THE DHARMA OR DOCTRINE
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Olcott, Henry Steel
A. Buddhism teaches that there are whole Sakwalas, or systems of worlds, of various kinds, higher and lower, and also that the inhabitants of each world correspond in development with itself.
145. Q. Has not the Buddha summed up his whole doctrine in one gāthā, or verse?
A. Yes.
146. Q. Repeat it?
A. Sabba pāpassa akaranm, Kusalassa upasampadā Sachitta pariyo dapanam— Etam Buddhānusāsanam.
"To cease from all evil actions, To generate all that is good, To cleanse one's mind: This is the constant advice of the Buddhas."
147. Q. Have the first three of these lines any very striking characteristics?
A. Yes: the first line embodies the whole spirit of the Vinaya Pitaka, the second that of the Sutta, the third that of the Abhidhamma. They comprise only eight Pālī words, yet, as the dew-drop reflects the stars, they sparkle with the spirit of all the Buddha Dharma.
148. Q. Do these precepts show that Buddhism is an active or a passive religion?
A. To "cease from sin" may be called passive, but to "get virtue" and "to cleanse one's own heart," or mind, are altogether active qualities. Buddha taught that we should not merely not be evil, but that we should be positively good.
149. Q. Who or what are the "Three Guides"[2] that a Buddhist Is supposed to follow?
A. They are disclosed in the formula called the Tisarana: "I follow Buddha as my Guide: I follow the Law as my Guide: I follow the Order as my Guide." These three are, in fact, the Buddha Dharma.
150. Q. What does he mean when repeating this formula?
A. He means that he regards the Buddha as his all-wise Teacher, Friend and Exemplar; the Law, or Doctrine, as containing the essential and immutable principles of Justice and Truth and the path that leads to the realisation of perfect peace of mind on earth; and the Order as the teachers and exemplars of that excellent Law taught by Buddha.
151. Q. But are not some of the members of this "Order" men intellectually and morally inferior?
A. Yes; but we are taught by the Buddha that only those who diligently attend to the Precepts, discipline their minds, and strive to attain or have attained one of the eight stages of holiness and perfection, constitute his "Order". It is expressly stated that the Order referred to in the "Tisarana" refers to the "Attha Ariya Puggala"—the Noble Ones who have attained one of the eight stages of perfection. The mere wearing of yellow robes, or even ordination, does not of itself make a man pure or wise or entitle him to reverence.
152. Q. Then it is not such unworthy bhikkhus as they, whom the true Buddhist would lake as his guides?
A. Certainly not.
153. Q. What are the five observances, or universal precepts, called the Pañcha Sīla, which are imposed on the laity in general?
A. They are included in the following formula,, which Buddhists repeat publicly at the vihāras (temples):
I observe the precept to refrain from destroying the life of beings.
I observe the precept to refrain from stealing.
I observe the precept to abstain from unlawful sexual intercourse.[3]
I observe the precept to refrain from falsehood.
I observe the precept to abstain from using intoxicants.
154. Q. What strikes the intelligent person on reading these Sīlas?
A. That one who observes them strictly must escape from every cause productive of human misery. If we study history we shall find that it has all sprung from one or another of these causes.
155. Q. In which Sīlas is the far-seeing wisdom of the Buddha most plainly shown?
A. In the first, third and fifth; for the taking of life, sensuality, and the use of intoxicants, cause at least ninety-five per cent of the sufferings among men.
156. Q. What benefits does a man derive from the observance of these Precepts?
A. He is said to acquire more or less merit according to the manner and time of observing the precepts, and the number observed; that is, if he observes only one precept, violating the other four, he acquires the merit of the observance of that precept only; and the longer he keeps that precept the greater will be the merit. He who keeps all the precepts inviolate will cause himself to have a higher and happier existence hereafter.
157. Q. What are the other observances which it is considered meritorious for the laity as such to undertake voluntarily to keep?
A. The Atthanga Sīla, or the Eightfold Precept, which embraces the five above enumerated (omitting the word "unlawful" in the third), with three additional; viz.:
I observe the precept to abstain from eating at an unseasonable time.
I observe the precept to abstain from dancing, singing, music and unbecoming shows, and from the use of garlands, scents, perfumes, cosmetics, ointments, and ornaments.
I observe the precept to abstain from using high and broad beds.
The seats and couches here referred to are those used by the worldly-minded for the sake of pleasure and sensual enjoyment. The celibate should avoid these.
158. Q. How would a Buddhist describe true merit?
A. There is no great merit in any merely outward act; all depends upon the inward motive that provokes the deed.
159. Q. Give an example?