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The Teachings of Buddha The Sterling Book of Buddha and his Teachings
These books by two scholars of Buddhism contain the teachings of Buddha taken from thousands of texts preserved over the centuries. Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai divides his book into four sections that contain a description of Buddha, the religion he propounded, the ways of practicing Buddha’s teachings, and a practical guide to true way of living. Kingsley Heendeniya provides an insight into the teachings of Buddha and describes the doctrine of Dhamma in a lucid style. He also identifies the misinterpretations of Dhamma that have persisted over the centuries. The aim, as explained by the author, is to give an overview of the life and times of Buddha, his teachings and an indication "why he taught it ." The story of Prince Siddhartha Gautam renouncing the pleasures of the palace and becoming a wandering ascetic, his achieving enlightenment and then teaching all who came to learn from him, finds mention in both books, though it is too well known to merit a detailed description. The philosophy propounded by him has caught the imagination of vast numbers in Asia and the far East, though it has nearly vanished from India where Buddhism is considered a breakaway from the Vedic religion or its offshoot. Buddha denied the authority of the Vedas and spread a message of universal benevolence and love for all with special emphasis on non-violence. Buddha had the courage to attack the prevailing superstition and priestcraft and the vested interests that flourished under this cover. He acknowledged no God and gave a central role to the doctrine of Karma. There is no mention of heaven or hell in his teachings. The four noble truths of Buddhism state that all existence is suffering, that the cause of suffering is desire, that freedom from suffering is Nirvana, and that Nirvana is attained through the enlightened path of ethical conduct, wisdom and mental discipline (including meditation). He set up organisations of celebrate monks and priests. For the householder, he prescribed a separate code. Unlike the Bible and the Quran, the scriptures of Buddhism are not books of divine revelation. These are the recorded sermons or addresses and dialogues of Buddha during his teaching life. "Never in this world does hatred cease by hatred, hatred ceases by love. Let man overcome anger by kindness, evil by good," he told his followers. He preached all this without recourse to any religious sanctions or any reference to God, or the "other world." He relied entirely on reason and logic and asked people to seek the truth in their own minds. He implored his followers to go into all lands and preach his gospel. He asked them to tell the people that the "poor and the lowly, the rich and the high are all one and that all castes unite in this religion as do the rivers in the sea." These two small volumes, coming from the same publishing house, will be of immense value to those who are interested in the study of religions that are extant today. These contain the essential concepts of the teachings of Buddha which touch all aspects of human life. |
Society
in India in the fifth century BC was dominated by superstition, ritual
and the priestcraft of Brahminic clergy. The ancient Vedic religion had
degenerated into a system of superstitious ceremonials and dealings with
the supernatural. It was in this environment that Buddha appeared with
his emphasis on ethics and appeal to logic and reason. His approach came
like a whiff of fresh air and his message went deep into the hearts of
the people.