Shankara statement about Gautama known as the Buddha

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Recently there were two statements by a member of this list where it's written:

(Quotes)

 

" MOREOVER BuddhA exposed his own incoherence in talk when he instructed the

three mutually contradictory theories of the existence of external objects,

existence of consciousness and absolute nihilism; or he showed his malevolence

(was malicious) towards all creatures, acting under the delusion that these

creatures would get confused by imbibing contradictory views. "

 

" And yet we find Bhagwan Shankara saying the BuddhA was incoherent, deluded, and

malicious - all in one sweeping statement! "

 

The first quotation, according to what is mentioned before, comes from Adi

Shankara's SutaBashyas, and the second is a personal re-affirmation of it.

 

I don't doubt the validity of this first quote, although I would be grateful if

someone could direct me to the actual sutra, to study it.

 

But lets' suppose it's true. That Shankara said what as it is written in the

above quote.

I really can't put two and two together if that is the case.

 

How could a person that was a teacher and through whom such amount of

Understanding and Compassion came out, that for a part of Hindus is a Vishnu

Avatara, through whom something like The Four Noble Truths came out, inspired by

whom such Masters (I prefer the word Master in this context to Self-Realized,

otherwise I'll be in trouble here!) as the Zen Masters or the Dalai Lama exist,

how could such a one be said to be incoherent, deluded and malicious?...

 

Maybe the political, spiritual and sociological times of the land at that time,

prompted Adi Shankara to take such a personal attack on " the person of Gautama "

aiming to restore a decadent, authoritative and fundamentalist hindu society by

cutting all possible deviations. I don't know, maybe.

But I can't imagine Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada just putting down someone that He

didn't know personally, without firm reasons. Clearly the attack was on the

person,not only on the teachings.

 

I'll appreciate some thoughts in relation to this quote.

 

Yours in Bhagavan,

Mouna

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " Mouna " <maunna wrote:

>

> Dear All,

>

> Recently there were two statements by a member of this list where it's

written:

> (Quotes)

>

> I don't doubt the validity of this first quote, although I would be grateful

if someone could direct me to the actual sutra, to study it.

>

> But lets' suppose it's true. That Shankara said what as it is written in the

above quote.

> I really can't put two and two together if that is the case.

>

> Maybe the political, spiritual and sociological times of the land at that

time, prompted Adi Shankara to take such a personal attack on " the person of

Gautama " aiming to restore a decadent, authoritative and fundamentalist hindu

society by cutting all possible deviations. I don't know, maybe.

>

> I'll appreciate some thoughts in relation to this quote.

>

 

Namaste,

 

The refutation of Bauddha doctrines (in the Brahmasutra Bhashya) extends

over Sutras 2:2:18 to 2:2:32.

 

The last part is at: (Thibeaut's translation)-

 

http://www.bharatadesam.com/spiritual/brahma_sutra/brahma_sutra_sankara_34208.ph\

p

 

The polemical dialectics have to be viewed historically in that Kumarila

Bhatta and Udayanacharya (circa 6th cent.CE) on the Vedic side, and Vasubandhu,

Dignaga, and Dharmakirti (circa 4th-6th cent. CE) on the Bauddha side, were

already punching each other on these issues.

 

The Sanskrit works of the latter are lost, but survive in Tibetan

translations only.

 

In Ramana's view, Buddha's philosophy ('silence') has not been portrayed

accurately.

 

(From " Talks " , Talk no. 273, 23 October, 1936)

 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13898726/Talks-With-Sri-Ramana-Maharshi-Complete

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

sunder ji :

 

thnx for the wonderful link of bhagavan.

 

suresh.

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

Strange Ramanuja seems not to have commented at all on BS 2:2:32 which made

Shankara treat the Buddha so unceremoniously!

 

Best regards.

 

Madathil Nair

________________

 

advaitin , " Sunder Hattangadi " <sunderh wrote:

>

>

> The refutation of Bauddha doctrines (in the Brahmasutra Bhashya)

extends over Sutras 2:2:18 to 2:2:32.

....

>

http://www.bharatadesam.com/spiritual/brahma_sutra/brahma_sutra_sankara_34208.ph\

p

>

>

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " Madathil Rajendran Nair " <madathilnair

wrote:

>

>

> Strange Ramanuja seems not to have commented at all on BS 2:2:32 which made

Shankara treat the Buddha so unceremoniously!

>

> advaitin , " Sunder Hattangadi " <sunderh@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > The refutation of Bauddha doctrines (in the Brahmasutra Bhashya)

extends over Sutras 2:2:18 to 2:2:32.

> ...

 

 

Namaste,

 

Just the sutra number is different! 2:2:30 -

 

http://www.scribd.com/doc/99865/Sri-Bhaashyam-Vol1

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder