.
Bhuddam Sharanam Gachhami
Birth-Live- Died. Sufferings with bad and best in the life, is man.
It is rather
strange that the founder of Buddhism never tried to establish a new religion. Yet millions of people accepted to follow it. He tried only to suggest measures by which one could be rid sufferings in the world. Where lays the strength of appeal particularly when there was no sword behind it?
The Buddha said to his disciples. ``I want to send you to a foreign land. But if they do not listen to you, what will you do?’’
``O Enlightened one! We will think they are very good people because though they have not listen to us, yet they have not abused us,’’ replied a disciple.
``And if they abuse you’’ asked the master.
``They are good people because they have not beaten us up’’, replied another disciple.
``And if they beat you up?’’ said master.
``They are still good people. They would have sent us to God when we are doing His work’’, replied the fourth disciple.
The master smiled and said, ``you have passed the test. Now you are capable of spreading my teachings’’.
This was the secret of the success of Buddhism. It became a world religion on the basis of non-violence and peace.
Buddhism accepted certain values of Hindu religion while it rejected certain other values. It gave no place to God and soul. Yet it gave place to ``Karma’’, ``Dharma’’, ``Sansar’ and ``Maya’’ etc. according to Buddha `Karma’ links us from one life to another and not the soul. He accepts rebirth but does not accept soul. He does not believe in the authority of God but believes in `Nirvana’. He took 547 births before his death.
He thought that all human beings were equal. Name was high or low. In fact it was more a social revolution than a religious one. Buddhist literature was written in Pali and not in Sanskrit.
The Buddha preached the following four Aryan principles:-
1) The world is full of sufferings. Life, death, sickness, grief and even pleasures are painful because they are temporary.
2) The cause of suffering is desires which mislead us.
3) We can be rid of suffering only by controlling desires.
4) For controlling desires we should following the eight-fold path.:
a) proper understanding
b) proper determination
c) proper expression
d) proper deeds
e) proper livelihood
f) proper efforts
g) proper control
h) proper meditation
The Buddha and Mahavira both believed in these principles. But the difference is that the Buddha laid emphasis on the Middle Path while Mahavira laid emphasis on rigorous penance and fasting. Both believed in non- violence.
Though Mahatma Buddha did not believe in God yet he did not reject the ultimate power- unborn, eternal and pure.
Published: September 29, 2009
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