Indian Philosophy - Buddhism

Indian Philosophy:

Chapter: 4        BUDDHISM:

Similar to Jainism the school of Buddhism also originated as code of conduct against
Brahmanism and later got the philosophical form. It was established by Lord Buddha whose
no original script is available because Buddha delivered his preaches verbally which was learnt
by his disciples. Later on the scripts of Buddhism were compiled in the form of Tripitakas
through Bauddh Sangitis. Four popular branches of Buddhism are known as Vaibhashika,
Sautrantika, Shunyavada and Vijnanvada in which first two are Hinyani and last two are
Mahayani. These four branches are in chronological order and we can see a process from gross
realism to idealism in them, but Shunyavada is supposed as highest philosophical theory.
Although in his Ashtadasnikay shashtra, Vasumitra has mentioned about eighteen branches
of Buddhism. Sometimes silence of Buddha over inexplicable questions is supposed as the
cause of so many branches. Actually Buddha was a practical thinker and that's why according
to him indulging in metaphysiocal problems is actually wastage of time and energy. According
to him, since the highest suffering is Dukkha that's why he delivered his preaches of four noble
truths based on sufferings in which we can see the seeds of all Buddhists theories.
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