The Real Buddha
By Chandrabhan
Prasad
10 August, 2005
The
Pioneer
It
is universally acknowledged that Dr B R Ambedkar revived Buddhism in
India, but with a caveat. In the introduction to his treaties Buddha
and His Dhamma, Dr Ambedkar writes: "Indeed, it would not be an
exaggeration to say that of all the founders of religions in the world,
the presentation of life and teachings of the founder of Buddhism presents
a problem which is quite puzzling, if not baffling".
Dr Ambedkar questions
the theory of Buddha's Parivraja or renunciation. "The traditional
answer is that," writes Ambedkar, that, "He took Parivraja
because he saw a dead person, a sick person, and an old person. The
answer is absurd on the face of it." He goes on to argue that aged
29, Buddha would certainly have seen dead, sick and old persons when
he took Parivraja. Dr Ambedkar then gives an insight into the immediate
reason for his renunciation.
The contemporary
Dalit India is witnessing a great transformation, where most educated
and accomplished Dalits, like true followers of Dr Ambedkar, are turning
to Buddhism. Along with that, a very fine scholarly tradition, too,
is being established. Research and writings on Buddhism is a phenomenon.
In that, Anand Shrikrishna, a civil servant though, has emerged as an
intellectual leader on Buddhism. His recent book Gautam Buddha and aur
Unke Updesh (Gautam Buddha and His Teachings), launched on July 7 in
Delhi, is a great book.
Taking a closer
look at Ambedkar's theory of renunciation, Anand Shrikrishna explains
in detail about the factors which propelled Buddha to take Parivraja.
First, when Buddha
left the worldly life, both his father Shuddodan and maternal aunt Gautami
were around 70 years old. So, it's indeed absurd to say that Buddha
had not seen old people before. It is equally absurd to believe that
by the age of 29, Buddha had not seen a dead or sick person.
Then, what were
the immediate reasons which led Buddha to renunciation? As the book
details, it was all about War and Peace.
Siddharth Gautam
was born in the Sakyan Republic. The Sakyans had a democratic system
and the republic was headed by a host of Sakyan clans. Traditionally,
the Sakyans would form a Shangha or Union, sort of a parliament of the
day, which will decide things for the King. The Union was the supreme
body.
Located on the
bank of the river Rohini, the Sakyan republic had, on the other side
of the river, yet another republic of Kolis, a rival in many senses.
The citizens of
both the republics depended on the Rohini for irrigation. During drought
or scarcity or water, both the republics would fight bitter battles,
resulting in bloodshed a la the Kaveri water dispute between Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu.
On one such occasion,
tension was building up in both the republics. The Sakyan Union decided
by a majority to attack the Kolis in order to teach them a lesson. Siddharth
argued with both the Union members and the chief of the Sakyan army
not to attack the Kolis.
The Union and the
army chief were all for the war. The army chief, in fact, had invoked
Siddharth's Kshatriya Dharma that he is meant for wars. But, the determined
Siddhartha stood for peace, arguing that war cannot be a rational solution,
negotiations and talks would.
Both sides stuck
to their positions, Siddhartha for peace, and the Sakyan Union for war.
Siddhartha had
to pay for his pro-peace position. As per the Sakyan union tradition,
anyone defying the majority decision could be subjected to social boycott,
confiscation of property, even exile. Siddharth was confronted with
this question, and decided to take Parivraja lest his family face unnecessary
hardship. But, it wasn't only that.
The book reproduces
Siddhartha's dialogue with his father Shuddodan and Gautami on his decision
to take Parivraja.
The dialogue is
ample evidence to showing that at 29, Siddhartha was already a philosopher
of peace. His concerns were not confined to his family alone or to the
Kolis and Sakyan, but the entire humanity at large.
The Rohini water
dispute was just a flash point. With this book, fourth in a row, Anand
Srikrishna, in the true Amedakarian fashion, has made reading on Lord
Buddha lovelier than ever before.
Priced at Rs 250 the book has been published by Raj Kamal.