When I stepped out of the hotel lobby, I saw a bunch of Buddhist monks(Bhikku)in red robes circled around the ceremonial lamp lit on the eve of Diwali. I walked up to the parking to grab a long look at them from afar. The evening had gotten even more colorful with them huddled in a corner.
“Mmmm…I should take a picture with them! Won’t it be awkward?” I thought
“ Don’t think too much! Go and get one…” Turning back, I saw him adjusting the camera already.
Well, what can be hidden from an extra pair of eyes(not even what I think!)?
As I stepped inside the car, I threw a passing glance on them again.
Buddhism at its outset reminded me of Dr Ambedkar’s conversion and his adoption of Navayana or Neo-Buddhism. Though it has its fair share of chequered political influence infused through its teachings, but can literature and politics be separate? It cannot and it must not.
The influence of Buddhism on Indian Literature
While doing my research, I came across an article devoted to the influence that Buddhism has on Indian Literature.
For new readers, my website cum blog aims to widen the scope by incorporating articles from various sources. The blog heading is based on sources; excerpts of articles are shared, sometimes punctuated with links for further reading.
Fairly detailed in its research, here is an excerpt of the article:
A much profounder understanding of Buddhist influence upon Indian literature can be visible once one is enlightened about the very basis of Buddhism - the Buddhist scriptures. Buddhist scriptures and other texts truly have existed in an immense variety. Different schools of Buddhism presently stress motleying levels of value on learning these various texts. Some schools are known to revere particular texts as religious objects in themselves, whereas, others take a more 'scholastic' approach. Unlike various other religions, Buddhism does not possess any single central text that is ubiquitously pertained to by all traditions. However, some scholars and historians do refer to the Vinaya Pitaka and the first four Nikayas of the Sutta Pitaka as the 'common core' of all Buddhist customs. The followers of Theravada Buddhism take the scriptures acknowledged as the Pali Canon as most determinate and authoritative, whereas, the followers of Mahayana Buddhism, establish their faith and philosophy primarily upon the Mahayana Sutras and their very own vinaya. These delineated scriptures and doctrinal philosophies do itself come under the immeasurable canopy of Indian literature, without which the present solid scenario would never have been feasible.