Author: Dharmendra Jore
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: April 10, 2005
Introduction: Buddhist scholar Dr
Queen that opines that criticism of Hinduism will yield more hatred
DR Christopher Queen knew his answers
well when a group of delegates at the first international Buddhist conference
confronted him on a humid Saturday afternoon with some fiery anti-Manuwadi
arguments.
"But then you can't just go on criticising
Hinduism for the sake of propagating good aspects of Buddhism," stressed
the lecturer on religion from Harvard University.
"No religion is bad... Hinduism
is also good... ifs okay to worship god but its (Hinduism) system of caste
is very bad and you must fight it out," he politely told the Buddhists,
taking a break from his conversation with The Indian Express.
The two-day conference was inaugurated
here at the Ravindra Natya Mandir by Union Minister of Information and
Broadcasting Jaipal Reddy.
Dr Queen, Chief Minister Vilasrao
Deshmukh and the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje were presents
Queen, who specialises in Buddhism, had a made clear in his key note address
that Buddhism's fundamental philosophy was to cease violence to ease out
sufferings. "And criticism of others leads to violence... so you must encourage
the Hindus to get rid of casteism."
The argument seemed to have a positive
effect as Queen induced the delegates to admit that there were some good
upper caste people in every society and "you must talk to them to get peace".
Teaching the Buddha for a decade
has made Queen believe that even countries like the USA need leaders like
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar who had faith in his philosophy "Every country that
is struggling with human rights and poverty needs it. Amenca, where Buddhism
is an alien concept, needs it to know how to use its power and wealth."
Before Queen, Union Minister Reddy
who very aptly termed the Buddha as a socialist-democrat had initiated
similar thought. "Buddhism is the religion of the future... it's more relevant
today than it ever was."
"Dr Ambedkar did not embrace Buddhism
since he was disgusted by the inequality in the society, He embraced the
religion as he was aware that Buddhism and its preachings of peace would
ultimately prevail in ftiture," he added.
Dr Ambedkar's idea converting the
entire nation to Buddhism was given a proper perspective by member of planning
commission Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar.
"Ambedkar dreamt of economic, cultural
and social equality. after all, our religion is a philosophical doctrine
which is very individual in nature," he said.
