[Buddha-l] Great Renunciation

[Blumenthal, James]

Ambedkar had a number of theories about the Buddha and the Buddha's teachings that are left unsubstantiated with documented evidence.  He also advanced an idea that untouchability began when Buddhists were being forced to convert.  Those who absolutely refused were, according to the theory, were caste out of society and became untouchables.  This is in his book, Who Were the Untouchables?  Amebedkar seems to have fudged history and ideas to make Buddhism something that would answer some of the needs of untouchables on the verge of conversion.  His ideas about karma are truly bizzarre.  

In his defense, he did a tremendous service to untouchables.  And many of his ideas anticipated and even influenced the modern Socially Engaged Buddhist movement.  In particular he saw that it was not only individual ignorance and its associated afflictive emotions which cause us suffering, but also that when a society as a whole functions out of ignorance , that that society will also cause unnecessary suffering for individuals in that society.  His case in point was the caste system and the institutionalized poverty, degradation, disease, malnutrition, humiliation, etc. that came with it.  How could Buddhism be of use to untouchables if its answer to all of these sufferings was just karma?  Or so he thought.
Jim Blumenthal


James Blumenthal
Department of Philosophy
Oregon State University
102-A Hovland Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331


-----Original Message-----
From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com on behalf of Erik Hoogcarspel
Sent: Sat 9/2/2006 6:45 AM
To: Buddhist discussion forum
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Great Renunciation
 
rbaksa at mac.com schreef:

>Siddhartha had to pay for his pro-peace position. As per the Sakyan union tradition, anyone defying the majority decision could be subjected to social boycott, confiscation of property, even exile. Siddharth was confronted with this question, and decided to take Parivraja lest his family face unnecessary hardship. But, it wasn't only that.
>
>The book reproduces Siddhartha's dialogue with his father Shuddodan and Gautami on his decision to take Parivraja.
>
>The dialogue is ample evidence to showing that at 29, Siddhartha was already a philosopher of peace. His concerns were not confined to his family alone or to the Kolis and Sakyan, but the entire humanity at large."
>
>
>I have never run across this explanation of the Great Renunciation before and would appreciate any information on it from the members of this list.
>
>
>  
>
Well, Richard if the writer pretends to write not just fiction, he must 
provide his readers with references in the first place.
I agree that the traditional story is implausable, but perhaps it never 
was meant tp be historical report. It might have been a kind of story a 
grantfather told his grantchildren or a tourguide told the tourists at 
the te stupa.

Erik


www.xs4all.nl/~jehms
weblog http://www.volkskrantblog.nl/pub/blogs/blog.php?uid=2950

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