When a disciple of the Buddha asked whether there is any evidence of gods, the Buddha asked whether there is any evidence to disprove the existence of gods.
By Sanjoo Thangjam
The quotations that I have written below are the sayings of the founders of several religions and also by different religious teachers, great philosophers, thinkers, scientists, historians, psychologists, politicians, free thinkers, and some other publications, too.
I have given their names and the references under each quotation. Nonetheless, there are also many other quotations where references are not given. Most of them are chiseled out by me. Believe it or not.
Buddhism & Atheism
Though free thinkers and atheists at times, acclaim the Buddha as one of their own, yet Buddhism is not an Atheistic Teaching, if the word ‘atheism’ is used in a derogatory sense of reproach and condemnation. Buddhism does not waste time fighting against belief in God or gods. When rightly understood, it supersedes all theistic as well as atheistic doctrines.
Buddhism & Humanism
Buddhism is humanism where equality, morals, justice, freedom of thought, wisdom and peace reign supreme. Humanism cannot be attained through the influence of external sources.
Buddhism & the Parliamentary System
It may come as surprise to many to learn that in the assemblies of the Buddhists two thousand five hundred years ago, are to be found the rudiments of our own parliamentary practice of the present day, says Lord Zeland, Viceroy of India.
Buddhism & Miracles
Changing the wicked or the cruel to be kind-hearted, a stingy person to be generous, a stupid person to be intelligent, a criminal to be saintly, a lazy one to be energetic is the real miracle in the eyes of the Buddha. The performance of magic does not constitute miracles.
Buddhism & Morality
Morality was considered necessary since it alone could help in enforcing strict discipline and growth of one’s personality. It stands at the apex of the Buddha’s religious and social philosophies.
Dr BR Ambedkar says, “Morality is the essence of Dharma. Morality in Dharma arises from the direct necessity for man to love man. It does not require the sanction of God, it is not to please God that man has to be moral. It is for his own good and for the well-being of others that man has to love man.”
Buddhism & Hinduism
Hindu system of philosophy would have lost much of their depth, interest and value if they had not assimilated much from Buddhism, says Dr SN Dasgupta.
Buddhism & Religion
Buddhism is not strictly a religion in the sense in which that the word is commonly understood, for it is not ‘a system of faith and worship’ and does not owe any allegiance to a supernatural being.
But it is a noble way of life for human beings to maintain human dignity and give credit to human intelligence.
Buddhism is not a message or something revealed by a supernatural divine being. Buddhism is the Dharma or universal phenomena understood by the Buddha through his enlightenment. Dharma is to understand the nature of life and worldly conditions and to train oneself by leading a righteous way of life and also gain mental tranquillity and finally deliverance from physical and mental sufferings.
Buddhism & World Civilisation
Western historians such as H.G. Wells have admitted that Buddhism has done more for the advancement of world civilisation and true culture than any other influence in the chronicles of mankind and that much that is best in other religions, has been drawn from Buddhism, while none of them has matched it in the purity of ideas and nobility of teaching.
Buddhism & Science
The Buddha is the pillar of wisdom and Buddhism begins where science ends. Buddhism is the complete conceivable victory of mankind over itself. The Buddhist’s way of thinking belongs to the future, says Julius Huxley.
Buddhism & Material objects
The damages to Buddhist objects and places have been done. However, as long as people follow the Buddha’s advice, his teaching or Dharma will continue to exist in the minds of the people. The Buddha’s teachings can survive even if the images, pagodas, monasteries and books are destroyed.
The material side of Buddhism can always be reconstructed for so long as the teachings are still within the minds of the people.
Buddhism & Religious Slavery
Buddhism can eliminate the darkness of ignorance and liberate the human being from the danger of his unconscious illusion and religious slavery. It can help man to become his own master. Man can free himself from all evil if he can understand the nature of his own mind. In modern times, entertainment have been introduced to satisfy human emotions and relax the mind. They have become like drugs to create more excitement and restlessness in the mind arousing the hidden animal nature of the man.
The main purpose of religion is to calm to reduce tension, excitement and fear from the mind.
Buddhism & Brotherhood
Buddhism is not meant to be an organisation for converting those of other faiths, but a brotherhood of mind and heart ready to help those, who had been inspired by the teachings of the Buddha and who wanted to put it into practice as human beings, says Anagarika Govinda.
Buddhism & many religious beliefs that India had Buddhism is regarded as the rebel child of Hinduism. That is why Hinduism threw away Buddhism after taking its essence, says Swami Vivekananda.
Buddhism & Majestically
In spite of the ravages of time and destruction by Indian and foreign fanatics. Buddhism is still speaking vividly and majestically.
Through its thousands of inscriptions, about one thousand rock-cut sanctuaries and monasteries, thousands of ruined stupas and monastic establishments, and an incalculable number of images , sculptures, paintings and emblems, teachings prevailed universally among the classes and masses of India for over fifteen centuries after the age of Buddha.
Buddhism & Philosophy
Buddhism lays special emphasis on practice and realisation based on understanding, whereas philosophy deals mainly with knowledge and is not concerned with practice. Therefore, the concern of philosophy is to know and that of Buddhism is to practice.
Buddhism & God or gods
When a disciple of the Buddha asked whether there is any evidence of gods, the Buddha asked whether there is any evidence to disprove the existence of gods.
Buddhism & Religious Harmony
Another feature of Buddhism is its avoidance of quarrels with other religions or condemning other religions. Buddhism tries to reveal the truth. If aspects of this truth are found in other religions, Buddhism is ready to acknowledge it. This spirit of understandings is born not out of weakness but out of the strength of self-confidence.
(The writer is well versed in Buddhism and is also a Imphal based columnist)
