Friday, May 5, 2017

Two Great “May Souls”

Life is full of sufferings. These sufferings are mainly of two kinds. The first type is about birth, aging, disease, and death and the second type is exploitation of man by man.  While the first one is nature made, the other one is man made. Is it possible to extinguish sufferings? YES. Say Buddha and Marx. They provided two distinct visions for mankind. (utopian visions?)  Grief rather than happiness dominates the life of man. Buddha and Marx dedicated their lives to eradicate the sufferings of man. They were born at different periods but both were two great “May souls”. Marx was born on 5th May and Buddha poornima (Buddha's birth) falls on 10th of May. 

There are many similarities between these two great souls. Buddha was a unique psychotherapist the world has ever seen. Marx was a socialist revolutionary. Buddha left the palace life  and went to forest in search of answers to the sufferings of man. Marx became “stateless” and mostly lived in London. Buddha and Marx have been described as the most influential figures in human history.

Marx argued for the primacy of matter over idea and believed that large scale changes in economic system can bring about real change in the society. “Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways. However, the point is to change it” said Marx. Marx is typically cited as one of the principal architects of modern sociology. Marx’s view of history is historical materialism. Marx dedicated himself to try to alter the world. 

Buddha said that sufferings is due to attachment. Buddhist concept of “Nirvana” is the answer says the Buddhist philosophy. The very essential conditions of life appeared to be fraught with birth, old age, disease and death. Buddha disliked metaphysical discussions devoid of practical utility. “Nirvana” is the state of being wherein all clinging and all the sufferings can be extinguished. 

These two visions may seem ethically and intellectually uncertain. However, both Marx and Buddha provided their vision to the mankind to put an end to  .........

“SUFFERINGS”. 

PS : your feedback will be  highly appreciated.




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