Chapter (অধ্যায়): I-XXIX (From the Diary of a Disciple) PAGE-118Page: 118 of 526
of Brahman by reason of his Brahmin body in the previous incarnation. Well, if nowadays any Shudra attains to a knowledge of Brahman, shall we have to side with your Shankara and maintain that because he had been a Brahmin in his previous birth, therefore he has attained to this knowledge? Goodness! What is the use of dragging in Brahminism with so much ado? The Vedas have entitled any one belonging to the three upper castes to study the Vedas and the realisation of Brahman, haven't they? So Shankara had no need whatsoever of displaying this curious bit of pedantry on this subject, contrary to the Vedas. And such was his heart that he burnt to death lots of Buddhist monks-by defeating them in argument! And the Buddhists, too, were foolish enough to burn themselves to death, simply because they were worsted in argument! What can you call such an action on Shankara's part except fanaticism? But look at Buddha's heart! Ever ready to give his own life to save the life of even a kid-what to speak of " बहुजनहिताय बहुजनसुखाय-For the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many"! See, what a large-heartedness-what a compassion!
Disciple: Can't we call that attitude of the Buddha, too, another kind of fanaticism, sir? He went to the length of sacrificing his own body for the sake of a beast!
Swamiji: But consider how much good to the world and its beings came out of that 'fanaticism' of his-how many monasteries and schools and colleges, how many public hospitals and veterinary refuges were established, how developed architecture became-think of that. What was there in this country before Buddha's advent? Only a number of religious principles recorded on bundles of palm leaves-and those too known only to a few. It was Lord Buddha who brought them down to the practical field and showed how to apply them in the everyday