Dr. Radhakrishnan on Buddhism: A Glance

Summary

The article provides an overview of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s reflections on Buddhism and evaluates his contribution to Buddhist studies. The author points out that Radhakrishnan regarded Buddhism as an integral part of Indian religious heritage rather than a foreign or heterodox movement. He emphasised that Buddhism developed as a reform within the broader framework of Hindu culture, challenging ritualism while retaining core ethical and philosophical concepts. The paper outlines Radhakrishnan’s interpretation of key Buddhist teachings such as the Four Noble Truths, the doctrine of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and the concept of nirvāṇa. Radhakrishnan saw these teachings as emphasising impermanence, compassion and the path of self‑discipline. He admired the Buddha’s ethical emphasis on non‑violence and universal love and argued that these values were continuous with the spirit of the Upanisads. The article also discusses Radhakrishnan’s assessment of later developments in Buddhist philosophy. He appreciated the sophisticated analyses of consciousness found in the Abhidharma and Yogācāra schools and recognised the dialectical brilliance of Nāgārjuna’s doctrine of emptiness. At the same time he criticised certain forms of nihilism and argued that Buddhism ultimately points beyond negation to a positive experience of the absolute. Radhakrishnan sought to reconcile Buddhist insights with Vedānta by suggesting that nirvāṇa and Brahman are different descriptions of the same ultimate reality. Throughout the paper, the author notes that Radhakrishnan’s reading of Buddhism was shaped by his broader aim of presenting Indian philosophy as a unified tradition open to diverse expressions. While some scholars have challenged his assimilation of Buddhism into Vedānta, his work stimulated interest in comparative studies and encouraged dialogue between Buddhists and Hindus. The article concludes that Radhakrishnan’s engagement with Buddhism provided Western readers with an accessible introduction and highlighted its ethical relevance for modern times.