01 Jan 2025
[Shri Anil asked:-]
1. Is there any specific reason for Buddha not being so popular?
[God Buddha came after God Krishna. However, He seems to be not so popular among Hindus like Rama, Krishna and Shankara, etc. Is there any specific reason for this, Swami?]
Swami replied:- God Buddha kept silent about the absolute God indicating that the absolute ultimate God is unimaginable and beyond words. Buddha kept silent about the ultimate God and Shankara Himself told that silence is the best and real expression for the unimaginable God. But, the disciples of God Buddha misunderstood Him that His silence is negation of God and took Him as an atheist. This misunderstanding led to the neglect of Buddha.
2. Shankara is so famous but Ramanuja and Madhva are not so famous. What is the reason for this?
Swami replied:- Shankara told that every soul is God already and this made every human being to think that one can become God without any spiritual effort. Such a concept naturally gives the highest attraction for any soul. But, Shankara told this concept to make the atheist to become theist. He told that every soul is God, the soul exists and hence, God exists. This made every atheist to say that God exists. Ramanuja and Madhva did not say that every soul is God and hence, they did not become very famous.
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