably failed to understand the importance of kapilavastu instead of Lumbini. It is an incident of some 25 or 30 years back that people assembled at Lumbini on Chaitra Purnima instead of Vaisakha purnima and began worshiping Mahamaya Devi as Goddess Jagadamba by sacrificing animals inspite of the monument and the piller erected by Ashoka. This practice is now no more observed at Lumbini, but there still remains a Brahman priest in the temple. Kapilvastu, the capital of King Suddhodana who begot Sidhartha, is now known as Taulihawa and has been reduced to such states that historical proofs are hidden for foreign visitors. What a painful sight it is to look at.

We hope that the clouds of ignorance enveloping these places and thereby hiding proofs of historical significance would soon be dispelled Lumbini, Deodaha, and Kapilavastu would be recovered and developed with due reverence in accordance with the rules regarding preservation and maintenance of objects of Archiological interest.

Religious Tolerance

It is easy to about the slogan of religious tolerance but difficult to translate the same into practice. It can be possible only when we have a balanced and disciplined attitude towards all religion, which makes mutual religious tolerance possible. But it remains unfulfilled when we begin to speak about the supremacy of our religion.

The spirit of religious tolerance failed to play a vital role in converting millions of men to Buddhism under powerful leadership of Dr. Ambedker in independent India. Hinduism and Buddhism are one, of they are two branches of Arya Dharma even such notions were not liberal there. Newly converted Buddhists experienced difficulties. The practice and propaganda of such indiscreet and unbalanced actions had taken place in our country and are taking place even today. Man should have not only the right to religion but also to its propagation. The Bhikshus of Nepal were banished from Nepal for their propagating Buddhism many a time, not an old occurrance. We hear people talk of religious tolerance but do not find any Brahmin paying homage to Swayambhu.

Today right to one's religion is guaranteed by the constitution, but there are obstructions in the process of converting to a religion.

There is no difficulty to converting to Buddhism can a religion which discriminates, flourish in an independent and democratic country ? Can a religion which imbibes the doctrine of Flux, be thwarted by any one ? Never, Flux is inevitable.