Glimpses Of World Religions

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

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Glimpses of World Religions
contemporary religions of that time to think deeply, and so, the Indian philosophy got more depth and subtlety.
Being the champion of an untarnished morality or moralism, Buddha has a unique status among the world-thinkers. By virtue of his humanitarian outlook, he has become the protector, a shelter of mankind. It was Lord Buddha who idolized the path of human welfare.
Buddha is a light-post in the history of contemplation. Bringing the end of the era of gods, he introduced the age of humanes. He freed men from the slavery of gods and he also showed the way of achieving freedom by self-help.
He was a real devotee or meditator. His ideas were of course original, his personality was also creative. His life full of Sādhanā will give inspiration to man for ages to come.
This was the first Indian religion as such, which assumed the status of a world-religion. Moreover, there will harldy be any ancient language in Asia in which the translations of Buddhistic religious books are not translated. The poeple of different countries and castes adopted this religion, as it suited to their individual dispositions.
The spread of this religion has been for the interest, welfare and happiness of the vast majority of the people. This religion is perfectly mass-oriented i.e. appealing to the masses. And it has found its expression in the popular dialect.
The world will always be indebted to the union of mendicants for the work they have done in the direction of the spread of education and the progress of knowledge in the history of the world. The universities like those of Nalanda, Vallabhi, Vikramsheela and so many centres of knowledge in foreign countries are the unparalleled gifts of this religion.