BUDDHA’S MESSAGE IS STILL RELEVANT AND INSPIRING FOR THE WHOLE WORLD

 

    Picture Courtesy : PIXABAY

As the world is becoming increasingly superficial and beset by conflicts, the Buddha's philosophies are becoming more relevant.  According to Buddha, all sources of happiness are momentary, and every happiness comes with suffering. Thus, instead of looking for happiness in external things, we need to look inward and assess our internal feelings and attitudes. 

Buddha’s teachings are very wise and they guide everyone to the path of enlightenment. His teachings on inner peace, compassion, and mindfulness are as relevant today as they were many years ago. His edification provides lasting guidance to deal with the complexities of life. 

His famous theory of ‘Karma’ emphasizes that good conduct brings good results while bad conduct brings bad results and that results of the karmic acts are reaped both in the present life and the life after rebirth.

 

The Life of Buddha 

Siddhartha Gautama was an Indian prince who left behind a life of luxury to become a wandering holy man and eventually, an enlightened being. According to Buddhist legends, he was born in Lumbini which is in Nepal. Buddhists believe that after leading a life of mendicancy, asceticism, and meditation, he attained enlightenment and liberation under the Bodhi Tree by the Neranjara river at Bodh Gaya in India.  

In continuation, he remained silent for forty-nine days. Then, he decided to share his teachings, and to accomplish this noble cause, he thought of his former teachers, Alara, Kalama, and Uddaka Ramaputta. He wanted to share his insights with them but they were no more. So, he decided to visit his five former companions. Buddha then journeyed from Bodhgaya to Sarnath, a small town near the sacred city of Varanasi in India. There he met his five former companions, the ascetics with whom he had shared the teaching that was later recorded as the Dhammacakkappavattana, Sutta which introduces fundamental concepts of Buddhist thought. 

He is considered as one of the most important Asian thinkers and spiritual masters of all times, and he contributions to many areas of philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics are worth reading.

The Buddha Teachings

The Buddha Teachings laid the foundation of Buddhist philosophy, initially developed in South Asia, then later in the rest of Asia. After achieving enlightenment, Buddha gave his first sermon, teaching his disciples about suffering and the way to escape it. His teaching includes the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Noble Path. The truths that the Buddha revealed are called 'Dharma'.

He emphasizes a life of moderation, compassion, and non-violence. This particular approach is called the “Middle Path.” In his early teachings, Buddha identified “three poisons”, or three fires, or three negative qualities of the mind that are the root cause of most of our problems in our lives—and in the world. The three poisons are greed (raga, and lust), hatred (dvesha, or anger), and delusion (moha, or ignorance). 

According to Buddha, if you wish to realize enlightenment, it is necessary to fully understand the three universal truths—Annica (Impermanence), Dukka (Suffering), and Anatta (No self). These three laws or truths not only explain human predicaments but also the world and the universe around us.

Besides, the Four Noble Truths are the Buddha’s basic teachings.

1.      There is Suffering -  Suffering is common to all.

2.    Cause of Suffering - We are the cause of our suffering.

3.    End of Suffering  - Stop doing what causes suffering.

4.    Path to end Suffering - Everyone can be enlightened. 

Buddha said, “No one can escape death and unhappiness. If people expect only happiness in life, they will be disappointed.” Things are not always the way we want them to be, but we can learn to understand them. When we get sick, we go to a doctor and ask:

·What’s wrong with me?

·Why am I sick?

·What will cure me?

·What do I have to do to get well?

Here, Buddha is the doctor in life. First, a good doctor diagnoses the illness. Next, he finds out what has caused it. Then he decides what the cure is. Finally, he prescribes the medicine or gives the treatment that will make the patient well again.

As per Buddha's teachings  “The kind of seed sown will produce that kind of fruit. Those who do good will reap good results. Those who do evil will reap evil results. If you carefully plant a good seed, you will joyfully gather good fruit.” – Dhammapada.

Buddha’s 14 commandments steer us towards a righteous life:

1. The biggest enemy of human life – is himself.

2. The biggest folly of human life – it is a lie.

3. The greatest loss in life – is arrogance.

4. The greatest sorrow in life – it’s envy.

5. The biggest mistake in life – to lose himself.

6. The biggest fault in human life – ingratitude.

7. The most unfortunate in life –impairing their dignity.

8. The most admirable of human life –is to rise after falling.

9. The greatest loss of human life – the loss of hope.

10. Greatest asset in life – health and mind.

1.     The largest debt in human life – heartfelt feelings.

2.    The greatest gift in life – generosity.

3.    The biggest drawback in life – misunderstanding.

4.    The greatest consolation in life – good things.

Buddhism: An important religion in most of the Asian countries

Buddhism was founded in the late 6th century B.C.E. by Gautam Buddha. It is known as an important religion in most of the countries of Asia. Since Siddhartha was born into a Hindu family, Buddhism is considered to have originated in part from the Hindu religious tradition, and some Hindus revere Buddha as an incarnation of a Hindu deity. As per Hindu Mythology, Lord Buddha is believed to be one of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu. Mention about him have been found in the Bhagvat and Vishnu Purana.

Lord Buddha may be considered as one of the most energetic and the most active of all religious teachers that ever lived on earth. It was the Buddha who, for the first time in the known history of mankind, attempted to abolish slavery and “invented the higher morality and the idea of the brotherhood of the entire 232 human race and in striking terms condemned” the degrading caste-system which was firmly rooted in Indian Society at that time. He also raised the status of women and insisted on their importance to society. Before that, women in India were not held in high esteem.

Gautam Buddha was the first and most active missionary in the world. Buddha’s Wisdom is broad as the ocean and His Spirit is full of great Compassion. Buddha has no form but manifests Himself in Exquisiteness and leads us with His whole heart of Compassion. He wandered from place to place for forty-five years preaching His doctrine to the masses and the intelligentsia. Till His last moment, He served humanity both by example and by precept. 

Every year, Buddha Purnima marks the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.