Some consider Buddhism a philosophy; some consider it a religion; some think of it as a way of life. However you look at it, it doesn’t matter. If we want to learn and benefit from the Buddha’s teaching, we must study it, apply it, and examine it thoroughly. The Buddha’s teaching expresses a universal truth. This truth is absolute. Buddhism does not belong to a particular ethnic group, country or region; it belongs to all human beings who can think and reason. THE Dhamma Niyamata shut up a Anguttara NikayaThe Buddha said, “Whether tathagatas appear or not, there is this established element of dhamma, the established law of dhamma… The Tathagata is fully aware of this and fully understands. Such is the awakened and understanding, he announces, points out, declares, establishes, expounds, explains and clarifies.” Whether the Buddha is alive or not, the teaching exists because it articulates the truth about the nature of the world. Buddha’s task was to rediscover the hidden truth.
Buddha was an investigator, researcher and teacher. His aim was to understand the nature of the world; this is also the goal of those who follow the Buddha’s teachings. According to Buddha’s teaching, the nature of the world is cyclical. We cannot find a starting point or an ending point. By breaking this repetitive cycle, one can achieve the goal of Buddhism: liberation. Furthermore, our world has three characteristic aspects: impermanence, suffering, and no-self. Those who develop this understanding of the true nature of the world can eradicate their mental impurities. This allows a person to experience a higher quality of life. Buddha’s guidance can help us, but we must recognize this nature ourselves. Buddha was a teacher, not a savior. The opportunity and methods of learning and practicing are offered, but then it is up to us whether we use this opportunity with a clear mind.
Buddha was a teacher, not a savior. The opportunity and methods of learning and practicing are offered, but then it is up to us whether we use this opportunity with a clear mind.
As humans born into this world, we must do three things to achieve our Buddhist goal: Do no harm, do only good, and purify our minds. According to this teaching, we must first understand what not to do. According to the Middle Length discourse, a Ambalattika Rahulovada Suttaif there is something that is harmful to me, harmful to others, or harmful to both, it is an action that we should refrain from. So, in order to avoid harm, we must comply with the regulations, we must always behave morally. Precepts help in the formation of morality and provide a virtuous environment for our lives. By living in this virtuous environment, we can practice generosity to reduce our desire, anger, and ignorance. Second, if there is something useful for me, useful for others, and useful for both, then we should do it. Third, to control our senses, we must develop our mind. This means reducing mental impurities and developing a healthy mind. The most effective way to do this is to practice meditation. By practicing meditation, we can develop our mind. These three activities are directly related to morality, concentration and wisdom. And the development of wisdom is the goal of Buddhists.
Those who follow the Noble Eightfold Path of the Buddha must develop qualities based on three basic activities, which in Pali are called: Dana, thoseand bhavana (generosity, morality, meditation). Our basic Buddhist practice is to avoid killing, stealing, adultery, lying, and the use of drugs and alcohol. By following these practices, we can maintain a friendly and peaceful lifestyle. By maintaining concentration, we can live consciously. Mindfulness allows us to become moment by moment aware of what we are doing. Mindfulness is also the way to create concentration; and when we gain concentration, we acquire wisdom. THE Dhammapada states: “There is no concentration without wisdom, no wisdom without concentration. He who has both concentration and wisdom is close to peace and emancipation.” By developing wisdom, we can think deeply and broadly about our physical, verbal, and mental actions. We can clearly see the results of our actions. We know this present life and can foresee the future. By understanding kamma (mindful action) and the effect of kamma, we live as Buddhists, whatever religion or ethnicity we belong to. This means that anyone can become a Buddhist if they apply this method in their life. Being born into a Buddhist family does not make you a Buddhist practitioner. Going to a temple, staying with monks, and worshiping the Buddha does not make you a follower of the Buddha; but if you live consciously, avoiding harmful activities, then you can truly become a disciple of Buddha. We find a Dhammapada Panditavagga: “There are few among the people who go to the far shore; the rest run here on this shore. But those who are well established in the Dhamma, those who practice the Dhamma are among those who transcend the realm of death, so difficult to escape.”
Buddhists rely on his teachings based on knowledge rather than faith. They use wisdom and not blind faith. They are not dependent on a superpower or divine messengers.
After his enlightenment, Shakyamuni Gautama became the Buddha – the awakened one. He was a teacher who founded Buddhism in India 2,600 years ago. Buddha advised his monks to take his teachings as their guide after his death. Even today, Buddhism does not have a world leader. Our guide is the teaching of the Buddha, the dhamma. However, we have a Buddhist community (sangha) managers. They only run the community, not the dispensation, and they don’t advocate relaxing the Buddha’s rules. Therefore, no one can modify or edit the Buddha’s teaching. Buddhists rely on his teachings based on knowledge rather than faith. They use wisdom and not blind faith. They are not dependent on a superpower or divine messengers. Following the teaching tools as a Karaniya Metta Sutta: “be able, upright, upright, obedient, meek, and humble.” In addition, Buddhist practitioners must “be lanterns themselves” and employ determination, mindfulness, pure conduct, prudence, self-restraint, right living, and vigilance. Those who directly apply this method to their lives find that their reputations grow and go from shine to shine. The Buddha gave the following explanation to Mahaprapathi Gotami, who was his stepmother. Gotami Sutta on what is dhamma and what is not dhamma: “As for its qualities, Gotami may know, these qualities lead to dispassion, not to passion, to unrestrainedness, not to fetter; to self-righteousness, not to self-exaltation; to modesty, not to overwhelming satisfaction, not to ambition; to entangle energy in excitement, not to laziness, to be unencumbered, not to be burdensome. The Buddha said this is the dhamma, this is the teacher’s instruction. So we can develop these qualities by understanding what is dhamma and what is not dhamma.
On Vesak Day, we celebrate three occasions in the Buddha’s life: the day Prince Siddhartha was born, the day he awakened to the truth and became the Buddha, and the day he ended his life’s journey. As followers of Buddha, this day is significant for us. We can gain the right views from his teaching, and by following his path we can reach the goal of liberation.
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This article was originally published by Bhavana Society and republished with permission.
