Misinterpretation of Buddhism: The Buddha and His Dhamma by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Book Review

Sona Kanti Barua

President, Canadian Buddhist Council, Toronto

The Buddha and His Dhamma by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

(Misinterpretation of Buddhism, 599 pages), Published by People’s Education Society, 1957, Bombay & The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taiwan, 1997)

Reviewed by Sona Kanti Barua,

President, Canadian Buddhist Council, Toronto.

The Buddha and His Dhamma  

Highly respectable author Dr. B. R. Amedkar was a great man and he has dedicated his life for welfare of human beings, Dalits, human rights and Buddhism. But there are some mistakes in his book entitled The Buddha and His Dhamma (a) 14. Conflict with Sangh (pages : 24 to 26); (b) 15 Offer of Exile (pages 26 to 28), (c)16. Parivaja – the Way Out (pages 28 to 29), (d) 17. Parting Words (pages 30 to 32) (e) Leaving His Home (pages 32 to 35).  

The author Dr. B. R. Ambedkar did not understand the perfection of Buddhahood including the renunciation and he did not mention in this book relating to the  Nekhamma ( Renunciation) parami of the Buddha.   According to the author that renunciation is punishment. It is not true in the life of the Buddha.  Understanding the renunciation (on the great journey to supreme enlightenment) of  Bodhisattva Prince Siddhartha’s long cherished resolution as he performed Renunciation   Parami (Nekkhamma Perfection) with other 9 perfections. Renunciation is followed by wisdom or knowledge. Buddha teaches both by example and by precept. Within he (the Buddha)  is pure, without he purifies.  According to the Jatataka No. 538,  Prince Temiya avoided pleasures and in order to devote time for higher things in life.

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Define the terms peace and Non-violence.

Peace is a state of harmony characterized by non-violent. It is an absence of hostility or the existence of interpersonal or international relationships. It means the presence of cooperation, compassion, equality and worldwide justice. It also means the agreement after disagreement, harmony and unity. We can define peace as a political condition that ensures justice and social stability through formal and informal institutions, practices, and norm. In Buddhism peace is known as saanti which primarily means inner rather than outer peace referring to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of stress in body in speech and in mind. The aim of the good life, as understood in Buddhism, is described as the attainment of a state of “Peace” or “santi. No violence is the intentional not use of physical force or power, not threatened, not against oneself another person or not against a group or community. 

Its five precepts which all Buddhist should observe begins with non-violence or not killing, abstaining from violence. Non-violence means fighting for political or social change without using force. Non-violence is the policy of using peaceful methods not force, to bring about political or social change, not involving force or to injure somebody. He who seeks his own happiness torments with rod, being that are desirous of happiness, doesn’t obtain happiness hereafter.

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