Streaming full talk on Sunday, August 14, 2022, by Ma Sudha on the occasion of Sri Ramakrishna's Day of Liberation. Reverend Mother Sudha's Talks (anandaashrama.org).
While Hindu "liberation" (moksha) is not the same as Buddhist liberation (nirvana) as taught by the historical Buddha, it is still important and precious. Whereas other traditions regard samadhi as the goal of meditation, the Buddha taught that insight (ultimate wisdom) is more important. Of course, the basis of wisdom is stillness or samadhi -- calm, serenity, tranquility, or shamatha -- which should not be regarded as an end in itself. It is a penultimate achievement. It purifies the heart/mind and makes insight possible. To see (darshan) such beings as have attained the jhanas (absorptions, dhyanas) is good and the Buddha recommended it. It is far rarer to see an arahant (fully enlightened Buddhist saint), to make offerings, to give ear, to make a resolve such as gaining the vision of such an extraordinary disciple, to revere, to greet respectfully, to simply be in the presence of... Because the aspirations of Hinduism from the time of the Vedas (from a time before Sri Shankara devised Indus Valley traditions into an "ism") to now well align with the teachings of the Buddha and Mahavira (founder Jainism, the other surviving shramanic tradition), it is good to be aware of the great beings of these traditions and to remember and honor them -- along with the saints of all religions.
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