Buddha Purnima: Dharma, harmony, quest for social justice

The gentle spring air of Vaishakh carries a pro-found resonance, culmi nating in the sacrred obser vance of Buddha Purnima Across the globe, millions commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and Paris irzana (final liberation) of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. In India, the land of his birth and awakening, this day holds a particularly significant place, intertwined with the rich tapestry of Sanatan Dharma and its ongoing pursuit of social harmony and justice.

Gautam Buddha's life, born into a royal Kshatriya Shakya clan, was one of profound transformation. Witnessing the inherent suffering of human exis tence-sickness, old age, and death-ignited within him a relentless quest for liberation. His renunciation of worldly comforts and his arduous spiritual journey under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya culminated in his enlightenment, mak ing him the Buddha, the "Awakened One." The core of Buddha's teachings, encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths, offers a pragmatic path to understanding and over-coming suffering. The truth of suffering (dukkha), the truth of the origin of suffer ing (Samudaya), the truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha), and the truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga) form the bedrock of Buddhist phi losophy. The Eightfold Path -right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindful ness, and right concentra tion provides a practical framework for ethical con-duct, mental discipline, and wisdom.

While Buddhism is often perceived as a distinct re-ligious tradition, its roots are deeply embedded in the philosophical and spiritual landscape of ancient In dia and Sanatan Dharma. Many scholars and prac titioners recognize Bud dhism as a Dharmic tra dition that emerged from within the broader Hindu milieu, sharing a common heritage of concepts like Karma, Dharma, and Re-incarnation. The Buddha himself drew upon existing spiritual practices and phil osophical inquiries, offer ing his unique insights and a distinct path to liberation. It's important to note that the philosophy of Buddha is to help one in attaining Nirvana, the basic objective of Sanatan Vaidik Hindu Dhrama not a new sect. The emphasis on Ahimsa (non-violence). Karuna (compassion), and Maitri (loving-kindness) in Bud dhist teachings resonates deeply with the core tenets of Sanatan Dharma, which also champions ethical liv ing and the interconnected ness of all beings. The Bud-dha's rejection of ritualistic practices and his emphasis on inner transformation and ethical conduct can be seen as a reformist move ment within the existing spiritual framework, seek ing to address the social and spiritual challenges of his time.

Buddha's teaching was to liberate people from misery, poverty and death, as he sees these things re-sponsible as suffering for humans. He welcomed in dividuals from all walks of life into his monastic order, irrespective of their social standing. This revolution-ary approach brought all to parity and offered a path of spiritual liberation acces sible to all. His emphasis on individual effort and ethi-cal conduct as the determi nants of spiritual progress without rituals, through prayers revolutionary change in spiritualism. The principles of Mette and Karuns urge us to cultivate empathy and actively work towards alleviating the suf fering of others, particular ly those marginalized. In modern times, the les sons from the Buddha's life and teachings can inspire us to actively dismantle the structures of inequality and prejudice that persist in our society. His emphasis on right understanding en-courages us to critically ex amine our own biases and assumptions, while right action calls us to engage in concrete efforts to promote social justice and inclusiv ity. The focus on mindful ness and compassion can foster a more empathetic and understanding society, where the suffering of oth ers is acknowledged and addressed.

As we observe Buddha Purnima, it is crucial to re-member the spirit of inclu sivity and social reform that permeated the Buddha's teachings. We must support individuals and organiza tions working tirelessly to build a casteless society, where every citizen enjoys equal rights and opportuni-ties. However, it is equally important to be discern ing and distance ourselves from those who exploit the discourse of social justice to sow seeds of hatred and division within the Hindu community. The true es sence of the Buddha's mes-sage lies in fostering har-mony, understanding, and mutual respect.

Buddha Purnima is not merely a commemoration of a historical figure: it is a call to action. It reminds us of the enduring human quest for liberation, both spiritual and social. By em bracing the core principles of the Buddha's teachings compassion, wisdom, and ethical conduct - and by recognizing the deep connections between Bud-dhism and Sanatan Dhar-ma, we can collectively strive towards a more just. equitable, and harmonious society, where the light of Dharma illuminates the path towards true social parity and the eradication of untouchability. Let the spirit of the Awakened One inspire us to awaken our own hearts and minds to the suffering of others and to actively participate in the ongoing journey towards a truly inclusive and compas-sionate world.

Gopal Gonzami, Ph.D. is a Columnist, Researcher & So-cial Worker.