Buddha not an incarnation of Vishnu

Orthodox Hinduism in the later times has traditionally regarded Gautam Buddha to be one of the incarnations of their important deity Vishnu. In some of the Puranas of later Hinduism, Buddha has been described as an avatar of Vishnu in such a manner that many Buddhists find unacceptable and offensive—because such texts say that Vishnu had taken the Buddha-avatar to "mislead" the "demons" from the true Vedic path by deliberately propagating a false religion. Now-a-days there is a mutual understanding between Buddhists and most Hindus that Buddha is not an incarnation of Vishnu. Regarding this important and controversial point two leaders from both communities agreed on few points as below.

Joint Communiqué by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Jayendra Saraswati of Kanchi Kamakoti Pith and Vipassanacharya S. N. Goenka. The Maha Bodhi Society Office, Sarnath, Varanasi. 3:30 p.m., 11 November 1999. This joint communiqué is being issued after the cordial talk between Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Jayendra Saraswatiji of Kanchi Kamakoti Pith and Vipassanacharya Guruji Shri Satyanarayana Goenkaji.

Both agree and wish that there should be harmonious and friendly relations between both ancient (the Vedic and the Shramana) traditions. If there has been any misconception in this matter in the minds of the people of the neighbouring countries, it should be removed at the earliest.

The following was agreed:

1. Due to whatever reason some literature was written (in India) in the past in which the Buddha was declared to be a reincarnation of Vishnu and various things were written about him. This was very unpleasant to the neighbouring countries. In order to foster friendlier ties between the two communities we decide that whatever has happened in the past (cannot be undone, but) should be forgotten and such beliefs should not be propagated.

2. A misconception has spread in the neighbouring countries that the Hindu society of India is organising such conferences to prove its dominance over the followers of the Buddha. To forever remove this misconception we declare that both Vedic and æramana traditions are ancient traditions of India. Both have their own prestigious existence. Any attempt by one tradition to show itself higher than the other will only generate hatred and ill will between the two. Hence such a thing should not be done in the future and both traditions should be accorded equal respect and esteem.

3. Anybody can attain a high position in the society by doing good deeds. One becomes a low (person in society) if one does evil deeds. Hence anybody can-by doing good deeds and removing the defilements such as passion, anger, arrogance, ignorance, greed, jealousy and ego-attain a high position in society and enjoy peace and happiness.

4. Anybody who believed that Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu and now doesn't because some people, some place got together and said it wasn't so, probably didn't believe it too much anyway.

We agree on all the three things mentioned above and wish that all the people of India from all the traditions should have cordial relations and the neighbouring countries should also have friendly relations with India.