Buddha Purnima -- paving the way

[Bhakti Vikasa Swami]

This, all these Vedic scriptures, they are interrelated. They are not
contradictory. If somebody says that "We find some contradiction from Vedic
literature, from this literature to that literature," no. There is nothing at
all any contradiction, even, even in the preachings of the great acaryas. I am
speaking of India. There were many great acaryas, I mean to say, reformers,
came. Lord Buddha also appeared in India. Then, after Lord Buddha, Sankaracarya
came. Then, after Sankaracarya, Sri Ramanujacarya came. Then, after Sri
Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, and then, lately, Sri Caitanya, Lord Caitanya. He
came. But you will find a link, a link.
Although superficially we may see that Lord Buddha is speaking something which
is contradictory to Lord Sankaracarya's teaching or Ramanujacarya is speaking
something which is contradiction to Sankara -- no. There is no contradiction.
It is the question of studying how they are paving way for ultimate spiritual
realization. That requires a very, I mean to say, substantial knowledge, how
they are paving the way, just step by step.
Just like Lord Buddha's teaching. Lord Buddha's teachings is... That is also
detachment from matter, nirvana. Nirvana. But he does not speak anything about
the spirit soul. Because the position in which he was speaking, that position,
for the human, humanity, was not suitable for understanding what is the
constitution of spirit; therefore he did not say anything about spirit; he
simply preached nonviolence. So far our body is concerned, he stressed on the
point that we should be nonviolent. We should not be killing animals anymore.
That was his preaching.
Similarly, Sankara... A little more than Buddha. He said, "No, no. Matter is
not all. The spirit is real thing. Matter is false." Brahma satyam jagan
mithya. Now, he did not say about the activities of spiritual life. He simply
gave hint that there, that matter is false. Matter is generated by spirit.
Spirit is the real, principal thing. Just like Buddha did not say anything
about spirit; he simply wanted that detachment of, from matter. But detachment
from matter... Then where is my stand? Where is my stand? If I leave this room,
I must have another room to stay. So that is the position of Buddha. He did not
say about the spirit. But Sankara said, "No, matter is our false position.
Spirit is real position." But he did not say anything what are the activities
of the spiritual life.
Then Sri Ramanujacarya came. He described the actual position of spiritual
life. These are gradual development. Your Lord Jesus also, Lord Jesus Christ,
he also gave hints of spiritual life, kingdom of God. So when we speak of
kingdom of God, a kingdom vacant cannot be. Kingdom means there must be
activities. Otherwise, what is the meaning of kingdom? So, of course, he did
not give any detailed account of the kingdom of God, but he gave hint.
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From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.58–59 – April 15, 1966, New
York