Context:
- Contemporary historians and writers reassess the historical trajectory of Buddhism in India, challenging the long-held belief that Buddhism disappeared after the 13th century.
- The discussion links Buddhist philosophy, archaeology, social memory, and ethics, highlighting Buddhism’s continued relevance in modern India, especially amid digital-age anxieties and social inequalities.
- Relevant to GS 1 (Art & Culture) and Ethics.
Key Highlights:
Buddhism and the Illusory Self
- Gautama Buddha identified ego and attachment to self-identity as a primary cause of dukkha (suffering).
- Core teachings:
- Anatta (non-self) – rejection of a permanent ego
- Anicca (impermanence) – all phenomena are transient
- Modern relevance:
- Social media culture, driven by algorithms and self-promotion, mirrors obsessive self-attachment.
- Works like “How to Lose Yourself” draw on Buddhism to argue for letting go of self-branding and ego inflation.
Archaeological Continuity of Buddhism
- Historian Douglas Ober (Dust on the Throne) disputes the idea of Buddhism’s extinction after medieval times.
- Evidence of continuity found in:
- Bihar, Odisha, Bengal
- Urban centres like Kolkata and Bombay
- Buddhist influence persisted through:
- Ritual practices
- Architectural forms
- Community networks, even as formal sanghas declined
- The notion of “disappearance” was largely a colonial misrepresentation, not historical reality.
Backstory of Revival and Legacy
- 19th–20th century revival supported by:
- Industrialists like J.K. Birla, who funded renovation of sites and pilgrim circuits (e.g., Sarnath, Bodh Gaya).
- Influence on social reformers:
- Jyotiba Phule, Periyar, and B.R. Ambedkar used Buddhist ethics to critique caste hierarchy.
- Ambedkar’s Navayāna Buddhism reinterpreted Buddhism as a liberation theology for Dalits and modern India.
Buddhism as a Cultural Ecosystem
- Monuments such as Sanchi and Amaravati represent more than religion:
- Reflect ethics, economy, polity, and artistic expression
- Architectural narratives include:
- Life of the Buddha
- Jataka tales
- Contemporary socio-political contexts of patronage
- Scholars like Sinha and Chakrabarti view Buddhist sites as:
- Repositories of public memory
- Expressions of societal values across time
Ethical and Cultural Relevance Today
- Buddhist ideas offer correctives to:
- Hyper-consumerism
- Ego-driven competition
- Applied as antidotes to:
- Online rage culture
- Desire-driven anxiety
- Caste discrimination, violence, and social exclusion
Key Concepts Explained
- Anatta: Doctrine rejecting a permanent self.
- Reappearance of Buddhism: Continuity through archaeology, reform movements, and memorial culture.
- Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Navayāna: Diverse Buddhist traditions adapting to different historical and social contexts.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Misconception of Buddhism’s historical decline in India.
- Causes of Misinterpretation:
- Colonial historiography
- Focus on institutional decline over cultural continuity
- Evidence of Continuity:
- Archaeological sites
- Ritual practices
- Urban Buddhist communities
- Key Doctrines:
- Anatta, Dukkha, Anicca
- Impact:
- Buddhism remained embedded in India’s cultural and ethical fabric.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Definitions:
- Buddhism as both philosophy and lived social tradition
- Keywords:
- Public memory, cultural continuity, ethical humanism, social reform
- Static Linkages:
- Art & Culture: Stupas, viharas, narrative reliefs
- Ethics: Detachment, compassion, equality
- Analytical Dimension:
- Decline of institutions ≠ decline of ideas
- Buddhism survived through memory, monuments, and reformist reinterpretation
- Way Forward:
- Integrate Buddhist ethics into civic education and social discourse
- Promote heritage conservation with community participation
- Use Buddhist philosophy to address modern ethical dilemmas like inequality, consumerism, and digital alienation