Buddha Poornima (Reblog + Additions)

Sangham Sharanam Gacchami!

Dhamam Sharanam Gacchami!

Buddham Sharanam Gacchami!

I bow down and go to the Sangh, Dham (Religion) and Buddha for enlightenment.

I purposely began with Sangham Sharanam Gacchami as opposite to what people say. Cause I believe that even He, The Enlightened One, will agree with it. Go the the Sangh first. Follow your “Dharma” second. And then come to me. Buddha, as history tell us, is the first to establish a Sangh, for propagation of religion. He gave a very well designed way to spread religion through the Sangh. India will always be indebted to Him for this. And as a result, we see that Buddhist thought and philosophy has not only spread all over Asia, but also dominate the thinking process of Asia in a way. The famous travellers HuenTsang and FaHien with the help of King Ashok, King Bimbisara have translated many of the Buddhist literature into Mandarin and helped in spreading the word of Buddha far and wide.

Buddha means the enlightened one.

Buddha means unattached.

Buddha means the great leader.

Readers, last blog had left a question unanswered that why are the followers of Buddha, a proponent of Ahimsa (non – violence), fish eating or meat eating? Has He allowed this? Friends, let us go back to the era when He lived. To propagate His thought, he approached the intellectual class at that time. This class did not respond to His call. So He accepted whosoever responded to His call. He accepted them as they are and yes believed that slowly they would change their ways of eating. And change, they did. But if it is translated as meat eating is allowed by Buddha, then it’s our misconception about Him. He cannot be blamed for the misinterpretation.

And so I believe what my spiritual master has told me.

An individual who guides lacs and crores of people to lead a simple and an austere life should be accepted as an Incarnation of God. And Buddha is no different.

I bow down to Buddha today, and submit myself to His care and warmth.

Buddham Sharanam Gacchami!