Buddhism really surprises me. I have not read so much about it. Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal, then he got his divine knowledge in India and preached in India and may be Nepal too. But Buddhism is followed in the Mongolian countries like China, Japan, etc. Whatever Buddhists are there in Nepal and India are originally from elsewhere. So how come Buddhism spread elsewhere and not in Nepal and India. And what religion did these countries practice before Buddhism? How did Buddha communicate with these people?

Same as Marx. They don't follow him in Germany. We have plenty. The only difference is Marx was bad. Buddha was the great.

And, for your record, Buddha was a great philosopher. He is recognized for that in India/Nepal. He is well respected everywhere, including in Nepal/India. It is just that India/Nepal doesn't have monolithic god system, so we regard him as one of millions. Since we had our own culture long before Buddha, it would take a bit to replace it. In China and other countries, religion has never been as deep rooted as in India/Nepal, and once philosophers there adopted Buddha, it was easier for people to accept him as some kind of god. That's how I interpret the history:)

WE, HINDUS ALSO BELIEVE BUDDHA AS A GOD BUT NOT MOHAMMAD AND CHRIST. SO HOW CAN U SAY THAT WE DON'T WORSHIP BUDDHA? WE, NEPALSES BELIEVE THAT BUDDHA WAS BORN IN NEPAL AND WILL GET REBIRTH IN NEPAL TOO. WE DON'T CARE WHATEVER OTHERS SAY. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE SHOULD HAVE A MUTUAL COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM. LIKE MAO ZEDONG WAS FROM CHINA AND WE NEPALESE GOT INSPIRED BY THIS THEME AND WORK. SO WE FOLLOW HIS IDEA IN NEPAL DREAMING AND WORKING FOR THE CHANGE. THIS EARTH HAD A NATURE OF SHARING AND CARING. THAT'S WHY BUDDHISM IS BEING FOLLOWED IN OTHER COUNTRIES BUT U CAN'T ARGUE  WITH US SAYING THAT BUDDHA WAS BORN IN CHINA OR OTHER MONGOLIAN COUNTIRES. THIS IS A FACT AND IS ALWAYS BITTER.

How does an ordinary man understand an Enlightened Man? A man who questions in order to understand is taking the right approach. Buddhism and Hinduism walk hand-in-hand because Buddha is considered to be the 9th Avatar of Lord Narayana (Vishnu) Dasa (10) Avatars. In his teachins of the Eight Fold Noble Path, sammaditthi i.e. right understanding is the first item. Buddha taught three methods to live in this world and to rid of our suffering...to learn, to understand and to practise.

He was born in Lumbini, Nepal but attained Nirvana in Bodhgaya, India. He did not travel all over India and Tibet. But his monks did. The Great King Asoka is the main personality who spread Buddhism in India. The great monk Milerapa brought Buddhism into Tibet. But eventually the original Buddhism as taught by Buddha was modified to suit various societies. Buddha did not start any religion. He gave TEACHINGS. It was the Greeks who first made images of Buddha. However, in order to practise teachings given by an Enlightened One, we do not need images.

According to the Mahayana school of Buddhism there are 3 bodies of the Buddha or 3 kayas...sambhogakaya, nirmanakaya & dharmakaya. He used the first two for physical activities. When he attained parinirvana these 2 bodies disappeared. Only dharmakaya of the Buddha remained. Whether Buddha appears or not, DHARMA exists forever. To practise Buddhism it is not necessary for us to know where the Buddha is, or where he went. Take for example, electricity. Is it necessary for us to know the person who discovered electricity, where he is and from which country he came and his name? Our duty is to make use of the electricity.

Hence, our duty is to practise our dharma....irrespective of who taught it.

Here is the embarrassing moment for me, Yesterday, we all were watching "Are you smarter than a 5th grader", there was a question " From which country Buddhism started?" I thought it was Nepal and the correct answer was India. Nepal was not even in the list. All my American friends thought it was China. I think the Dhoti friend who started the thread about Buddha few days ago was not totally wrong.

The answer to the question of Jhapaliketo is Hinduism was widespread in Nepal long before buddha was born. Thats why Buddism didn't had any stronghold in Nepal.

which hindu book says that buddha is the 9th avatar of lord bishnu? I believe nepalese are the most liberal person in the world who can blend into any culture and since buddha was born in Nepal, we gave a special place for him.

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
 Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
 Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
 Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
 Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
 But after observation and analysis,when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and  all, then accept it and live up to it."

 quotation of Buddha

By the way who wrote the holy book of buddhism?

All the books were written by Buddha's disciples or were handed down Orally by the disciples to the writers. Now you may question the "authenticity" since it was handed down orally. But unlike other religions where books were very much subjective and not much care was given to any misrepresentations in the meanings, in buddhism the meanings were left closest as they could be to the original teaching.

Language has its limitations and Budhha being the OmniPotent of course knew that. Hence, the emphasis on your own reason/instinct.
I think it's a good idea to start with "premstha"'s quotes.
_______________
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
 Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
 Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
 Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
 Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
 But after observation and analysis,when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and  all, then accept it and live up to it."

 quotation of Buddha
_____________

After analysis, one of the conclusions that can be drawn is that Budhha let You decide what you made of the different teachings. Very democratic indeed. But another way of looking at it is that, He has assumed that all human beings, if left on their own, will try to go the Right Way. Of course, that comes with Right Understanding and the Right Intentions.
I like that quote, Premstha, btw. Thanks for bringing back this quote to my mind.

The Hinduism School of Thought in Creation Concept and Human Evolution through Physiological Growth to Psychological Growth (Text: SRIMADBHAGAVATHAM - DASAAVATARA)

The theory of evolution states that in order to preserve the Universe that was Created by Lord Brahma, God descends when the world passes through a moral or spiritual decadence to uphold "Dharma" and protect the noble.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter IV v.7

"yada-yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tada tmanam srjamy aham"

O Bharata (Arjunan), whenever there is a decline of righteousness and a rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself.

Hence, Lord Bishnu (Vishnu) took Dasa Avatars i.e.

1. Matsya Avatar (Fish); 2. Koorma Avatar (Tortoise); 3. Varah Avatar (Wild Boar); 4.Narasimha Avatar (Man-Lion); 5. Vamanah Avatar (Dwarf boy); 6. Parashuram Avatar (Cave man or Pre-man); 7. Rama Avatar (Ideal man); 8. Krishna Avatar (Super man); 9. Buddha Avatar (Equipoise man); 10. Kalki Avatar (Perfect, Complete & Accomplished man)

 

I want to thank everybody whoever contributed to this thread. The answers were very intellectual, I appreciate that.