Buddhism is a better philosophy!

For westerners polytheism is synonymous with Paganism and hence a sign of immaturity. No longer Christianity- of any denomination- holds the real sway over Australia, England, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and many other western countries. A good percentage of Australians and other nationals of these countries prefer passing themselves as people without a religion! Alas, an aborigine in Australia would sadly recount that before such enlightenment dawned on white Aussies they had virtually wiped out his creed!

USA stands on a slightly different platform. However, the signs of turning of the tide are evident with the recent declarations of President Obama. America is returning to the ideals of George Washington, where he placed a lot of emphasis on tolerance. Thomas Paine would also be turning in the grave and it appears it’s only a matter of time and then USA would follow on the footsteps of Europe and Australia!

The four Scandinavian countries and japan are highly atheistic and in terms of human values they are in the forefront. In contrast most religious countries- you name any- rank poorly in terms of HDI and human values (in practice). India is a test case: highly religious and if we document the atrocities against human beings casteism would of course top the chart and other inhuman practices of yore - like "sati", sending widows to Benaras, where young widows invariably fell into the sex trade- would send shivers through our spine. Do you know recently the former CM of Rajasthan- Vasundhra Raje - justified 'Sati' in the name of Culture! Many educated Indian decline to accept but virulent casteism is still in practice in almost all villages of north India. And still more than 60% of India lives in Villages!

In learned circles- of Sri Lanka-Buddhism is refereed to as a philosophy than a religion. As Buddha emphatically talked about reason and even went on the extent of saying: “Do not accept something, because I am saying, realize it yourself and then accept!” A profound statement! Especially when the raison d'etre of religion is to stop making people think. Remember the famous Odia cliché: Biswashe milai hari abishwasu bahu durey!

In none of the other mainstream religions you find such leverage to reason. So, when Vedic culture was already polluted with 4 major vices: Jagya (ritualistic burning of clarified butter etc), Bali (human and animal sacrifice), Casteism with virulent untouchability and Pratima Puja (idolatry)- Buddha came in as a redeemer. No wonder in about 300 years the entire subcontinent - of course excluding Tribal people- became Buddhist. Then Vedic Brahmanism & Polytheism made a come back, especially due to Shankara. Look from any angle Shankara was a great strategist. The four Dhams have been chosen with almost military precision!

Fortunately due to the untiring efforts of Ashoka Buddhism had already spread far and wide or else we do not know where it would have been today; for, by rational extrapolation: Buddhism was ruthlessly exterminated in India! Nothing else explains a virtual cleansing! Now the people who put this hypothesis are branded as Marxist But the Truth stares in our face and asks the inconvenient question: "When relics of Buddhist Vihars are abound across India, when Buddhism is synonymous with the advent of modern day hospital and a lot other good practices, when it is so well preserved elsewhere why it became DEAD in India? Remember "The Light of Asia- The Great Renunciation" written by Edwin Arnold (in 1879)? He is credited to have rediscovered Buddha! Yes Buddha was completely forgotten in this part of the world. Now Buddhism is growing in India. Credit should go to Dr Ambedkar, who got converted in to it just a couple of months before his death. Hence again it has become a redeemer for Dalits!

That beckons towards the fact that, a thriving Buddhist culture in Odisha was decimated through guile and stratagems. Depicting the 9th avatar of Vishnu as Buddha was one of those crafty measures. So quite naturally the Jagannath temple at Puri (Odisha) also had depictions of Buddha as an avatar. Subsequently, that was no longer felt necessary, hence were erased!

The attitude of lives and let live was prevalent in Islam of yore. Hence, if we exclude Buddhism as a philosophy, in the past, Islam was the most tolerant religion, not Christianity or Vedic Hinduism.  I was surprised when I read such a hypothesis from an American Caucasian historian! But facts are facts! A lot of propaganda has been spread against Muslim rule but the fact of the matter is that they brought in good governance and that is why they ruled here for such a long time. The life was so miserable for ordinary Hindus under the caste system that Muslim rule was perhaps welcomed as a great relief! If you apply simple reason you'd find most of the allegations against Muslim misrule is actually propaganda.

We cannot make gross generalization. However, the Christian born professor found: over all Islam is more tolerant than Christianity. Hinduism is not much discussed in the west. However, religious charlatans fool gullible poor Indians by extolling that the world is looking at India for redemption! For them, since the Chicago address of Great Swami Vivekananda, water has stopped flowing in Thames!

I have worked in 4 different countries in 2 continents and that's is my objective view, which is also supported if we go by different polls (Gallop etc.).

What is more, today Hindu nationalist blame casteism on Islam! What a joke!

Ditto was the case with pre-British Maratha exploitation in Odisha. Their rule was so atrocious that people had great relief when the British kicked them out. If you doubt my submissions then please read Fakir Mohan Senapati's biography and you would get that first hand.

What a travesty of facts, now a bunch of Marathas - RSS- are out to teach Odias that Muslim rule was oppressive! What is more, hardly anyone is questioning! Gyana Marg – the path of reason-is actually better :)

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