BUDDHA – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

In a general scenario, Buddha – the founder of Buddhism is often considered the most influential man that ever lived in Asia. However, in actual sense, Buddha can be conveniently called the Greatest Man that ever lived in the human history.

Buddha was not a mere man, he represents a force which by it’s sheer magnanimity could alter the socio-moral contours of several nationalities; he discovered the secret key to eternal happiness, and popularized it far and wide, thereby bringing radical changes in human intellectual development and which added plethora of wealth to culture, tradition and spirituality, so much so that his advent represents one of the most defining historical landmarks for much of the civilized world.  

Buddha personal life symbolizes the great victory of strong will over the trivialities of ignorance, ambivalence and ‘lower enjoyments and pleasures’ of body and mind. Born a prince, he renounced his family life around the age of thirty in search for the ultimate happiness. Dissatisfied with formalism of the Vedic Religion of his days, he set on a goal for himself and the world. He found it under a Peepal tree and thus he got enlightened and The Real Buddha was born. He resolved to share his ‘Grand Discovery’ with one and all.  

Buddha is much bigger than Buddhism, and his concept transcends the Buddhadom (the term is coined to refer to those geopolitical regions of the world, where Buddhism is the official or the dominant socio-cultural force). He is well above the narrow confines of race and religion. Buddha is very attractive to numerous Non-Buddhists, especially the westerners. Buddha, in some sense, towers above the semi-historical Krishna (who is shrouded in obscure histriocity) and the Prophetic Jesus (the religion he propounded in a typically stereotyped, semitic style proclaims the eventual end of the world and Jesus as the rescuer, and the Kingdom of Heaven as the aim ; and thus in this system logic and reason are not patronized generously).    

Unlike Jesus, Buddha did not promise an eternal place in the heaven. Rather, he envisioned ‘Nirvana’ (The Ultimate State) as the ending place of all sufferings.

Buddha considers the end of sufferings as the urgent, emergent, immediate and ultimate aim of human existence. He has developed a marvelous middle path, which is the golden mean between the extremes of austerities and sensualities, eternalism and nihilism, pessimism and optimism. Buddha was diplomatically silent on GOD and several of those philosophical and metaphysical issues which only created conflict and did nothing to remove human sufferings.

Buddha is indeed the Greatest Man to have ever lived on this planet. He is the acknowledged Super Hero of much of East and South East Asia (which includes the mighty China). Besides, he is also recognized as one of the greatest propounders/founders of religions by the giant India and strategic Nepal. Christianity could convert Europe, so it became the religion of colonizers and thus on that strength it spread far and wide. However the religion of Buddha is the most important religion of the Mighty Asia (where more than 60% of the world population lives), popularly referred to as the ‘Mother of All Continents’.  

Buddha was more a scientist than a mystic. He exhorted his followers not to adapt something out of blind faith or because someone was saying so, but to test it oneself by one’s own wisdom and experience, and when it passes that test, only then to accept it as a practice. Buddha’s radically scientific outlook even in those ancient days makes it stand out from other religions.

Buddha was dead against caste, and all such distinctions between human beings. That is why Buddhism became the favoured religion of Dr Ambedkar and his Dalit movement in India.  Buddha gave substantial equality to women, in sharp contrast to the prevailing trends. The religious order (Sangha) set up by him was the first one to have organized a women’s wing on such a large scale (i.e. the order of Bhikshunis or Buddhist nuns).

Even after over 2500 years, Buddha continues to influence mankind. Though many consider his religion to be an extension of Indian culture, that has conquered large parts of the world, however in reality Buddha belongs to India as much as he belongs to the entire humanity. Buddha did change the course of human history in the manner no one else could.

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GANDHI – IN HIS TIME AND OURS

"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood"

                                                              - (Albert Einstein on Gandhi)

The enigma of Gandhi transcends eons and geopolitical boundaries, and it symbolizes a force which envisioned the greatest social sublimity and a very high order of civility constructed on the foundation of a very profound, well researched, novel and radical philosophical-ethical value system of non-violence, truth, mutual respect and always a concern and care for ‘the other’.

Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi as he is popularly referred to as in India, can be very simply described as a great philosopher-saint, a pragmatic visionary, a master strategist, an astute statesman, a giant innovator of socio-economic schemes, propounder of alternative modernity, an interpreter of ‘different democracy’ and above all the father of modern India, who gave her independence and a new line of existence.

Gandhi in his times was a force which no one could ignore. He gave India her independence and showed to the world how to fight with the potent weapons of non-violence and truth. His vision for a harmonious and vibrant society was class apart, and his non-violent struggle has inspired many a movements in the world – the movement led by Martin Luther King Jr in the USA fighting for equal rights to African Americans in 1950s and 60s and the long drawn non-violent anti-apartheid struggle led by the illustrious African leader Nelson Mandela in South Africa - to name just a few.  

Gandhi laid the foundations of a value-based and ethical India. He tried his level best to free Indian society of it’s ugliest blot – untouchability, and toured the entire Indian subcontinent to teach people against the evils of this degraded and rotten social custom. He was also one of the greatest ambassadors of Hindu-Muslim unity, and promoted the cause of social and national integration through his speeches, writings, messages and way of life.

Gandhi initiated the famous Sarvodaya movement which emphasized ‘development and progress of all sections of society’. This was a unique experiment of inclusive growth and the precursor to a modern, welfare state.

The impact of Gandhi for decades influenced the lives of millions in India, and made people honest, truthful and committed to the cause of social and national good. The legacy of Gandhi continues to impact India and the world in myriads of ways. It has inspired the Bhoodan movement in past. The various pro-environment and anti-deforestation movements like the Chipko of the 70s and 80s had the element of non-violence and truth attached to them. The feminist anti-liquor movement which have once and again appeared in India, like recently in parts of rural Andhra Pradesh, draw their inspiration from Gandhi and his thinking. Gandhi’s autobiography ‘The Story of My experiments with Trutrh’ is a master piece and a great comprehensive manual for the individual and society, which even today inspires many youths.

Gandhi and his legacy have certainly shaped the destiny of modern India. The value-system of Gandhi continues to inspire India and the world, and his thinking forms the basis of the contemporary Indian socio-ethical framework. He influences India more than any other recent thinker.

Gandhi ji was assaisinated on 30^th January, 1948 in Delhi by Nathu Ram Godse, a fanatic who was aggrieved by the partition of India. Gandhi died but his legacy continues to influence, inspire and ignite the minds of people. There is enormous influence of Gandhi – rightly called the greatest Indian after Buddha.  

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