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Buddhism as basic wisdom
by Parimal Mutsudoli, The Daily Star, May 10, 2009
Buddhism discourages
blind faith and urges everyone to think freely
Dhaka, Bangladesh
-- THE Holy Buddha Purnima is the most sacred occasion for the Buddhist
community of Bangladesh as well as for the global Buddhist community.
It
signifies the three important events in the Buddha's life:
his birth,
enlightenment and great demise. All these three events took place on the
full moon of the sixth lunar month of Vesakh.
.JPG) The
Buddha was born in 623 BC. His father was King Suddhadana, and mother was Queen
Mahamaya. Before enlightenment, the Buddha was known by his clan name of
Siddhartha Gotama. He was extremely intelligent and compassionate, and it was
predicted that he would become either a universal monarch or a Buddha.
Despite the comfort and luxury of a royal household, prince Siddhartha left home
at age twenty and became a wondering ascetic. He laboured for six long years
experimenting with all kinds of spiritual practices and meditation. Then, on the
full moon day of the month of Veskha, at exactly thirty-five years of age, he
attained enlightenment and became Buddha, 'the enlightened one'.
The Buddha started working hard to spread his teachings and to enlighten the
people. During the forty-five years of his mission, he was able to establish his
religion, which is now globally known as Buddhism. His followers came from all
walks of life -- traders and peasants, Brahmins and outcastes, the rich and the
poor, the intellectual and the ordinary. Buddhism is now one of the major world
religions and an influential civilising force in human history.
Buddhism is a religion of self-help.
Buddhist Philosophy places man at the centre of all things. It advises man to
strive and work hard to achieve his material and spiritual goals, through his
own efforts, not only through prayer or mere wishful thinking.
Buddhism discourages blind faith and urges man to think freely. It teaches that
all men are capable of attaining the highest state of spiritual liberation.
Buddhism also teaches that all men are born equal and are free to choose
whatever is best for them.
Many of the Buddha's principles can be understood through logical reasoning,
others can be realised through a proper process of experimentation. The teaching
of Buddha, though very old, is still valid and practical, and can be followed
with advantage by all people of the world.
Buddhism teaches man to be kind and gentle. The Buddhists are therefore supposed
to be peace-loving people and have never made war, or any kind of violence, in
the name of the religion.
There are three objects of the highest veneration in the Buddhist religion --
the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha (the Holy Triple Gen).
The Buddha
possesses the noblest virtues and the highest wisdom. In brief his virtues are
infinite wisdom, perfect purity, and universal compassion.
The Dharma is the teaching of Buddha.
It is the Universal law, which the Buddha
discovered and taught the world. In it is the truth itself. And because the
Dharma is Truth, it must be true, valid, and universal at all time and in all
planes.
The Sangha is the Holy Order of Monks who have attained a high degree of
spiritual discipline. The Buddhists pay respect to the Sangha because they are
highly spiritual and always try to do good to others.
The Buddha, the Dharma,
and the Sangha are closely interrelated. All the three are essential for the
rise and the spread of the religion.
The Buddha has advised against two extremes, which should not be practiced by
Monks. These two extremes are sensual indulgence and self-mortification, as
these are not appropriate for holy life. The path that the Buddha advises us to
follow is called the Middle path or the Noble Eight ford path, which avoids the
two extremes. It consists of eight
factors, namely: right understanding, right thought,
right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
and right concentration.
In brief the Lord Buddha states the following as the four 'Noble Truths' --
existence is suffering (dukkha), Suffering is cursedly giving (tanha), there is
the end of suffering, i.e. nirvana. The Noble Eight-fold path is the way leading
to the extinction of Suffering. The four points in the first sermon are
collectively called the "Four Noble Truths". They are the embodiment of the
whole teaching of the Lord Buddha.
The Buddha left an invaluable legacy of spiritual heritage, which has spread
over the world for last 2,553 years. This day is therefore known as the day of
“Buddha Purnima” as it commemorates the three important events in the Buddhu's
life.
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