[Advaita-l] Re: Buddhism Related Discussions

[Abhishek RK]

Namaste,

On 8/15/06, Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com> wrote:
> I don't know about other areas but in Gujarat Jains specialized in
> creating pothi bhandars or libraries of manuscripts of all sorts not just
> their own tradition.  This was an important way of preserving scholarship
> in what were otherwise very trying times.

Could you explain more about this? How has this influenced the wider
Hindu culture?

> Finally the very fact that Jainism is around today whereas Buddhism had
> become extinct by the 12th century and was moribund for several centuries
> before that indicates a greater possibility for influence don't you think?

My guess would be that a lot of Jainas, along with vaidikas, would
have gone into Bauddha-mata. Those who went into it probably form
today, the large Muslim populations of Gandhara (Afghanistan) and
surrounding areas.

>  "brahmanas and shramanas" are just one manifestation of
> the age-old divide in Indian culture:
>
> Brahmana                   Shramana
> grhastha                   sannyasi
> karma and ritual           jnana and meditation
> caste or other group       individual
> heaven                     liberation
> this life                  endless reincarnation
>
> Quite a lot of philosophical schools do not fall entirely within one
> category.  You cannot simply say Brahmana = orthodox and shramana = radical.

Add to that Shri Shankara Bhagavatpda's insistence on brAhmaNas for
sannyAsa, we can get a picture of the historical mingling of these two
streams.

Regards,
Abhishek
-- 
satyena dhAryate pR^ithvi satyena tapate raviH|
satyena vAti vAyushca sarvaM satye pratishThitam||

calA lakShmIshcalAH prANAshcalaM jIvita yauvanaM|
calAcale ca saMsAre dharma eko hi nishcalaH||