The Buddha Mimansa: The Buddha and his relation to the religion of the Vedas (Being a collection of arguments with authoritative references and of notes with original texts, intended as materials any future treatise on Buddhism)

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Introduction to The New Edition Religions worldwide have their ardent followers, who are in many instances ready to give up their lives for the precepts the believe to have no parallels. Still there are many who have a more enquiring nature and wish to understand those differences if any. The very concept of religion itself should lead the mind to consider and question certain aspects of what we are told. How far do these teachings really differ h differences are there how in fact do we actually decide upon their validity?

The Jews would have much to say about the teachings of say Christ or Mohammed and vice-versa though all claim to have their roots in the same basic beliefs. It is also true that many wars and acts of violence have taken Place between them in the name of religion. In much the same way internecine clashes have taken place and still take place between the sects owing allegiance to these religious groups. It is this intolerance that has led to much grief and hardship in the world.

Much also has been said about the origins of Buddhism and the relationship that it has with the more ancient Vedic teachings of Sanatan Dharam, which from the basis of what know as present day Hinduism. There are many who will challenge this statement from the point of view that Hinduism is not a religion but only a reference to those living to the East of the vast majority let us continue to talk of Hinduism.

Maitreya has in this book discussed the so-called differences between the Buddhist teaching and those of the Vedas. He has quite convincingly pointed out that the Buddha born and brought up in Hindu society had not set out to set P a totally different philosophy but had actually taught and practiced within the bounds of the Vedic teachings. Throughout this book he has carefully pointed out that even the renowned Shankaracharya had like the Buddha deviated only nominally from the Vedic ways.

His main premise is, that the Buddha's only real deviation from the traditional ways of the Vedas was in those sections, which deal mainly with ritual and sacrifice. Saying it was something that the Buddha abhorred and wished to have removed from the daily practice of the Hindus. The author's treatise on relative religion provides an insight into the futility of the fundamentalist ideal of the continual conflict to establish the supremacy of something that is essentially similar. It also makes the reader ready to reconsider the preconceived and often much misunderstood ideals he may have formed about his own beliefs.

Preface At the instance of his Highness the Hon'ble Maharajadhiraja Sri Rameshwar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga I offer the book to the public, hoping that it will be accorded a favourable reception by them. It is part of a comparative study of all Religions, made with a view to arrive at the Universal Religion. The whole range of Vedic and Buddhist literature, native as well as foreign, has been researched in preparing these pages, as will appear from a perusal of the book.

It gives me much pleasure to mention that the writer, Maitreya, belongs to the house of Gautama, which traces its Patriarchal descent from the Vedic Rishi Gotama, the founder of the Nyaya Philosophy or the first school of Logic in the world. A scion of the same house was Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and the Subject of the present treatise.

I have further pleasure in mentioning that our worthy and esteemed District Magistrate, W. B. Brett, Esq., I. C. S., Has taken the trouble of going through the pages, and I quote his appreciation below.

I have read the book " The Buddha and his Relation to the Religion of the Vedas" with much interest.

Back of the Book

This book was written in response to the longstanding sectarian differences between Hindus and Buddhists. Studying the whole range of Vedic and Buddhist literature, the author highlights the ideas and doctrines that Hinduism and Buddhism have always shared and demonstrates that many supposed contradictions between the two religions are based on misconceptions.

MAITREYA was a disciple of Swami Maharaja Yogiraja, the High priest of Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

Contents

	First part
	Introduction:- The Sanatan Dharma or Religion of the Vedas (The Original Hindu Religion)	1-6
	CHAPTER I
	Buddha himself a follower of the original Religion of the Hindus	7-24
	CHAPTER II
	Hindus themselves the original followers of the Buddha	25-44
	CONCLUSION
	Appendix: The Doctrine of Ahinsa in Budhism	69-76
	Notes to the First Part and to the Appendix	77-150
	Index, especially to subjects occurring in more than one place in the First part and Appendix	151-164
	Plates, with their Explanations	165-177

Sample Pages