What Does It Mean By ‘Being Buddhist’
Our
neighbour Mr. X (Identity should be hidden) is a Buddhist. I was thinking at
first that Mr. X should not follow the custom of Jagran-Gondhal, because it is
a Hindu’s custom and Mr.X is a Buddhist. How many people there who follows
other religions’ rituals? I think mostly very few. These are two totally
different things i.e. to participate in the ritual of the other religion and to
follow or observe it by own. How many people observe the fast of Roja apart
from Muslim brothers? How many people celebrate Christmas apart from
Christians? How many people are there who don’t eat non-vegetables in Shravan
apart from Hindu brothers? As I have
said above getting participate for the sake of brotherhood or enjoyment and
observing it, are totally different things. Being a Buddhist I really get
shocked as Buddhism has not rooted yet in the minds of (new) Buddhists, after
more than fifty eight years,
I
remember the poem of T. S. Eliot ‘The Journey of Magi’. It describes the duel
in the minds of the three Magi who have changed their old religion and became
Christens. It is not the case with (converted) Christens only but it is a
worldwide crisis. Conversion is of not only religion but beliefs also. In India
most of the conversions occurred because of the people from lower castes get
tired of the exploitation and inequalities in the Hindu religion. Christens,
Shikhs, Jain, Muslims and off course Buddhists are the examples of the
conversion. Mostly downtrodden people have got converted. The reason may be
good life or equal opportunities or want of equal status. The reasons are
various.
Now
comparing with other four religions or better to say, as Indian constitution
named them, Minorities, Buddhist are supposed to be the least developed or
Buddhism is least propagated religion. I mean followers of the Buddhism are not
following it the way it has to be followed. Making it simple, Buddhists do not
behave like the ideal Buddhists. They are Buddhists-cum-Hindus or
Buddhists-cum-Hindus-cum-Muslims-cum-Christens. Some are partially Buddhists
for the sake of marriage and mostly Hindus- from where they ‘released’ (came).
Some are still totally Hindus except on the caste certificates.
I
think though we have converted in 1956 from Hindu-Mahar, mostly in Maharashtra,
we still are caged in the same identity. We cannot blame anybody for not being
come forth and teach us how to behave. Now-a-days and many years the rationalist
are converting into Buddhism. It is daily news of conversion to Buddhism from
all over India. Not only lower classes but Brahmnis, Vaishya, Kshtriyas and
many other backward classes are converting to Buddhism. As I said we are living
in the cage; cage of old identity that is of Hindu-Mahar. First of all we have
to break that cage and emancipate ourselves from the old religion. though most
of us have done this job, its their duty to make others free. I know changing
beliefs is not an easy task.
In
Maharashtra ‘The Buddhist Society’ is one of the leading institutions to teach
and propagate Buddhism. Many other institutions are working in the same
direction, but it is not enough. Most Buddhists are behaving the same way as
they were before 1956. The only change that has occurred is in the Caste
certificates. Let’s now discuss what it means by being Buddhist
Buddhism
is not anti- phenomenon to any religion. I mean to say that it is not
anti-Hindu or anti-Muslim or contrast to any religion. It has its own
philosophy and own way and norms. If somebody says he is Buddhist that means he
is a humanitarian. Humanitarianism is concept we can compare for them who don’t
have any idea of Buddhism. There is no such thing as dogmatism, orthodox or better
to say ‘Kattarpanthi’ in Buddhism. Because it is totally depend on the follower
about what to follow and what not to. Lord Buddha doesn’t ever compel or affirm
that what he said is universal truth (actually it is). HE gives total
liberation to human being to think on his preaching that is DHAMMA and the
follow it. Don’t ever follow it blindly. We can compare Dhamma with science
which is always changing as everything does. HE has put forth the theories of
human behaviour as the science has put forth any Law e.g. Law of Gravitation.
So read it, think of it, follow it; if you get the unexpected results deny it.
Just don’t follow or don’t believe anything blindly.
In short we can say
that being scientific is Being Buddhist. Being Buddhist is not just following
Buddhism; it is respecting all other religions. It is not just wearing white
cloths; it’s about having clean character. It is not just taking the blue flag;
it’s about assuming and treating everybody equal. It is not just about knowing
Buddhism; it’s about following it
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