Origin and Development of Buddhism in India: Collection of Articles from the Indian Antiquary
Mittal, P. & Dua, Geeta
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PRODUCT DETAILS
Book ID : 18108
ISBN-10 : 81-88629-47-2 / 8188629472
ISBN-13 : 978-81-88629-47-3 / 9788188629473
Place
of Publication :
Delhi
Year
of Publication :
2008
Edition : (Reprint)
Language : English
x, 376p., 4 Illus., 23 cm.
CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION
During the time of Buddha's advent the Indian society was in turmoil. Though India had attained great heights in the field of intellectual and scientific speculations, there was a wide variety of views prevalent which quite often conflicted with each other. In spite of development of subtle and sophisticated logic, high meditational practices and noble ethical ideas and ideals, the society was split-up in different sects and sub-sects. The Buddhist and Jain literature of that period presents a vivid and detailed account of this baffling variety. The Buddha was well-acquainted with all this diversity and tried to provide proper guidance to the society. His ideas were at once traditional and revolutionary, transformative and emancipating. That is why he became easily acceptable to the masses and the elites. Many kings like Pasenadi of Kosala came to him to seek advice and tranquility and peace of mind. There are many stories available in the early literature about Pasenadi's marriage with a woman of low caste by deceit and Buddha's advice to the king to adopt the policy of 'forget and forgive'. The Buddha seems to have favoured varnavyavastha but opposed Jativada. He was well steeped in the Vedic lore. He tried to rectify the aberrations in the Vedic thought and that paved the way for the rise of Vedanta. Had there not been the Buddha, perhaps, the great thinker Sankara would not have come into existence. The contribution of Buddhism to Indian thought and culture is immense. Buddha was born and brought up in the cultural soil of India, purified the soil to enable blossoming of the best flowers and fruits in the Cultural Garden of India. Buddhism has not only enlightened India, but also the whole of Asia in the ancient times, and now it is enlightening the whole world in the modern times. Buddhism has been the best product of Indian culture to be offered to the world at large. There is a need to re-establish Buddhism in its pure and pristine form, and that will help India and also the world.
