Ambedkar's Perspective on Buddhism and Other Religion

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Just as there are billions of people on this planet, there are also billions of different dispositions and inclinations. From the Buddhist point of view, a wide choice of religions is needed to suit the varied needs of different people Buddhism recognizes that all religions share the same aim of working for the wellbeing of mankind. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar's religious conversion is often a topic of curiosity and debate among people, who wonder why he chose Buddhism or didn't choose Islam, Christianity or Sikhism when he renounced Hinduism. There are several myths or misconceptions associated with his choice. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956. For two decades, he studied all major religions to conclude Buddha and his teachings allowed reform. Ambedkar has answered this in an essay titled 'Buddha and Future of His Religion', which was published in 1950 in the monthly magazine of Kolkata's Mahabodhi Society. In the essay, compares the personalities of founders of four religions, which "have not only moved the world in the past, but are still having a sway over the vast masses of people" The four are Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and Krishna.

Ambedkar starts by stating that what separates Buddha from the rest of the other is his self-abnegation, "All throughout the Bible, Jesus insist(s) that he is the Son of God and that those who wish to enter the kingdom of God will fail, if they do not recognise him as the Son of God. Mohammed went a step further. Like Jesus he also claimed that he was the messenger of God. But he further insisted that he was the last messenger. Krishna went a step beyond both Jesus and Mohammed. He refused to be satisfied with merely being the Bon of the God or being the messenger of God; he was not content even with being the last messenger of God. He was not even satisfied with calling himself a God. He claimed that he was 'Parameswhar or as his followers describe him "Devadhideva," God of Gods," Ambedkar writes about them.

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