Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c21.16

c21.16

¹ It should be observed that it is "the life of holiness" which Buddhism emphasizes much more than the philosophy of life, speculations concerning the mysteries of life and death and such ultimate truths. It is no wonder that on account of its eminently popular character impressed upon Buddhist thought the whole world could be summoned to participate in its truths, while Brahmanism as represented in the Upanishads and Āraṇyakas leads to levels and reaches of thought where only the select few under special training in abstraction can follow. The intellectual strength of Brahmanical speculation which accounts for its exclusive and esoteric character should not be the ground for ascribing to it a moral weakness, a deficiency in sympathy. The Buddha himself is said to have declared as his last words [*Dīgh. Nik.*, ii, 100]: "What, then, Ānanda? Does the Order expect that of me? I have preached the Truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric doctrine; for in respect of the truths, Ānanda, the Tathāgata has no such thing as the closed fist of a teacher who keeps something back." Against this is to be considered the fact that the doctrines of the Upanishads were investigated by select circles of inquirers in the solitude of the woods (as Āraṇyakas) where no distraction was likely to intervene between Truth and its seeker.