IQBAL, BUDDHA AND BABA NANAK. Iqbal's poem shed lights mainly upon four themes - Gautama Buddha (563 BC-483 BC) and his teachings, essence of truth and monotheism, spirit of social justice and equality, and Guru Nanak (1469-1539). #Iqbal #Buddha #BabaNanak #Islam #Sikhism #Budism

"Iqbal says that the Indian nation never valued and cherished Buddha and his teachings. Buddha called for the spiritual augmentation of one's life by shunning all kinds of obsessions with worldly desires. For Iqbal, Buddha was a "gem" and India could not identify the worth and value of its "own gem"; for Indians were particularly tinkering with the worldly pursuits of prestige, power and property. While Buddha was ferrying them to the spiritual path of salvation, they, owing to their own ignorance, were unaware of it. Alas! Indians were unmindful of the divine truth revealed by Buddha in the same way a tree remains oblivious to the sweetness of its own fruits." Read more.