WAS BUDDHA A SAINT?

Edward Conze who is sympathetic to Buddhism testifies that it is impossible to make out the truth about the original teachings of Buddhism (page 31-33, Buddhist Thought In India. It is difficult to sort out the truth from the legends in the life of the founder of Buddhism. But the following information is probably right.
 
Buddha did not like women for they brought babies into the world keeping bad karma and suffering in existence (page 225, The World’s Religions). He must have known that men somehow caused women to have babies so this was utter hypocrisy. He would not admit women into his order at the start. He thought that his teaching would last only half as long as it could if women joined up.
 
Buddha nearly starved himself to death and spent many years inflicting cruelty on himself in the hope of finding the way to liberation (page 224, The World's Religions). He would have been troubled by hallucinations a lot and would have known that his mind was powerful enough to fake the experience of enlightenment. He was a dogmatist and a fraud for declaring the experience to be proof that his doctrine was true. Plus how could one that abused himself and led others astray by a bad example possibly make it to sainthood so soon after?
 
The Buddha’s idea that meditation helps you attain salvation better than good works would is disturbing.
 
Nirvana changes the way the mind works and thinks. It removes pain and bestows peace. Do you really want to feel at peace when you have a gnawing cancer to fight and you need the aggression to survive? You won’t make much of an impact in a campaign for human rights with a heart full of bliss. You won’t want to do much for them. Moreover, you know your body exists but Buddha says you must put a blissful state that may cease at the death of the body first. This is illogical and does harm.

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WHAT THE BUDDHA TAUGHT Walpola Sri Rahula, Oneworld Publications, Oxford, 2006 – Truly the best explanation of Buddhism possible
WHY I AM A BUDDHIST, No Nonsense Buddhism for Modern Living, Stephen T Asma, Watkins, London, 2011 - sadly maligned but wonderful book, a gem!