Demystifying Buddha

Happened to read a review on Stephen Batchelor’s ‘Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist’ to be published this month in the US. The man who’d renounced worldly pleasures, at a very young age in his quest for the truth, finally died a sad old man quite unsure as to whether his ‘dharma’ was accepted by this world. That he has millions and millions of followers and his teachings have more relevance in today’s world, go to prove that his discovery has sagacity and earnestness.
The author, during his research, went through the Pali Canon – the oldest set of texts of Buddha’s teachings – which provide glimpses into Buddha’s social and political world. Batchelor’s portrait of the Buddha is sad and disturbing.
Buddha’s cousin, Mahanama, took over the reins of his homeland ‘Shakya/ Sakia' after the death of his father. He’d cut of all ties with his home but returned to Kapilavastu after attaining enlightenment and made peace with his family. His cousins Devadatta, Ananda and Aniruddha play important roles in his later life to the extent that Devadatta plots to kill him for the sake of taking over his legacy, but thankfully fails. And since Buddha’s teachings were at loggerheads with the existing beliefs spread by brahmanical thought, that struggle ultimately took his precious life when he was poisoned.
Was always under the impression that jealousy and treachery were essential ingredients that tried to hinder Greek philosophy, at its infancy, in the way their society treated men like Aristotle and Plato, in their prime. But now it's proved beyond doubt that this frame of mind is universal and can we Indians be far behind?
Must read this book.
Tailpiece. It was sad to hear about the tragic air accident, at Hyderabad involving two naval officers. Fate has yet again robbed the lives of two promising young men in their prime. I was reminded of the words of a pilot’s wife, long ago, “Rajeev, I just forcefully blank my mind whenever my husband goes up in the air on sortie and I keep myself busy by doing some work or the other and remain in that condition till he returns and presses the doorbell.” May God give enough strength to their families to tide over these difficult times and Maurya and Nair, a salute from a comrade-at-arms and may you rest in peace.