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Buddha and Bhagavatam
By Jagannatha Prakasa © January 2007 (last updated March 29, 2017)



Questioner: David

Subject: Buddha and Bhagavatam

Question:


My Reply:

Hi David,
I hope you had a nice holiday ;-)

In Hindu Scriptures like the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.3.24) the Buddha was foretold as the 21st incarnation of Lord Visnu hundreds of years prior to his birth. Most Hindus still accept him as such.

For Buddhists however, Gautama is not seen as a god (with a couple of minor exceptions), but as an awakened ("buddha") and honored master.

It is not so much that supreme reality "is" buddha as it is that one who awakens to or realizes supreme reality is "buddha," or awakened and one with all that is. The state of being awake is "nirvana," the plane of "nir" (cessation of) all activities or continuances.

As to whether this is eastern gnosis, I'd say it depends on where one stands. I'd say it is the "transcending" of all knowledge rather than the "realization" of all knowledge, and so I'd say no, it's a different thing; BUT many people do define it thus. If one attains full gnosis then arguably one awakens... It would be truer perhaps of the Vajrayana than of Zen, Buddhism is quite broad.

Peace


Peace, Love, and Light!