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APPENDIX - E
Buddhism
Buddhism belongs to the Śramapa-tradition of Indian thought as distinguished from Vedic tradition. Like Jainism it has taken birth at that time which was surcharged with the ferver of spiritual renaissance. When Buddha was born, the foundations of Vedic rituals were already shaken by some of the great Rsis of Upanisadas, and of late, by his contemporary Mahavira. Emphasis was given on self exertion by undergoing strict spiritual discipline and rigorous austerities. During the early days of his spiritual experimentation, Buddha also took to severe austerities and determined to seek truth through austerities when he said to himself, "Ihasane śuṣyatu me sariram" (Let my body be dried up in this seat but I will not get up till I get enlightenment).
However, unlike Mahavira, severe austerities did not help Buddha. He relented and adopted a middle course and found solace. He tried almost every path, which was prevalent in his times, in search of truth, but failed. Finally he chalked out his own path which was absolutely rational and logical. He refused to go into the fogs of misty metaphysics and directly touched ethics and psychology of human affairs. Like Mahavira he also propounded a religion which was independent of dogmas and priesthood, sacrifices and sacraments and insisted on an inward change of heart. His persistent refusal to delve into the mysteries of life, made his approach more direct and explicit both to the common men and the intellectuals of his times and earned him greater following in India and abroad. However, this very factor proved responsible for introducing varied and very often contradictory interpretations of what he said and preached, with the result that the 1. इहासने शुष्यतु मे शरीरम् ।
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