Sri Caitanya explained what follows in great detail to all the residents of Varnasi, who then after hearing attentively became Vaisnava devotees. At the time Varnasi was a transcendental HUB where learned pundits representing all branches of knowledge used to live and teach.
Śrīpāda Śankarācārya’s propaganda opposed the atheistic philosophy of Buddha.
Lord Buddha’s intention was to stop atheists from committing the sin of killing animals. Atheists cannot understand God; therefore Lord Buddha appeared and spread the philosophy of nonviolence to keep the atheists from killing animals. Unless one is free from the sin of animal-killing, he cannot understand religion or God.
Although Lord Buddha was an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, he did not speak about God, for the people were unable to understand. He simply wanted to stop animal-killing.
Śrīpāda Śankarācārya wanted to establish the predominance of one’s spiritual identity; therefore he wanted to convert the atheists through an imaginary interpretation of the Vedic literatures. These are the secrets of the ācāryas. Sometimes they conceal the real purpose of the Vedas and explain the Vedas in a different way. Sometimes they enunciate a different theory just to bring the atheists under their control. Thus it is said that Śankara’s philosophy is for pāṣaṇḍas, atheists.
Śrīpāda Śankarācārya’s propaganda opposed the atheistic philosophy of Buddha.Lord Buddha’s intention was to stop atheists from committing the sin of killing animals. Atheists cannot understand God; therefore Lord Buddha appeared and spread the philosophy of nonviolence to keep the atheists from killing animals. Unless one is free from the sin of animal-killing, he cannot understand religion or God.
Although Lord Buddha was an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, he did not speak about God, for the people were unable to understand. He simply wanted to stop animal-killing.
Śrīpāda Śankarācārya wanted to establish the predominance of one’s spiritual identity; therefore he wanted to convert the atheists through an imaginary interpretation of the Vedic literatures. These are the secrets of the ācāryas. Sometimes they conceal the real purpose of the Vedas and explain the Vedas in a different way. Sometimes they enunciate a different theory just to bring the atheists under their control. Thus it is said that Śankara’s philosophy is for pāṣaṇḍas, atheists.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Chapter 25 text 42
