Buddhism being better than Marxism : Dr. B.R Ambedkar.

Theme : Society & Indian Culture

Paper:GS - 1

TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Context
2. Marx on Religion
3. Ambedkar’s Comparison of Buddhism and Marxism
4. Similarities
5. How Abolishing Private Property works under Buddhism

Context : While his views on Buddhism being superior to other religions are well-known, Ambedkar also believed the Buddha’s path to be superior to the popular religion-rejecting philosophy, Marxism.

Marx on Religion : 

• Marx saw religion as a conservative force that prevented social change by creating false consciousness.
• Marx once said- “Religion is the opium of the people. It is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of our soulless conditions.”
• The end goal of Marxism is to achieve a classless society throughout the world.

Ambedkar’s Comparison of Buddhism and Marxism 

• Ambedkar has compared Buddhism with Marxism, saying that while both strive for the same end of a just and happy society.
• The means propounded by Buddha are superior to those of Marx.
• It is just simple that Marx was modern and Buddha ancient.
• If the Marxists keep back their prejudices and study the Buddha and understand what he stood for I feel sure that they will change their attitude, Ambedkar writes.

Similarities : 

For Buddhism, Dr. Ambedkar lists key points:

1. The function of Religion is to reconstruct the world and to make it happy and not to explain its origin or its end;
2. That private ownership of property brings power to one class and sorrow to another;
3. That it is necessary for the good of Society that this sorrow be removed by removing its cause; and
4. All human beings are equal.

Of Marx, he says all that is left “is a residue of fire”:

1. The function of philosophy is to reconstruct the world and not to waste its time in explaining the origin of the world;
2. That private ownership of property brings power to one class and sorrow to another through exploitation;
3. That it is necessary for the good of society that the sorrow be removed by the abolition of private property.”

How Abolishing Private Property works under Buddhism : 

• Dr Ambedkar says Buddhism’s commitment to abolishment of private property is apparent in how It's ‘Bhikshus’ give up all worldly goods.
• He says the rules for Bhikhshus owning property or possessions are “far more rigorous than are to be found in communism in Russia.”
• To establish a happy and fair society, the Buddha had laid down a path for believers.
• The means adopted by the Buddha were to convert a man by changing his moral disposition to follow the path voluntarily.

FAQs : 

1. What was Ambedkar’s Comparison between Marxism and Buddhism ?

ANS. Ambedkar has compared Buddhism with Marxism, saying that while both strive for the same end of a just and happy society.

• The means propounded by Buddha are superior to those of Marx.
• It is just simple that Marx was modern and Buddha ancient.
• If the Marxists keep back their prejudices and study the Buddha and understand what he stood for I feel sure that they will change their attitude, Ambedkar writes.

2. What was Marx’s view on Religion ?

ANS. Marx saw religion as a conservative force that prevented social change by creating false consciousness.

• Marx once said- “Religion is the opium of the people. It is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of our soulless conditions.”
• The end goal of Marxism is to achieve a classless society throughout the world.