Is it a philosophy or a religion?
It is one man’s effort to understand this world. Prince Siddhartha Gautama and others too, studied this world carefully to get some understanding and explanation of it and what we are as part of this world.
He developed a good personal philosophy – a way of understanding what you see and feel and do. He showed the way to liberation – to NIRVANA.
This is the basis of the world’s first great religion, the practice of which leads naturally to wisdom and virtue.
There are no unproven beliefs, no threats of command and resultant guilt complexes.
It is a natural maturing of the personality towards personal wisdom. It appeals to intellectuals for many good reasons- but there too, is its weakness because it provides no quick and easy explanations, nor a set of easily understood beliefs in this thing or that.
To understand Buddhism takes some reading and learning, but then, after time, a new understanding can dawn on the thinker. A series of “understandings” or flashes of understanding takes the Buddhist along the Noble Path to wisdom and even sainthood – Yes!
Meditation, reflection on the teachings, concentration, personal mindfulness in speech, thought and action all contribute to this journey along the path of purification – the original path found by the Buddha!
A secondary result from all this is a collective sense of happiness – or achieving the sense of minimum unhappiness.
With the growth of available information, book publishing and the Internet, people in the West are discovering something old and of great stature in the Orient, but not previously transmitted accurately. It is modern developments in today’s world that are breaking down the barriers of ignorance in the West, providing new truths for the average man and woman in the towns and cities all round the world.
If you wish to open the door and explore this cave of oriental treasures please write for more information to:-
The Buddhist Society, 58, Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PH, United Kingdom.
More information may be obtained from Temples like Amaravati or Chithurst (Chittaviveka) Temple. If you give them your address they will post books free of charge. These are very good publications. They also have CDs. (All donations welcome!) There are also some excellent internet sites.
SUGGESTED BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS:
Introductory: “Buddhism – A Living Message” by Venerable Piyadassi Thera
“Mind Unshaken”
by John Walters (from BPS)
The Teachings: “What the Buddha Taught”
by Venerable Dr. Walpola Rahula.
Meditation
– first steps: “The Practice of Recollection”
by Bhikkhu Mangalo
(from the Buddhist Society, London)
Books are available from:
1) The Buddhist Cultural centre, 125, Anderson Road, Nedimala- Dehiwela, Sri Lanka
2) The Buddhist Publication Society, P.O. Box 61, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
“The gift of truth, which leads to wisdom,
is the greatest of all gifts”
1996
Resubmited by R.O.S