Chapter 2 - Mula-madhyamika-karika Nagarjuna’s Perspective (Introduction)

Buddhism was a revolutionary movement in Indian landscape of philosophy and religion. In India, philosophy is deeply rooted in the life, thoughts and culture of the people. One of its salient features is the methodology of dialectics. Each system of philosophy responses to the then existing system of thought. Buddhism also in no way an exception to this feature. Thus, all the systems which developed earlier through reasoning and thinking have molded the Buddhist thought also. For example, the influence of the Schools like Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya and Yoga are evident in the Buddhist stream of thought. A thorough analysis of the Buddhist teachings makes clear that the Upanishadic Seers and their lofty thoughts have influenced Buddhism; even though Buddhists does not publically declare the Upanishadic influence as a source of their thought. Buddhism was a purified way of life in the context of the cult of Brahmanism. It was a reformation started within Hinduism and developed as a separate stream of thought and practice.

The Buddha means one who is awakened. Gautama was the only perfectly and fully awakened one in the line of Buddhas–Sammasam Buddha. Earlier Buddhism, as Theravada could not stand for the needs and enlightenment of world. After the Vaishali Counci1^[1] Sthaviras (elders) represented the Theravada Buddhism. The Bikkus who represented Mahasanghikas became Mahayanists. The Buddhist leaders who inaugurated the Mahayana Movement, saved Buddhism by popularizing it and inventing compassionate Bodhi Sattvas, a Buddhist Counter Part of Hindu Deities and their incantations.^[2]