Buddha, Adi Shankara Fearlessly Opposed Traditional Customs Like Caste Superiority.

Описание: Swami Tattvavidananda | Advaita Vedanta ‪@swamitv-eng‬
source: Lectures on the text "Dhammapadam" https://www.youtube.com/live/BZc5eD-1... ‪@swamitv-eng‬

This video discusses Buddha's and Adi Shankara's opposition to traditional customs and institutions, advocating for a fearless search for truth and independent thinking.

Here's a detailed breakdown:

*Dismissal of Caste supremecism, Priests, and Rituals:* The speaker highlights that Buddha never bowed down to caste supremecism, priests, or customs. Buddha dismissed the degenerated, sectarian casteist supremecism system and the ritualism of the Vedas.

*Opposition to Supremecist Societal Divisions and Priestcraft:* Both Shankara and Buddha dismissed the division of human beings into supremecist sectarian groups. They also opposed priestcraft, which is described as a system rather than individual priests.

*Questioning Customs:* The speaker explains that many customs (achara) are followed without questioning, simply because they are received from earlier generations. While some customs are harmless, others can be harmful or meaningless and based on ignorance. As a student of Vedanta, one's job is to question every custom and only adopt the right ones, dismissing meaningless and harmful practices. Buddha himself did not follow any customs.

*Fearless Search for Truth:* Buddha fearlessly reasoned as far as reason could take him, embodying a fearless search for truth. The speaker emphasizes the importance of freedom to think, examine, investigate, and search for truth.

*Critique of Modern Trends and Blind Following:* A prevalent modern trend is the idea that truth resides with the guru, who offers it on a platter. The speaker criticizes vague, high-sounding, and misleading statements like "surrender to the Brahman", which often boil down to surrendering to a person.

*People surrender to gurus because they are afraid to think:* Following provides a psychological security that thinking does not, as thinking leaves one "on your own" in search of truth.
This fear can stem from the unknown, tradition, custom, or even the guru themselves.

*Buddha's Legacy: Fearlessness and Love:* Buddha stands for fearlessness, demonstrating an "utterly fearless" search for truth. He also showed "such love for every living thing the world has never seen".

**The speaker concludes that unless one possesses such fearlessness and love for all living things, they cannot truly appreciate or benefit from Buddha's teachings. Fear of any kind hinders thinking and prevents the search for truth, leaving one as a follower rather than a seeker.**

source: [Lectures](https://www.youtube.com/live/BZc5eD-1...) on the text "Dhammapadam" by Swami Tattvavidananda