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October 27, 2001

GUEST COLUMN*

BUDDHA AND BUDDHISM

Buddha was born in the Eastern Indian Sub-Continent, as aryans moved in there. That was much after loosing the Indus Valley, to many Now Waves of Conquerors. During the long Intervening Periods, they had already Developed their Caste System, perfected the art of exploitation, cheating and oppression, and fine tuned it, to almost the Present Levels of Chaturvarnashram, along with their Avarna Social Slaves or Out Caste Serfs for their Creative Works and Producing Food.

To Isolate themselves as a Superior Race, the Aryans Claimed themselves to be aryan brahmins or the Superior White Race; and white brahma, along with Saraswathi as their exclusive god of creation, and the goddess of vidya – learning. Aryans, meant the Superior People. And they marginalised the rest of all other Peoples, as inferior ones – Native Black Kshatriya Kings with Vishnu as god of the ruling classes, and Lakshmi as the goddess of every other moneyed rich wealthy and powerful People; while the sweet talking veshi or prostitute like Vaishya business classes, always ready to prostitute before everyone else were kept under strict leash, as their money suppliers and ready financiers. Though the vaishyas willingly and readily financed the aryan brahmins, the later treated the former only with utmost contempt and kept them at a long distance. And vaishyas also knew the latter’s contempt for them, and even otherwise considered the aryan brahmins to be cheap cheats. Even then both collaborated with kshatriya rulers, to ensure the superiority of the triumvirate, and specifically maintain and uphold supremacy of the brahmins, of white foreign aryan decent and foreign origins.

The aryan brahmins used others, to cleverly exploit neglect and discriminate them, and at the same time jointly cheat exploit oppress and swindle the Shudra Mixtures as their Working Classes; and ever other Avarna Masses, as their big Farm Hands, and Agricultural Social Slaves, tied to the Land and Water living on Air in the Wild, as No People.

The aryans had by the time Buddha appeared, lost themselves and their powers to new invading forces and conquerors who came to rule the Indus Valley, surrounding Harappan Settlements, Yamuna Region, and almost the whole of Western and also towards East the Central Gangetic Plains.

The aryans, adopted the twin strategies of survival. One Group Chose, to turn themselves, fifth columnists, and serve the new rulers; to keep all the local people oppressed subjugated and exploited, as lower and inferior caste people; while some became priests to serve the new god Vishnu, made to appear in various different forms, especially to fool every new rulers. That was how, the crude marauding aryans became priests, teachers, interpreters of society, and mangers of people to control by fooling and keeping-in-harness the masses, for any new rulers. But in this business, only some and meek fellows could fit in and survive. And the rest of the aryans, left the Indus Valley and the surrounding areas, in search of new pastures to occupy and live for their survival.

The aryans, divided themselves into different separate groups. One Group Moving, south-west to be only trapped in Rajasthan and Gujarat, between the new conquerors from north-west in Indus Valley and Surrounds, and the sea and there the sea-faring invader-businessmen and various foreign traders, landing in Gujarat and Sind Coasts. Some Aryan Groups Moved to Central India, and part of them were trying to make some incursions into the Southern Deccan Plains, but encountered many hurdles because of the Vindhyas and Narmadha, and the Deccan Andhras.

An Isolated Group, of aryans, meanwhile moved North, towards Jammu and Kashmir, to be blocked by the mighty Himalayas, and got trapped in the Kashmir Valley.

One Last Group, of the aryans moved beyond the Indo-Gangetic Plains, and into the Eastern-Gangetic Plains. This Group had to face mighty Andhras, in the Southern Parts of the Region; in the Easter Regions, they had to face thick wild Jungles around many mighty Rivers, wild Tributaries of Swollen Ganga, and the unpredictable Brahmaputra; and in the Northern Regions, they faced many small but strong and mighty Democratic Clans and their Chieftains in the Himalayan Foot-Hills and in the Plains around ancient city of Pataliputra.

Faced with Stiff Resistance of Local Rulers, the aryans Resorted to their Traditional Deceits of Prayers Poojas Yagnas, and Spreading the Poisonous Seeds of Discriminatory Gradation of Castes and Hierarchic Caste System, that suited many Lazy Leisure Loving Parasitic Exploitative Ruling Classes, and many Swindling Business People. That Produced Strong Mass Resentments and Silent Opposition, to all aryan brahmins.

People, as always, were Waiting for an Opportunity to Rebel, a Leader or Leaders, to Lead them, and a Messiah to Liberate them, and take them to Freedom and on to A New Life. There might have been many little leaders and small attempts. A good Significant Breakthrough came under the Jaina Muni Mahavira. But his Prescriptions were very Harsh, going to the Extreme End, Opposed to all stupid Aryan Exploitative, but Entertaining Poojas Prayers and Yagnas.

Mahavira’s Teachings, against brahmanic Values Systems and Practices, and the Difficulties of Following him, was Right Time, when Buddha appeared on the Scene.

Buddha also preached his Opposition to the brahmanic Values Systems Practices and the Evil Yagnas. But he Prescribed the middle path, leaving it to the People to accept anything, leave out or reject anything; but shunning all the violence and wastages of yagnas of the aryans, and unlike Jaina Mahavira, not proscribing and preventing the people from meat-eating.

Buddha prescribed very strict and severe norms for the monks and nuns, being the guides, and hence leaders of people. He said that none of them should move out of their places, during life generating rainy seasons, the varsha vyasa. Other days, they shouldn’t stay in any place, but keep on moving spreading the messages of love compassion righteousness and middle-path.

Buddha prohibited monks and nuns from accepting any invitation for food, and told them to take only one meal a day, that too before noon, and eat by begging or asking for food. He told them, not to ask for food, once an offering had been received by them in their bowl, however small or little that may be. And they have to accept eat and live for the day, on that only. So severe was Buddha on his disciples who came forward to serve people, and preach love peace and compassion to all people and every life on earth.

Buddha, did not allow hiss disciples and followers, to create any god or do poojas or yagnas, or indulge in prayers.

Buddha wanted, his disciples coming to serve the people, must themselves set a precept and preach, love peace and compassion amongst the people, and towards all people and every life on earth.

Buddha felt that all Buddhist Monks and Nuns, must as Leaders of People, Lead them by Practice and Example.

Buddha did not ask anyone, to accept his sayings as teachings, or to accept them all implicitly and followed blindly. Buddha was so specific, about the individuals’ thinking and reasoning!

Buddha told everyone, to be a light unto themselves, consider all things, follow and do what appears and feels to them as right.

Buddha emphasised on thinking, reasoning, analysis and righteousness of action and life. That is Buddha, and greatness of Buddhism.

That is why People across the World of all the times feel, Buddha and his Buddhism, in Principle to be Honest Frank and Truthful, Not Interested in Amassing Wealth or Building any Empires.

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