Why Buddhism almost disappeared from India.

 

"Two thousand five hundred years later, but Buddhism has about 700 million followers worldwide, but disappeared from India, where Buddhism previously served as a major mental movement, throughout the century to X. Why is it happening so?

Here is the answer of Mr. Philippe Cornu .

Translator's Introduction:

Mr. Philippe Cornu is incumbent Chairman of the European Buddhist University, Professor at the National Institute of Languages ​​and Oriental Civilizations (Inalco) of France .  He was also a scholar of Buddhism, translated many books from the Tibetan, Chinese .. . , and he also writings, writing and teaching about Buddhism .  One of his significant works was the book The Encyclopedia of Buddhism .

Here is a short article by Catherine Golliau female journalist to interview him, published in a major magazine of France's Le Point (some exceptions to the report on Indian civilization, July 3 and number 8 , 2008) .

newspaper Le Point: It defines how Buddhism?
P. Cornu : It is the spiritual path aimed at self-liberation from ignorance and confusion, leading to the origin of suffering, and help achieve enlightenment, or a form can be stripped of all illusion, and can form from that the ultimate truth will manifest .  Buddhism is often viewed as a religion, Buddhism in the direction advocated a moral way, a philosophical treatise, rituals and suggest how we practice purpose of liberating spirit in man: therefore need to put faith in the Buddha to step on that road .  however Buddha is not a god, and Buddhism, also called Bouddha-Darma (Directed France Buddha) is not a religion worshiping the sun, in the sense that a creative gods .
newspaper Le Point: Was it a reaction against Dao Ba-la-keeper or not?
P. Cornu : Buddha appeared at a time that the Vedic texts of Dao Ba-la-keeper has been criticized for focusing only know the rituals, some people do not accept that aspect of Dao Ba-la Ammonites stands out new draft texts called Upanisad, the business is more concerned with personal salvation .  Buddha's path in the context of the scriptures that the Upanisads, however personality characteristics in particular logic and experience different Buddha forms of innovative Dao Ba-la-subjects through the medium including classics such Upanisad .
newspaper Le Point: What are the major differences showed mixed views between two movements that?
P. Cornu : At the heart of the teachings of the Buddha are impermanent nature of all things and events that do not have an "ego" endures, and what we call normal correlation or is created based on the same conditions, this principle shows that all phenomena can only exist by solidarity, does this ever work conditions help other phenomena exist .
want Ambition can control everything and stop heart desires, at any rate, the movement of impermanence, will give rise to the misunderstanding of this world and so just bring nothing but pain .
At Is that so  ?
Because all of our actions are aimed at controlling intent of this world and all existence, and the tension that necessarily creates a huge chasm separates one side is what we wish to see and believe things that are true, and the other side is the true nature of reality .
newspaper Le Point: But how Buddhism and Hinduism sometimes use a some language similarity ...
Ward Cornu : Yeah, but the meanings are different .  Take for example the word " karma "(Industrial) ⁽¹⁾ . In Dao Ba-la-disciplines of classical systems Vedas, karma represents a revolutionary act rituals help integration with the spiritual world .  regard to Dao Ba-la-subject improvements in system classic Upanisad, the word karma means the moral: behaviors depending on good or bad qualities, would create a potential, and the ability to mature when he will be reborn in a lifetime Living favorable or unfavorable later .
Additionally, Hinduism advocates a form of determinism: such as falling into a certain class, the class must depend on him and could not get out, because karma has decided like that .
Meanwhile Buddhism, karma is a behavior, and above all an intention in mind .  distinctive Buddhist karma primitive origins and consequences do play then born from karma, that's two different things can not be mistaken .  incurred by the inevitable consequence, if we do not do anything to resolve it, and moreover it is also possible pure of both karma before it is ripe .
On the other hand, karma does not force people to live passively in a social structure was predetermined: each individual must embrace his destiny to liberate themselves from karma, because there is something motivating cause of suffering, need to be overcome .  Persons can also learn in a manner similar to the word "samsara" (reincarnation) .  The word samsara carry the same meaning in both philosophy and Ba-la-Buddhist subjects, which means that based on the existing conditions .
But for Hindus, people can only escape when the soul from samsara or "the self" (atman) is freed to be integrated with Great unitary form .
Meanwhile Buddhism, samsara is primarily a military man, arising from many conditions, the existence of a desire by karma and create their own work, so each individual must liberate ourselves from the realm of samsara . therefore, need to define the word back in step a case .

Turnover Samsara (reincarnation)

Newspaper Le Point: Buddhist gods intake ⁽²⁾ of Hindu or not?
P. Cornu : Yes. The entire background of Hindu myths have been recruited into Buddhism .  , but also to reiterate here again, although Buddhism intake intake but with completely different meanings .
Indeed, according to Buddhist gods are considered to belong to the realm of samsara (reincarnation) .  because the gods remains enmeshed in confusion  !  Although they have a long life to go again, but when karma has been exhausted , they will fall into a different realm of samsara .  they can not escape the essence of the comprehensive nature of suffering .
newspaper Le Point: But why philosophy that advocates seek liberation, it was necessary to the gods?
P. Cornu Buddha did not find any way of refuting anything .  simply put Him all things in their place .  gods is not the purpose nor his needs, and of course, is not an object for refuge .
During Buddhist people rely on principles of Enlightenment, on the teachings to enlightenment, and to exercise who chose her teachings .  This is what we call the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma (Dharma) and Sangha (Sangha) .
principles of the Buddha's enlightenment, so he was a guide, Dharma is the word and how teaching practice that Buddha counseled to help lead to enlightenment; Sangha is Sangha collectively, they are necessarily religious, these are sage .
gods are seen as what nature how long tradition: the people he respected as neighbors and see if they are the expression of revolutionary folk, these persons will ultimately obliterated, slowly bit by bit, before a purpose wider than high .  tolerance Government explained that the success of Buddhism .  This is a real philosophy enough flexibility to adapt to all cultures .
newspaper Le Point: Buddhism does not accept class in society. So does Buddhism against the social order of Dao Ba-la-keeper or not?
P. Cornu : In the beginning, the Buddha's purpose is not to change the social order .  , but only to establish a religious lines, but because of the position stand outside this world, so monastic lineage was open to all individuals from all backgrounds and classes, rather than to say that the Buddha has created a rid .
newspaper Le Point: Buddhism then has developed very strong in empire of King Ashoka. Why did Buddhism beliefs advocated "non-self" could be consistent with the power of authority?
P. Cornu : That philosophy has not sought to change society, but only advocated personal transformation in the hearts of every individual: but if so that society can change to another, it is because each individual has practiced self-transformation to their own heart .
A-Education is a royal lineage came from military training; reign began with the killing: the main and at the time he was aware of what suffering is and have taken refuge.
But we should not mistake: there is indeed a gilded legend of king Ashoka events refuge as a Buddhist, and brought peace and happiness for the whole of his empire .  Including partially true, because the only fact not entirely pink, anyhow king of Education is also an autocratic king .. .
newspaper Le Point : How to explain Buddhism conquered Asia disappeared in India, while almost no Hindus from Indian expansionism but still lively on this subcontinent?
P. Cornu : Buddhism against Hinduism, like an improved form of Dao Ba-la-Buddhist subjects when exposed to this Act, Buddhism deeply rooted in the social structure and government support .  But after the army was destroyed when Muslims invaded the territory of India .
Buddhism advocates the University to establish large, such as Na-lan-momentum, including thousands of monks, it is but the focus of numerous personnel should easily be destroyed .  Hinduism based on family structure so destroyed more difficult ⁽³⁾ .
should also frankly: the Muslim armies made Buddhism disappeared in India, between the dawn of the thirteenth century .

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF SERVICES

1 - Karma : ie now .  sutras that the West does not translate directly used some words have specific characteristics in the form of Buddhist Sanskrit .  example, the word Dharma, samsara, nirvana, atman, etc. ... Vietnamese sutras familiar words translated from Chinese, and the reader is already familiar with the meaning of that word .  translators But please keep the Sanskrit word exactly as in the original of this article, just add from the original Chinese equivalent between the two brackets .

2 - The gods here means holy, heavenly, divine, the divine, etc. ... is worshiped in Mahayana Buddhism .  A number of Hindu origin, a number derived from the Should local cultures depending on the country where Buddhism developed .

3 - Actually, Buddhism began before the recession .  Xiongnu downright hostile to Buddhism, and in the fifth century, their armies invaded northwestern India, had destroyed all Buddhist center in the region .  central government also disintegrate India, Gupta Dynasty collapsed .  Buddhism moved towards the center of the territory of India .  southern kingdoms, though not necessarily hostile Buddhism, but also not supported Buddhism as the kings of northern India .

After the Xiongnu, the Muslim armies coming from Afghanistan invaded India, they devastated center University Na-lan-momentum in 1199, destroyed huge library of Na-lan-momentum and killed Most monks .

That event marked the end of a page ultimately incredibly brilliant history of Buddhism lasted seventeenth century on Indian soil . END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=TAM THANH.WHITE LOTUS FLOWER=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.17/2/2014.NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).