Relevance of Buddhha
Abstract
Here is an attempt to understand the relevance of Buddhas teachings with special reference to concepts of social justice, alternative modernity and globalization. Concept of social justice has its genesis in BuddhismBuddhist values of Mudita, Samata, Karuna, Maitri etc. These values corner stone of social justice often are being related to western oft glorified liberty, equality, fraternity and justice popularized by revolutionary leaders of France and America and later on were incorporated with our constitution through the great efforts of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. It is difficult to define concept of social justice because of its evolving and ever widening nature. Its commonly accepted features are right to life, liberty, equality and pursuit of happiness for all without discrimination .1The history of social justice in India is mainly the history of pains and discriminations based on inequality of caste and gender of those who suffered so much for so long in the contrived situation for no fault of theirs and of efforts of the conscience keepers to emancipate them providing justice. From Buddha, Phule and Ambedkar and others it was fight for human dignity. Today Ambedkar has been synonymous of social justice but he was staunch supporter and follower and researcher of Buddha.2It was Buddhism which inspired him to reject all religions rather than Buddhism because only Dhamma consists of samata (equality), karuna(love) and Prajna(understanding).Buddha recognized that main problem of the deprived classes is that of misery(dukh) and misery is operative at various levels. At first level it is physical misery caused by poverty and at the second level it is mental misery caused by disregard of human dignity . actually preservation of human dignity, development of self-respect among the downtrodden and attainment of salvation is the essence of Buddhas philosophy.3 The essence of social justice also. Buddha was much perturbed by the worldly problems thats why he in Dhammapada said there is no greater benefit than health and there is nothing more valuable than the spirit of contentment. He attacked the real question of misery when he said that riches are welcome and instead of listless sufferings he taught virya, which is energetic action. Contentment is the highest form of wealth means not to allow himself to be overpowered by greed which has no limits4 .seeds of social justice may be seen more clearly and in the explanation of Dhamma when he said that mere pradnya is not enough it must be accompanied by sil and Karuna what is necessary of Matri and Dhamma to Sadhamma must promote equality between man and man.he gave greater importance to sil than to knowledge because apart from sil knowledge has no value. So he said that sil is beginning and refuge sil is the mother of all good. It is the foremost of all good conditions. Therefore, purify your Sil5.An ideal society has high ideals and not noble birth.