The Buddhism of Dr Ambedkar & the Buddhism of Tagore: A Comparative Study

The present research paper summarizes Tagore & Ambedkar?s Buddha & compares their differences. Tagore approves of Buddha?s basic tenets like infinite love, morality, equality, Maitri (universal friendship) & compassion. But Ambedkar?s Buddha is altogether different than Tagore. According to Ambedkar, Buddha not only preaches above mentioned tenets but also liberty, equality, fraternity & justice i.e. a social message .Buddha gives emphasis on human suffering & emancipation from the suffering. He does not discuss the imaginary things like God, heaven, hell & soul. He also did not answer or discuss the questions like who is a creator of the world? Who & What am I? From where did the humans come from? Whether the universe finite or infinite? He was strictly pragmatic. He discussed & believed those things which are beneficial for human beings. He believed the test of experience & logic. His non-violence is based upon ?need to kill? not ?will to kill? or ?never to kill?. Means, he was realistic and pragmatic. For him human mind is the centre of human being. Therefore, culture of mind is the most important thing. It means there is a need of training to the human mind to think and to do good always. Consequently it brings psychological peace. For Ambedkar, Buddha?s Panch Sila, Paramitas & Noble Eight-Fold Path are the essence of Buddhism while Tagore emphasized on Buddha?s love for everybody & Non-violence. Tagore himself believed in God & soul while Ambedkar?s Buddha is a scientific, rational, social, moral, psychological, egalitarian, and democratic in nature.