Understanding Buddhism’s social, cultural, and geographical contexts

• The world’s obsession with self-promotion, driven by technology, is leading to distress and unhappiness.

• The fear of having less and the desire for more contribute to a balance sheet of unhappiness.

The Importance of the Buddha’s Teachings

• Buddha’s teachings argue that the self is an illusion and our belief in it is the cause of most sufferings.

• Buddhist texts suggest that losing the self allows us to see the interdependent nature of our existence.

The Influence of Buddhism on Modern India

• Douglas Ober contests the belief that Buddhism disappeared from India after the 13th and 14th centuries.

• He argues that Buddhism had an indelible influence on shaping modern India.

• The revival of Buddhism led to various movements, including Hindu reform movements, Hindu nationalism, Dalit and anti-caste activism, and Nehruvian secular democracy.

Efforts to Resurrect Buddhist Archaeological Heritage

• Shashank Shekhar Sinha’s book, “Casting the Buddha,” traces the Buddhist heritage sites and cities they are located in to understand their larger geographical, sociocultural, and historical contexts.

• The lives of Buddhist figures like Ambedkar, Birla, Kosambi, Mahavir, Sankritayan, and others help realize that there is no single identity at the heart of modern Indian Buddhism.

The Debate on Issues Like “Caste, Inequality, Morality, Social Order, and Belonging”

• The quest to grasp the historical Buddha and understand his ‘inherent mission’ must continue, reflecting our modern times and predicament.