Spread Tathagat’s message of equality & Humanity: VHP
New Delhi, May 7: Extending compliments on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Working President Alok Kumar exhorted the people to spread the message of equality, women empowerment, and humanity propagated by Lord Buddha.
The message he spread over 2500 years ago by Tathagat Buddha is still relevant today, he said. The birth anniversary of Lord Buddha is an opportunity to reflect on his philosophy of life and living, he said adding that his message of equality of humankind should be remembered again.
Alok Kumar said that to him none was small, fallen, or untouchable. Some incidents of his life are very inspiring. He himself belonged to the Sakya dynasty. Once some big Sakya people came to him seeking Deeksha (initiation)! At that time, Upali – a man from the barber community – also came to take initiation. After talking to everyone, the Buddha decided that he would initiate Upali that day and the rest the next day, thus making Upali senior to those of the Sakya dynasty.
Alok Kumar further said that there was a sanitation worker, Sunit by name. During the Buddha's visit, Sunit stopped by a wall as if pinned to it. The Buddha invited him to come on Satyamarga – the Path of Truth – the path of the Buddha. He also lovingly initiated the Sopaks, called the untouchables, and the Kuppat-purs, called low caste. Therefore, on the day of his birth anniversary, we should keep his teaching of equality of all human beings in our hearts and remove the feeling of high and low on caste or any basis.
The question also arose in his life as to whether women should be included in the Dhamma Sangha or not. Anand, the Buddha’s constant companion, also very strongly recommended in this debate that women should get equal opportunities as men. The Buddha accepted this opinion and admitted Mahaprajapati Gautami and others in the Sangh. There can be a no bigger example of equality of women and men than this.
The Buddha also said that no one else would come to liberate you. He said: “Appo Deepo Bhava” (“Aatm Deepo Bhava” - "Be a light unto yourself"). The Buddha never promised liberation to anyone. He said that he was a guide, not a liberator. You have to work out your development yourself. You have to cultivate yourself, enrich yourself. By your own heroic efforts, you have to attain the state of enlightenment. He opposed rituals. He broadcast his realizations in the public domain in the popular language of the time. In his Dhamma, he did not stipulate a special place for himself.
He said that I understand that the Buddha's teachings are as true, timely, and relevant today as they were. That is why the Vishwa Hindu Parishad remembers Tathagata Buddha on his birth anniversary, honors his teachings and takes a pledge that it would spread in the whole country and the world the Buddha’s message of equality, equal participation of women and self-inspired and motivated efforts in spiritual unfoldment and elevation for the cause of humanity so that Bharat can be empowered to be re-positioned as the Vishwa Guru, he added.