[Solved] Why was Adi Shankara called a Crypto-Buddhist?

Who is called 'Crypto-Buddhist'?

[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. Prelims 2019]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Critics and rival philosophers often labeled Adi Shankara as a Prachanna Bauddha (Crypto-Buddhist) because of the striking similarities between his Advaita system and Mahayana Buddhist logic.

Authentic Source Evidence

Ramanuja and other Bhakti-oriented philosophers argued that Shankara’s concept of 'Nirguna Brahman' (Attribute-less God) was identical to the Buddhist concept of 'Sunyata' (Emptiness).

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option A is correct. Both Shankara and the Buddhist Madhyamaka school use dialectics to prove the illusory nature of the perceived world.

Logic 2: Shankara’s 'Maya' was seen by rivals as a Hindu rebranding of Buddhist 'Samvrti Satya' (conventional truth).

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why did Shankara's opponents use this label?"

To discredit him by suggesting that he was smuggling Buddhist atheism/emptiness into the Vedic tradition.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The 'Crypto-Buddhist' label illustrates the profound cross-pollination of ideas between Buddhism and Hinduism in ancient India."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Madhyamaka 4 Sunyata 3

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