Removing The Sheen From Buddhism

[Husky]

6/n





In the following, the claims expand further: to include not only Vedanta, Samkhya and Yoga but Tantra too now! Sounds like they're desperate to make everyone believe - and thereby perhaps even themselves - that everything Buddhism inherited from pre-existing Hindu religion (and which is hence present in Hindu religion) - is "actually" "originally" ur-Shramanism onlee:

Śramaṇa Influences

Among the Astika schools of Hinduism, [color="#0000FF"]Vedanta, Samkhya, and Yoga[/color] are early and very important philosophies that have influenced and been influenced by the Sramana philosophy, with their origins in the Indus Valley period of about 3000-2000 BCE. Yoga follows the Samkhya philosophy of liberating oneself from the grip of Prakriti (nature) through individual effort. Elaborate processes are outlined in Yoga to achieve individual liberation through breathing techniques (Pranayama), physical postures (Asanas) and meditations (Dhyana). Patanjali's Yoga sutra is one product (school) of this philosophy. Other Yogic schools and [color="#0000FF"]the Tantra traditions are also important derivatives and branches of the Sramana practices.[/color]



[color="#0000FF"]The Sramana movement later[/color] received a boost during the times of Mahavira and Buddha when Vedic ritualism had become the dominant tradition in certain parts of India. Śramaṇas adopted a path alternate to the Vedic rituals to achieve liberation, while renouncing household life. They typically engage in three types of activities: austerities, meditation, and associated theories (or views). As spiritual authorities, śramaṇa were at variance with traditional Brahmin authority. However some brahmins joined the Sramana movement, such as Cānakya and Śāriputra[4].

"Shramana" turned into a "unified movement" by repetition is curious.

Next, the claim is on to rope in the Ajeevika Chanakya - he's conveniently dead and hence unable to defend himself (rather like heathen soldiers in Malaysia getting an islamic burial after being posthumously declared to have been "actually" muslim). But it's interesting that they would rope in even the theistic type of Ajivika (despite their being attached to famously Vedic Gods no less). Yet the article doesn't seem to mention that the Ajeevikas were generally considered to predate Buddhism and Jainism... Or do I merely remember the chronology wrong? Hmmm, though I have a feeling I'm right, am not interested enough to bother looking for proof of it - at the moment at any rate.





As for Tantra:

Tantra practices in the Hindus' religion goes back to the Vedam itself. Atharva Veda is certainly admitted to have a lot of tantra material - though apparently tantra practices are also there in the Rig Vedam. [I guess AV's case goes toward explaining why some Shakta literature IIRC described this vedam as Tantra (literature), speaking of the AV as being the Vedam of the Devi, after describing the first-listed 3 Veda-s as being similarly presided over by each of the Trimurti.] Moreover, Hindu Tantra practices among Shaivas and Vaishnavas apparently go back to before the Mahabharata, since the MBh already knows of Pashupatas and the Pancharatra system (Agamic material on Vishnu).

In contrast, Buddhist Tantra is officially dated to the 7th century, although Buddhists later laid claims to some earlier Hindu Yogis/Siddhas as having been "actually Buddhists" (rather like they tried with Panini) and try to increase the age of Tantra's presence in Buddhism by just a few more centuries in that manner.



As for things that can be classed as "tantra" in a very wide and general sense: it occurs all over. A most popular living example: Daoism has always been famously permeated by it. At least 1/3 of Daoist religion consists of practices that Hindus may perceive as some sort of "tantra", and one of the 2 major Daoist subgroups' *primary* practice is "tantric" in this sense (the other group also carries out practices of this type, but it is not their "primary" practice). Talismans, charms, "exorcisms", you name it. <- That last is another important part of Daoism, but it includes more than the driving away of misfortune and mindviruses and angry spirits. It is also for undoing the residual effects of crimes/'sins' in Daoism that were committed unwittingly or which people sincerely regret afterwards.

Predictably, all such Daoist practices work (for Daoists) it seems. Apparently they have recitations and practices that will make even the Daoist Gods appear - even the major, Major ones - though at least some of these are meant to be used only in truly desperate moments such as trauma or when Divine aid is particularly necessary.



Indeed, some of 'Buddhist' "tantra" is not called "chinachara" owing to a mere coincidence of sounds, but rather, Buddhist texts specifically explain that those practices were derived from China, although they typically bauddhified the origins with a story on these practices having been originated by (a) Buddha in China. In reality, guess who "influenced" the origins of the uniquely-Chinese practices among these (i.e. where they copied these from)? The plain answer: Daoism. (Although where they may have turned out weird isn't owing to Daoism.)







Back to the wacky article: And now at last, they can admit to Brahmanas pre-existing (need to pre-exist in order to convert to Jainism in Mahavira's time or early Buddhist period), seeing as how they have invented/laid the groundwork for "(The Originating) Shramanism" as the ur-religion:

Similarly, a group of eleven Brahmins accepted Jainism of Mahavira, and become his chief disciples or Ganadharas.[25]



With regard to Buddhism, Randall Collins opined that Buddhism was more of reform movement within the educated religious classes, composed mostly of Brahmins, than a rival movement from outside these classes, with the largest number of monks in the early movement derived from Brahmin origin, and virtually all the monks were recruited from the two upper classes of society[26]