Buddha- An Aryan Reformer

Buddha- An Aryan Reformer

Dr Vivek Arya

The teachings of Buddha are inspired from Vedic Philosphy. This article in brief will prove this fact.

1. Five Commandments of Buddha are originally found in the Yoga Darshan of Patanjali

The five commandments which are obligatory on all Buddhists monks as well as laymen, are as follows -
1 Let not one kill any living being.
2. Let not one take what is not given to him
3. Let not one speak falsely.
4 Let not one drink intoxicating drinks.
5. Let not one have unchaste sexual intercourse.

THE ORIGIN OF THESE TEAHINGS

It is quite clear that these five commandments (or Panch sheelas as they are called In Buddhist Scriptures) are directly derived from the five Yamas or rules of conduct as mentioned in the following Yoga Sutra (aphorism)

Yoga Darshan 1/2/30 says that

Not to kill any living being, not to speak falsely, not to commit theft, not to have unchaste sexual intercourse, not to indulge too much in lustful or sensual pleasures are the five Yamas.

2.Mahatma Buddh an Aryan Reformer

Mahatma Buddha did not say a word which could imply that he wished to establish a new Religion. To quote from the well Known book ‘Ancient India' written by Sh. R. C Dutt ‘He ( Buddha) had made no new discovery. He had acquired no new knowledge. Mr. Dutt further adds ‘It would be historically wrong to suppose that Gautama Buddha consciously set himself as the founder of a new religion. On the contrary, he believed to the last that he was preaching only the ancient and pure form of religion which had prevailed among the Hindus, among Brahmans, among Shamans and others but which have been corrupted at a later days.

3. Mahatma Buddha admitting that Vedas does not support animal killing in Yajna.

In Brahman Dhammik Sutta it is stated that a number of wealthy Brahmins went to Mahatma told them that the Brahman of Vedic age lived a very simple, pure and virtuous life and observed Brahmacharya for a long period. They did not kill any animals in Yajna. Buddha added that in later times Brahmans began to receive large gifts of wealth, cattle, chariots with horses and also beautiful women. Then they became licentious and began to eat meat. Then out of greed and selfishness, they composed verses supporting animal sacrifice and interpolated them in sacred books. They showed them to King Ikkavaku and obtained his permission for killing animals in Yajna. Then kings also began to perform Yajna in which thousands of animals were killed. The Brahman who had visited Mahatma

Buddha was very much satisfied with his discourse and expressed their gratitude to him.

4. Maxmuller acknowledges that the Lord Buddha didn’t establish any separate sect in Past India.

Prof. Max Muller a well known orient list in his ‘History of the Ancient Sanskrit Literature’:-

“Buddhism upon the time of Asoka was but one out of many sects established in India. There had been as yet no schism, but only controversy such as we find in the Brahmanas themselves between different schools and parties. There were as yet no Brahmans as opposed to Buddhists. In the latter sense of the word No separation had as yet taken place, and the greatest reformers at the time of Buddha were reforming Brahmans. Thus is acknowledged in Buddhist writings though they probably were not written down before
Asoka’s council. But even then Buddha is represented as the pupil of the Brahmans, and no slur is cast on the gods and the songs of the Vedas. Buddha according to his own canonical biographers learned the Rigveda and was proficient in all the branches of Brahmanic lore. His pupils were many of them Brahmans and no hostile feeling against the Brahman finds utterance in the Buddhist Canons”
“Buddhism in its original form was only a modification of Brahmanism. It grew up slowly and in perceptibly and its very founder could hardly have been aware of the final result of his doctrines”.

(Ref. History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature by Prof. Max Muller P 134)

Mahatma Buddha was very bold in condemning the social inequalities imposed on the Shudras and low castes while reading through his discourses, one feels as it one was listening to the speeches of Vedic Reforms like Swami Dayananda Saraswati.