and nor is buddhism a branch of hinduism.

let me hear if you disagree.

I agree that Buddhism is not a branch of Hinduism. However, I think it's important to understand that Gautama Buddha was born in a Hindu family and he was not satisfied with Hindu way of understanding the Ultimate or Bhramha and set out on his quest to find the answers. But then, since hindus are polytheists and very inclusive at the same time, they just worship every god and goddess out there as Vishnu's avatar. No wonder, when missionaries went to preach about Jesus in 17th 18th centuries, they even regarded Jesus as one of Vishnu's avatar and started worshipping him. The missionaries were somewhat frustrated because they could not completely convert hindus. I thought that was very interesting.. So, if ppl want to believe that Buddha was Vishnu's avatar, let them believe that. I don't think there's any harm in doing that.. why do you need to be so possessive about wise ppl??.. everyone can learn from them. Just my two cents!

Elpida, the reason I posted this thread is that these statements offend people. I consider myself as very broad-minded, but I felt sad and hurt when I see those claims. It may be pointless discussion, and buddha is who he is no matter who claims what. Truth is truth. I agree with what you wrote. Hindus are polytheists and they claimed even Jesus as their god once upon a time. I'm not being possessive about wise people, nor do I need to. My mere point is that these kind of claims offend many buddhist people.

Regarding possessiveness, India can claim buddha belong to India and was born in India. The indians may say, what is on it, don't be possessive, and afterall he's an universal figure. But despite that, they continue to claim he was born in Buddha. But that claim offends people of Nepal, and creates sentiments against India. Likewise, hindus can claim, but buddhists are not going to feel good about it.

Elpida!

Your reasoning makes Jesus a Jew.

YOU are 101% right gahugoro.........but let them say it does not matter. Buddha said that do not care about the people what they says....because while he was on meditation people named his like thug or etc but he did not care and he became a BUDDHA, ki kaso saathi??

peace....

Bishnu ko Avataar bhayeko bhanne saha bamsi le 237 barsa samma k Khasyera ki kaso sathi ho..

Hi,
First of all i want to know how do u define Hinduism, which is the word used by Europian. If you ask very old rural hindu they probably dont know they are hindu. Now question whether Budha is the incarnation of Bishnu or not is meaning less untill u know what Bishnu means. It is said that the Bramha which is the ultimate realty has three qualities(guna) called as brahma(again), Bishnu abd Mahesh. the Brahma is the creator or u can say positive,Mahesh is destroyer(negative) and Bishnu is neutral who takes care and guides to the crealtion and maintains balance between the creation and destruction. IF you just think Bishnu as human being or a god of some shape and color then incarnation has absolutely no meanig. But if you think in terms of quality then there is nothing to honour Budha as the incarnation of Bishnu. Anothing budhism was not religion created by budha or orgnised by him. Budhism is the concept of his followers who never understood who was Budha so they carried out the ideal.

nothing wrong to honour Budha as incarnation og Bishnu

Not too sure if this video will contribute much to this discussion, but thought this BBC produced show will enlighten some of us with some Buddha stuff.

FOR GODSAKE CAN WE STOP DISCUSSING OUR SACRED GODS & GODESSES ON THIS SAJHA!!!!!

People please have some decency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hindu & Budhists are same REALLY. Like fingers & nails, cannot separate one from the other.
It is outsiders who are sowing seeds of HATRED AMONGST US.

ONCE AGAIN Please leave Bishnu & Budha from our stupid discussions on this SAJHA. PLEASE!

everyone is bishnu's avatar. isnt that what geeta says too, we all have a part of god in us.

Well Buddha used Bhagwat Geeta and Vedic scripts to justify his positions. Technically Buddhism is a different religion, but it uses the same Hindu logic.
There were there reasons for the spread of Buddhism.
1) Ashok converted to Buddhism as you all know as Buddhism got all the resources it needed to prosper as a new religion.
2) Chinese travelers that came to India took Buddhism with them back to Tibet, China and beyond.
3) The third reinforces Buddhism outside Indian subcontinent and was probably most powerful of them all -- When Muslims attacked India the Buddhist place of learning (or the Takshila University) was destroyed and they killed or and converted all Buddhists into Muslims (as you can see in modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan).
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takshashila_University and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_India
for more Info

Exactly KK!
only minor difference between Hindu and Buddhist is:

Hindus cannot eat beef while buddhist can:( or :)?. I want to be able to eat anything that moves.

Thanks and long live both religions.

HEIGHT OF HIPOCRISY!!!

THIS IS WHY I BELIEVE THERE IS GOING TO BE NO CHANGE IN NEPAL AND NEPALESE MENTALITY!!!!

I DON'T CARE BUDDHA IS HINDU OR HINDU IS BUDDHISM.BUT BUT PLACING BUDDHA IN RS NOTES NEPAL IS SENDING MIXED SIGNALS.

IN ONE HAND , YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE IN SECULAR NEPAL AND ANOTHER YOU PUT BUDDHIST GOD(GOD FOR MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD)PICTURE IN RUPEES NOTES.THOUGH HE MIGHT BE ICON FOR NEPAL.THERE ARE CLEARLY OTHER ALTERNATIVES WHICH DON'T GIVE MIXED SIGNALS.WHY NOT PUT JESUS IN RS 10000 NOTES , LIKEWISE WHY NOT SHIVA IN RS.25000 !!!!!!NEPALESE NETA AND THEIR ABILITY ..TO THINK!!!

.ImI.....placing Buddha in the notes is not sending mixed signals. Placing Buddha on the note is not meant to sponsor Buddhism, the religion. Buddha on the note is a way of honoring Buddha, the philosopher and a thinking mind of Nepal.

I think they should put the pictures of historic figures like Buddha in the notes. I would love to see Arniko, Bhupatindra Malla, BP Koirala, Ganeshman etc. and the numerous martyrs.

Mickthesick..i am just against idea of putting any people in notes.
Though you know Buddha is icon..how many people really know that.They get mixed signal.Ya may be you are right he is kind of historic figure too but look he is not popular in world as historic figure but as religious figure .He is God for millions around the world.Now lets be fair.Can we put SITA as figure head for the currency????

how many currency have you seen where JESUS is figure head?
EVEN in buddist country , do you see BUDDHA"S HEAD in notes??

POINT IS ..WHEN U TALK ABOUT SECULAR THEN YOU NEED TO THINK MORE ABOUT SENTIMENT OF OTHER RELIGION LIVING IN NEPAL.STUPID HYPOCRITES ARE RULING NEPAL.THERE WERE MANY ALTERNATIVES ..WHERE THESE DEBATES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED.but hey now they are neo -pseudo democrats ...what can i say??they rule..8 parties are god of nepal and nepalese.

The Buddhist philosophy is already meditated in several of the Veda, Vedantas and other Dharmic scritpures which predates the Buddha. Buddha said nothing new or innovative it was always there the only problem was only scholars had access to those knowledge. It will be absurd to define Sanatan Dharma. If somebody can do it more power to you. Sanatan Dharma is about inclusiveness not about absoluteness.
I don't consider Buddha Avatar(god) or anything. The whole concept of Avatar should not be taken literally.
BTW you should not run away from your responsibility for the sake of finding truth.

Buddhism is more like a philosophy of life, rather than a rigid religion full of crap rituals.

The worst thing that can happen to us is Secular Nepal. We will fall into an identity crisis as soon as it’s implemented. What will be the difference between US and Indians if we loose Hinduism and Buddhism from Nepal? Why not we all get Indian citizenships if we are to be come secular losing our identity? That’s what terrorists like prachanda and Chota Babua are paid to do by India, and so far they have executed the plan nicely. Think about it ppl.

Jesus was never christian, Buddha was never a buddist. They were the first among many people or GOD whatever it is who mentioned not to worship the effigy in any form. But if we look around, there are more church- christ figure and Buddha monestry in the world. Both had 10 commandments- 10 ways of Life.