WORLD RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM
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WORLD RELIGIONS BUDDHISM |
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| INTRODUCTION: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Buddhism was an outgrowth of the Hindu faith, much the same way Christianity was an outgrowth of Judaism ,and Baha'i was an outgrowth of Mohammudism.� THE TEACHINGS OF THE COMPASSIONATE BUDDHA includes "Early Discourses," the "Dhammapada" and later basic writings.� Keep in mind that most if not all of Buddha's sayings were first committed to writing several generations after his death around 500 BC.� �Buddha was 83 times an ascetic, 58 times a king, 24 times a Brahman, 20 times the god sakka, 43 times a tree god, 5 times a slave, 1 time a devil dancer, 2 times a rat, and 2 times a pig.� All told, Buddha was born and returned to live life all over again 530 times before reaching Nirvana.� In all world history, there have so far been only five Buddhas (people who reached Nirvana).� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GOD: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Buddhists believe in a variety of minor gods as do Hindus.� But they do not enter majorly in their sacred writings.� The closest the Buddhist comes to recognizing a supreme God is Nirvana (similar to Hindus entering into union with Brahman), which is actually oneness with the self-perpetuating universe, a divinity with no personality or concerns with humans.� We are to learn to judge and forgive ourselves.� "Rouse yourself by yourself, examine yourself by yourself.� Self is the lord of self, self is the refuge of self" ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Bhikshu").� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Buddha did say that the Heavenly Eye sees beings as they pass away from one form of existence and take shape in another.� Those acquiring karma resulting from wrong views are reborn in some unhappy state.� But Those acquiring good karma from right views, are reborn in some happy state in heaven ("The Spirit of Theravada Buddhism" chapter of "What is Gained by Abandoning the World and Becoming a Monk?").� Occasionally Buddha is referred to as "the Lord" ("The Sermon at Benares"). | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "I have not said that the world is eternal or that the world is not eternal...that the soul and the body are identical....that the saint exists after death.....I have not explained that the world is eternal; I have not explained that the world is not eternal...This profits not, nor has to do with the fundamentals of religion and Nirvana.� The origin of misery have I explained; the cessation of misery have I explained; and the path leading to the cessation of misery have I explained" ("Questions Not Tending to Edification" from Sutta 63 of the Majjhima-Nikaya). | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WORKS: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� So long as the desire of man toward women, even the smallest, is not destroyed, cut out the love of self ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Way").� One who has had his hair and beard shaved off and dons the yellow robes and renounces the world should be greeted with reverence and should be fed and clothed by people wherever he goes (The Spirit of Theravada Buddhism the chapter on "What is Gained by Abandoning the World and Becoming a Monk?").� �The person who has been Awakened is Omniscient.� Even the gods envy those who are awakened, given to meditation, retirement from the world ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Buddha - the Awakened").� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of all the Awakened.� The Awakened call patience the highest penance, longsuffering the highest Nirvana ("Sutta Pitaka," {The Way of Truth}, chapter on "The Buddha - the Awakened").� Let a man never commit any wrong with his body ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Way").� "Him I call indeed a brahmana who in this world has risen above bondage to both good and evil.� Him I call indeed a brahmana, the manly, the noble, the hero, the great sage, the conqueror, the sinless.� Him I call indeed a brahmana who knows his former abodes, who sees heaven and hell, has reached the end of births" ("Sutta Pitaka", {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Brahmana").� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Interestingly, enlightenment is traveling the Middle Path and leads to Nirvana ("The Sermon at Benares").� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RELIGION/WORSHIP: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The religious life does not depend on the dogma that the world is eternal...there still remains birth, old age, death....this profits not, nor has to do with the fundamentals of religion.� �The foolish man scorns the instruction of the saintly and follows a false doctrine and bears fruit to his own destruction.� Further, do not follow the evil law.� Do not follow false doctrine ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapters on "Self" and "The World").�������� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� If dissent comes only from fools, then all are fools since each has his own view.� The world is full of rival creeds, but all are on a par.� People call each other fools because each sees his own view as the only Truth.� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� He who possesses virtue and intelligence, who is just and speaks the truth, the world will hold dear ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapters on "Pleasure" and "Anger"). ��Apart from consciousness, no diverse truth exists.� Those who have their Truth are smug.� They are stubborn in their theories.� Apart from consciousness, no diverse truths exist ("Truth Is Above Sectarian Dogmatism").� �However, there are FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS/8 PATHS:� (1) Pain exists.� (2) The cause of pain is lust.� (3) Pain ceases with non-attachment�. (4)� The 8-fold path to cessation of pain is....right [1] views, [2] intentions, [3] speech, [4] action, [5] livelihood, [6] effort, [7] mindfulness, [8] concentration.� The Wheel of the Doctrine was set turning by the Lord (Buddha) ("The Sermon at Benares").� He who takes refuge with Buddha, the Law, and the Order sees the Four Holy Truths, the Eightfold Holy Way, the True Law ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "The Buddha - the Awakened") | ||||||||||||||||||||
| HEAVEN: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Some people are born again; evildoers go to hell; righteous people go to heaven; those who are free from all worldly desires attain Nirvana (From "Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth}, chapter on "Evil").� Make yourself an island.� When your impurities are blown away, you are free from guilt, you will enter into the heavenly world of the elect ("Sutta Pitaka" {The Way of Truth} chapter on "Impurity").� �Therefore, to the Buddhist, heaven is not the ultimately desired desination of man. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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