Changing Worldview: From Buddhism to CV and vice versa

[Nityānanda dāsa]

Kdb91,

Radhe Radhe!

Thanks for this post. I thinknits an interesting question as to what has been the experience of one who left to go to Buddhism and then came back.
I personally cant think of any who fall into that category. One consideration though is that when a person leaves ISKCON/Gaudiya Math (IGM), that is not the same as leaving Caitanya Vaishnavism. Countless people have been burned by IGM and it seems that when one has great faith in someone or something and that faith is destroyed, that the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater. I've seen that happen so many many times. So if a person ends up in Buddhism, that could be a very good thing for them. It could give them time to heal from the abuse and perhaps they come back to their attempt at Bhakti and find a more genuine path.
Anyway, I'm curious to see if anyone knows of examples. I do have a long lost friend (only 'lost' because I no longer have contact with him) who left IGM for Buddhism and then practiced Buddhism and from there practiced orthodox Christianity. From there he stopped spiritual practice altogether and I'm not sure what he believes in these days.
Jai Sri Radhe!

[Nityānanda dāsa]

PS - It would be great to hear more about you and your background. What is your name? Where are you from? What brings you to the symposium and / or how did you find us?
You can find a thread on this symposium where you can introduce yourself or I can send you the link. Please let me know and welcome!

[Nitaidas]

Jul 7, 2020 1:10:21 GMT -6 kd91 said:

I have heard that many of those who left CV embraced Buddhism, in any of its yanas. This also I know that many came to CV after trying out Buddhism. Is there any seeker here who has such experience themselves, especially the former? Or know others who have done so? My great interest is in knowing whether those who left CV for B have ever reconsidered CV and come back? Philosophically, I think Buddhism tops the Indian schools of thought. Shunyavada is a big deal and I have hardly come across any arguments that convincingly refute its propositions such as the improbability of an active deity governing world affairs. Also Anatman theory is hard to beat. Despite all this strong points many had to part ways or seek new ways mainly I think because of its insufficient treatment of the feminine issue. Buddhism hasn't been able to get rid of its misogyny, perhaps the Mahayana is a little better in this respect than the Theravada which can be horrible for spiritual feminists.

So a theology favoring feminism had to be there and no doubt CV, above all, occupies that position. All that manjari stuff, very nice. But think deeper and you find yourself at trouble with even this best of theologies.

So, would be interesting to know of a few cases where the phenomenon of reconsidering have taken place. Madhava for instance hasn't yet come back to CV and perhaps that tells a lot. But are there folks who did do, and if they did, what were the reasons, for reconsideration?

Hi Krsnadasji,

राधे राधे !

Jagadishdasji has some experience with Buddhism. He is my gurubhai and has spent some time studying and practicing Buddhism. His online identity is jd33. He comes on the site periodically to add comments and see what is going on. You might contact him and see what his experiences and thoughts are. I believe he is initiated into some Tibetan Buddhist lineage as well.

I have also studied Buddhism and taught it at various colleges around the US. I love it and think it is like a sister tradition to Hinduism. Both embrace the four noble truths, but in slightly different ways and language. Buddhism has had a huge affect on Hinduism and especially Vaisnavism and the reverses is also true. One of my pet theories is that CV inherited its visualization practices (lila-smarana) from the earlier visualization practices developed in Tantric Buddhism. Anyway, there has been lots of interesting cross-pollination between the two traditions over the millennia.