Buddhism is a great religion which enlightened humanity
twenty-five centuries ago and released from all bondages,
superstitious practices. It is a scientific religion. Gotama the
Buddha is honoured today by every cultured and intelectual man
irrespective of whatever religion he may profess, while the
founders of most of the other religions are honoured only by their
followers. Not only those who belong to some religions but also
so-called free thinkers respect this world honoured Supreme
Enlightened One. From the historical point of view there never
lived any other Teacher who has ever given so much religious
freedom as well as due credit to humanity. Before the advent of the
Buddha, religion had been owned and monopolised only by a certain
section of the society. The Buddha was the Teacher in history who
indiscriminately opened the gate of religion to each and every man
society. The Buddha has advised his followers to cultivate and
develop the latent power of man and showed him how to make the best
use of his willpower and intelligance without being a slave to an
unknown being to find eternal hapiness which He proclaimed to the
world through His own experience but not through therories, mere
beliefs and traditional practices. His teaching is such that anyone
can practise it without having any religious brand.
To compile this book I have selected various statements made by
eminent philosophers, scholars, historians, scientists, writers,
religious dignitaries, social reformers and politicians who are
well-known to the modern-world as most intellectual people. Among
them many are non-Buddhist and free thinkers. According to them,
Buddhism is the most practical and rational religion which will
apeal to scientific knowledge and which really can do a better
service to mankind if the followers practise this religion
properly.
It therefore gives me great pleasure to present these valuable
quotations extracted from various books and articles. Whatever may
be the opinion of those who have given Buddhism the topmost place
in the religious field, the compiler by quoting them, does not mean
to belittle other religious beliefs, for the idea of publishing
this book is not to show the superiority of Buddhism over other
religions but on the contrary to reflect the unbiased views
expressed by various intellectuals.
All the captions to the statements in this book were given by
the compiler.
K. Sri Dhammananda
25.11.1992 - B. E. 2536
THE BUDDHA
The Buddha?s greatness
I cannot myself feel that either in the matter of wisdom or in
the matter of virtue Christ stands quite as high as some other
people known to history ? I think I should put Buddha above
him in those respects. Bertrand Russell, " Why I am not a
Christian"
-
Embodiment of virtues
Buddha was the embodiment of all virtues he preached. During his
successful and eventful ministry of 45 years he translated all his
words into action; and in no place did he give vent to any human
frailty, or any base passion. The Buddha?s moral code is the most
perfect which the world has ever known.
- Prof. Max Muller, German Scholar
Blossom of the human tree
This is the blossom on our human tree
Which opens in many a myriad years
But opened, fills the world with wisdom?s scent
And love?s dropped honey.
- Sir Edwin Arnold, "Light of Asia"
Buddha is nearer to us
You see clearly a man, simple, devout, lonely, battling for
light, a vivid human personality, not a myth. Beneath a mass of
miraculous fable I feel that there also was a man. He too, gave a
message to mankind universal in its character. Many of our best
modern ideas are in closest harmony with it. All the miseries and
discontents of life are due, he taught, to selfishness. Selfishness
takes three forms ? one, the desire to satisfy the senses;
second, the craving for immortality; and the third the desire for
prosperity and worldliness. Before a man can become serene he must
cease to live for his senses or himself.
Then he merges into a great being. Buddha in a different
language called men to self-forgetfulness five hundred years before
Christ. In some ways he was nearer to us and our needs. Buddha was
more lucid upon our individual importance in service than Christ,
and less ambiguous upon the queation of personal immortality.
- H.G. Wells
Most Noble of Mankind
If you desire to see the most noble of mankind, look at the king
in beggar?s clothing; it is he whose sanctity is great among
men.
- Abdul Atahiya, A Muslim Poet
Buddha?s Method
If any question has to be considered, it has to be considered
peacefully and democratically in the way taught by the Buddha.
- Nehru
Lunatic and a Sane Man
The difference between the Buddha and an ordinary man is like
the difference between a sane man and a lunatic
- A writer
Homage to Buddha
Lord Buddha could be very easily singled out as the one person
known to man who received homage from the greatest number of
mankind.
-Prof. Saunders, Literary Secretary Y.M.C.A. India,
Burma, Ceylon
Buddha?s Message
The Buddha has been something greater than all doctrine and
dogma, and his eternal message has thrilled humanity through the
ages. Perhaps at no time in past history was his message of peace
more needed for a suffering and distracted humanity than it is
today.
- Nehru
Negative Answer of The Buddha
If we ask, for instance, whether the position of the electron
remains the same, we must say ?no?; if we ask whether the
electron?s position changes with time, we must say ?no?; if we
ask whether it is in motion, we must say ?no?. The Buddha has given
such answers when interrogated as to the conditions of a man?s self
after his death; but they are not familiar answers for the
tradition of seventeenth and eighteenth century science.
- J. Robert Oppenheimer
We are impressed by His spirit of Reason
When we read Buddha?s discourses, we are impressed by his spirit
of reason. His ethical path has for its first step right views, a
rational outlook. He endeavours to brush aside all cobwebs that
interfere with mankind?s vision of itself and its destiny.
- Dr. S Radhakrishnan,"Gautama The Buddha"
Cool Head and Loving Heart
The most striking thing about the Buddha is almost a unique
combination of a cool scientific head and profound sympathy of a
warm and loving heart. The world today turns more and more towards
the Buddha, for he alone represents the consience of humanity.
- Moni Bagghee,"Our Buddha"
Philosophic genius
The Buddha was a pioneer as a lover of men, and a philosophic
genius rolled into a single vigorous and radiant personality. He
had things to say that no man or woman, after 2500 years of
bustling and hustling and chattering round the fountain of
knowledge, can afford to ignore. Greater perhaps than his wisdom
was the example he set.
-Moni Bagghee,"Our Buddha"
He does not speak of sin
Serenity of spirit and love for all sentient creation are
enjoined by the Buddha. He does not speak of sin, but only of
ignorance and foolishness which could be cured by enlightenment and
sympathy.
- Dr. S Radhakrisnan,"Gautama the Buddha"
Buddha is like a physician
The Buddha is like a physician. Just as a doctor must know the
diagnosis of the different kinds of illness, their causes, the
antidotes and remedies, and must be able to apply them, so also the
Buddha has taught the Four Holy Truths which indicate the range of
suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the way which lead to its
cessation.
- Dr. Edward Conze,"Buddhism"
Buddha is for whole mankind
The Buddha is not a property of Buddhists only. He is the
property of whole mankind. His teaching is common to everybody.
Every religion, which came into existence after the Buddha, has
borrowed many good ideas from the Buddha.
- A Muslim Scholar
A Wise Father
Buddha is one who sees his children playing in the consuming
fire of worldliness and employs different expedients to bring them
out of this burning house and lead them to the safe asylum of
Nirvana.
- Prof.Lakshimi Nasaru, "The Essence of Buddhism"
Buddha is the way
I feel more and more that Sakyamuni is the nearest in character
and effect to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and The Life.
- Bishop Milman
A Radiant Sun
In this world of storm and strife, hatred and violence, the
message of the Buddha shines like a radiant sun. Perhaps at no time
was that message more needed than in the world of atomic and
hydrogen bombs. Two thousand five hundred years have only added to
the vitality and truth of that message. Let us remember that
immortal message and try to fashion our thoughts and actions in the
light of the teaching. We may face with equanimity even the terrors
of the atomic bomb age and help a little in promoting right
thinking and right action.
- Nehru
Greatest man ever born
Here is a teaching we can follow with confidence. Where in the
world of religions, cults and creeds, can we find a master of such
brilliance? In a pageant of stars he was a giant of the greatest
magnitude. Little wonder that scientists, philosophers, and men of
literature have proclaimed Him ?the Greatest man ever born?.
The radiance of this great teacher goes through a world of
suffering and darkness, like a beacon light to guide and illuminate
mankind.
- A European Writer
BUDDHISM
Fundamental Teachings of The Buddha
Gentleness, serenity, compasion, through liberation from
selfish-craving - are the fundamental teachings of the great
Oriental religion of Buddhism.
- E.A.Burtt, "The Compassionate Buddha"
Well Built Bridge
Buddha Dharma is like a bridge well built of flexible steel, it
gives a little to wind and water, it adapts itself to changing
circumstances, but at the same time it has secured foundations and
offers a safe way to the Deathless, to Nirvana.
- Phra Khantipalo,"Tolerance"
To Awake the Human Heart
Surely the mysteriously East, that fertile mother of religions,
has given us in Buddhism a true revelation, since it makes known to
us the moral beauty and purity that lies in the deep of human
nature needing no other divinity than that which abides in the
human heart to awake them into living glory.
- Charles T.Gorham
Nothing to Surpass Buddhism
Buddhist or not Buddhist, I have examined everyone of the great
religious systems of the world, and in none of them have I found
anything to surpass, in beauty and comprehensiveness, the Noble
Eightford Path and the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha. I am
content to shape my life according to that path.
- Prof. Rhys Davids
Buddhism does not leas us to a Fool?s Paradise
Buddhism is realistic, for it takes a realistic view of life and
the world. It does not falsely pull us into living in a fool?s
paradis, nor does it frighten and agonize us with all kinds of
imaginary fears and guilt-feelings. It calls us exactly and
objectively what we are and what the world around us is, and shows
us the way to perfect freedom, peace, tranquility and
happiness.
- Ven. Dr. W. Rahula
The Buddha?s Mission
The mission of the Buddha was quite unique in it?s character,
and therefore it stands quite apart from the many other religions
of the world. His mission was to bring the birds of idealism flying
in the air nearer to the earth, because the food for their bodies
belonged to the earth.
- Hazrat Inayat Khan,"The Sufi Message"
A cosmic religion
The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should
transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering
both the natural and the spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism
answers this description.
- Albert Einstein
Buddhism will remain unaffected
The doctrines of Buddha Dhamma stand today, as unaffected by the
march of time and the expansion of knowledge as when they were
first enunciated. No matter to what lengths increase scientific
knowledge can extend man?s mental horizon, within the frame work of
the Dhamma there is room for the acceptance and assimilation of the
further discovery. It does not rely for it?s appeal upon limited
concepts of primitive minds not for it?s power upon the negation of
thought.
- Francis Story ,"Buddhism as World Religion
Joyful religion
Buddhism is quite opposed to the melancholic, sorrowful,
petinent and gloomy attitude of mind which is considered a
hindrance to the realization of Truth. On the other hand, it is
interesting to remember here that joy is one of the
seven ?Factors of Illumination?, the essential qualities to be
cultivated for the realization of Nirvana.
- Ven.Dr. W. Rahula, "What the Buddha Taught"
Challenge to other religions
It is Buddhismas we find it actually recorded, not hypothetical
primitive system, which still forms a challenge to other
religions.
- Bishop Gore, "Buddha and the Christ."
No assumption in Buddhism
It is a glory of Buddhism that it makes intellactual
enlightenment an essential condition of salvation. In Buddhism
morality and interlectual enlightenment are inseparable from one
another. While morality forms the basis of the higher life,
knowledge and wisdom complete it. Without a perfect understanding
of the law of casuality and transformation (Pratityasamutpada), no
one else can even be said to be truly moral if he does not possess
the necessary insight and knowledge. In this respect Buddhism
differs from all other religions. All montheistic religions start
with certain assumption, and when these assumptions are
contradicted by the growth of knowledge it increases sorrow. But
Buddhism starts with no assumptions. It stands on the firm rock of
facts, and can therefore never shun the dry light of knowledge.
- Prof. Lakhsmi Naras,."The Essence of Buddhism"
Buddha has seen deeper them modern idealists
Gautama got rid of even that shade of a shadow of permanent
existance by a metaphysical tour de force of great interest to the
student of philosophy, seeing that it supplies the wanting half of
Bishop Berkeley?s well-known idealist argument. It is a remarkable
indication of the subtlety of Indian speculation that Gautama
should have seen deeper than the greatest of modern idealists. The
tendency of enlightened thought of all today all the world over is
not towards theology, but philosophy and psychology. The bark of
theological dualism is drifting into danger. The fundamental
principles of evolution and monism are being accepted by the
thoughtful.
- Prof.Huxley,"Evolution And Ethics"
Religious Revolution
Twenty- five centuries ago India witnessed an intellectual and
religious revolution which culminated in the overthrow of
monotheism, priestly selfishness, and the establishment of a
synthetic religion, a system of light and thought which was
appropriately called Dhamma ? Philosophical Religion.
- Anagarika Dharmapala,"The World debt to Buddha"
A Plan for Living
Buddhism is a plan for living in such a way as to derive highest
benefit from life. It is a religion of wisdom where knowledge and
intelligence predominate. The Buddha did not preach to win converts
but to enlighten listeners. - A Western writer
Come and See
Buddhism is not always a question of knowing and seeing and not
that of believing. The teaching of the Buddha is qualified as
Ehi-Passiko, inviting you to come and see, but not to come and
believe.
- Ven. Dr. W. Rahula,"What the Buddha Taught"
Religion of Man
Buddhism will last as long as the sun and moon last and the
human race exists upon the earth, for it is the religion of man, of
humanity as a whole.
- Bandaranaike, Former Prime Minister of Srilanka
Buddhist is not a slave to anybody
A Buddhist is not a slave to a book or to any person. Nor does
he sacrifice his freedom of thought by becoming a follower of the
Buddha. He can exercise his own free will and develop his knowledge
even to the extent of attaining Buddhahood himself, for all are
potential Buddhas.
- Ven. Narada Maha Thera, "What is Buddhism"
Life by principle
Buddhism taught a life not by rule, but by principle, a life of
beauty; and as a consequence, it was a religion of tolerance. It
was the most charitable system under the sun.
- Rev. Joseph Wain
Buddhism would remain
Buddhism would remain what it is even if it were proved that the
Buddha never lived.
- Christmas Humphreys, "Buddhism"
Modern Problems
To read a little Buddhism is to realise that the Buddhists knew,
two thousand five hundred years ago, far more about our modern
problems of psychology than they have yet been given credit for.
They studied these problems long ago and found their answers
too.
- Dr. Graham Howe
Mind Training
We hear much nowadays of thought-power, but Buddhism is the most
complete and effective system of mind-training yet placed before
the world.
- Dudley Wright
New Race
The Buddha created a new race of men, a race of moral heroes, a
race of salvation-workers, a race of Buddhas.
- Manmatha Nath Sastri
First Missionary
Buddhism is the first missionary religion in the history of
humanity with a universal message of salvation for all mankind. The
Buddha after his Enlightenment sent out sixty-one disciples in
different directions asking them to preach the doctrine for the
weal and welfare of mankind.
- Dr. K.N. Jayatilleke, "Buddhism and Peace"
No forced conversion
It was never, however, the buddhist way to proselytise ? in
the sense of forcing ideas and beliefs upon an unwilling audience,
much less to exert pressure of any kind, or any kind of flattery,
deceit or cajolery, to win adherence to one?s own point of view.
Buddhist missionaries have never competed for converts in the
marketplace.
- Dr. G.P.Malalasekara
Ultimate fact of reality
Here it is necessary to draw attention to another unique feature
of the religion of the buddha, namely, that it is the only religion
of any relgious teacher, which is the outcome of a consistent
philosophy, which claims to tell us about the ultimate facts of
existance and reality. The religion of the Buddha is a way of life
resulting from the acceptance of a view of life, which is said to
be factual. His philosophy is not without an account of the nature
of knowledge.
- Dr. K.N. Jayatilleke, "Buddhism and Peace"
No Fanaticism
Of Buddha alone can it be affirmed it is free from all
fanaticism. It?s aim being to produce in every man a thorough
internal transforming by self conquest, how can it have a recourse
to might or money or even persuasion for effecting conversion? The
Buddha has only shown the way to salvation, and it is left to each
individual to decide for himself if he would follow it.
- Prof. Lakshmi Narasu, "The Essence of Buddhism"
Buddhism and other faiths
Buddhism is like the palm of the hand, the other religions being
the fingers. - The great Khan Mongka
Buddhism is not a melancholy religion
Some people think that Buddhism is a dark and melancholy
religion. It is not so; it will it?s followers bright and cheerful.
When we read the birth stories of Bodhisatva, the future Buddha, we
learn how he cultivated the Perfection of patience and forbearance.
It will help as to be cheerful even in midst of great troubles and
to take delight in other?s welfare.
- Ven. Gnanatiloka, a German Buddhist scholar
Buddhism and social welfare
Those who think that Buddhism is interested only in lofty
ideals, high moral and philosophy thought, ignores any social and
economic of welfare people, are wrong. The Buddha was interested in
happiness of men. To him, happiness was not possible without
leading a pure life based on moral and spiritual principles. But he
knew that leading such a life was hard in unfavourable material and
social conditions.
Buddhism does not material welfare as an end in itself; it is
only a means to an end ? a higher and nobler end. But it is a
means which is indispensable, indespensable in achieving a higher
purpose for man?s happiness. So Buddhism recognizes the need of
certain minimum material conditions favourable to spiritual
success ? even that of a monk engaged in meditation in some
solitary place.
- Ven. Dr.W.Rahula, "What the Buddha Taugh"
Example from Asoka
Turn to Buddhism, and you will read that Asoka not only preached
a lofty morality but exercised the power of kingship in manner that
shames our modern sovereigns of other faiths.
- Geoffrey Mortimer, a writer in the West
Fixed Principles
It will not be possible even today to Buddhism that it is worn
out because it is rooted upon certain fixed principles that can
never be altered.
- Gertrude Garartt
Dhamma is the law
All teachings of the Buddha can be summed up in one word:
"Dhamma". The law of righteousness, exist not only in a man?s heart
but it exists in the universe also. All the universe is an
embodiment or revelation of Dhamma. The laws of nature which modern
science have discovered are revelations of Dhamma.
If the Moon rises and sets, it is because of Dhamma, for Dhamma
is that law residing in the universe that makes metter act in the
ways studied in physics, chemistry, zoology, botany and astronomy.
Dhamma exists in the universe just as Dhamma exists in the heart of
man. If man will live by Dhamma, he will escape misery and attain
Nibbana.
- Ven. A. Mahinda
Persecution
Of the great religions of history I prefer Buddhism, especially
in it?s earliest forms, because it has had the smallest element of
persecution.
- Bertrand Russell
Appreciation of Buddhism
Although one may originally be attracted by it?s remoteness, one
can appreciate the real value of Buddhism only when one judges it
by the result it produces in one?s own life from day to day.
- Dr. Edward Conze, a Western Buddhist scholar
Knowledge is the Key to higher path
Without senuous pleasure would life be endurable? Without belief
in immorality can man be moral? Without worship of a God can man
advance towards righteousness? Yes, replies the Buddha, these ends
can be attained by knowledge; knowledge alone the key to higher
path, the one worth pursuing in life; knowledge is that which
brings calmness and peace to life, which renderd man indifferent to
the storms of phenomenal world.
- Prof. Karl Pearson
Fortunate Buddhist
How fortunate are the humble followers of the Buddha who have
not inherited the fallacy of infallibility of any revealed book
from the very beginning.
- Ven. Prof. Ananda Kaushalyayana
Buddhism and Rites
Buddhism is thus a religion, and there is a little room in it
for ritual and ceremony. An act done with an idea of one?s own
conditioning ceases to be a rite. Much of the seemingly ritual of
present-day Buddhism, when seen thus are really not rites.
- Dr. W.F. Jayasuriya, "The Philosophy of Buddhism"
Saviour
If the Buddha is to be called a ?saviour? at all, it is
only in the sense that he discovered and showed the Path to
Liberation, Nivana. But we must tread the path ourselves.
-Ven. Dr W. Rahula, "What the Buddha Taught"
No force
To force oneself to believe and to accept a thing without
understanding is political, and not spirtual or intellectual.
-Ven. Dr. W. Rahula, "What the Buddha Taught"
Respect other religions
One should not honour only one?s own religion and condemn the
religions of others, but one should honour other?s religions for
this or that reason. So doing, one helps one?s own religion to grow
and renders service to the religions of others too. In acting
otherwise one digs the grave of one?s own religion and also does
harm to other religions. Whosever honours his own religion and
condemns other religions, thinking "I will glorify my own
religion". But on the contrary, in so doing he injures his own
religion more gravely. So concord is good: Let all listen, and be
willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others.
- Emperor Asoka
A genuine pride
A religion or a way of life is judged not merely by the truths
it proclaims but also by the change that it brings about in the
life of it?s followers. So far this test is concerned Buddhism has
a record of achievements in which we can take a genuine pride.
- D. Valisinha, General Secrstary, Maha Bodhi Society,
"Buddhist way of life"
Unconsciousness
It can also be said that India discovered the unconsciousness
earlier than the Western psycholigists. For them the unconscious
consists in the totality of the impressions which slumber in the
individual as the inheritance from his previous existance. The
Buddhis technique of meditation, which is concerned with the latent
forces, is thus a fore-runner of modern psycho-analysis, of
autogenic mental trainingetc.
- Prof. Von Glasenapp, a German scholar
Rational analysis
Buddhism is the only great religion of the owlr that is
consciously and frankly based on a systematic rational analysis of
the problems of life and of the way to its solution.
-Moni Bagghee, "Our Buddha"
Enemy of religion
There is little of what we call dogma in the Buddha?s teaching.
With a breadth of view rare in that age and not common in ours he
refuses to stifle critism. Intolerance seemed to him the greatest
enemy of religion.
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, "Gautama The Buddha"
Sectarianism
Most meophytes of some other religions are controlled by their
Guru and are forbidden to read the scriptures, doctrines,
magazines, booklets and tracts of other religions. This very rarely
happens within Buddhism.
- Phra Khantipalo, "Tolerance"
The Five precepts
These five precepts, indicate five arterial directions in which
the Buddhist self-control is to be exercised. Thus, the first rule
calls upon him to control the passion of anger, the second, the
desire for material possessions, the third, the lust of the flesh,
the fourth, cowardice and malevolence (causes of untruthfulness)
the fifth, the craving for unwholesome excitement.
- Edmon Holmes, "The creed of Buddha"
Man who achieved a great victory
One of the first scholars to begin the work of translating the
Pali Literature into English, was the son of a well known
clergyman. His object in undertaking the work was ti prove the
superiority of Christianity Over Buddhist. We must never forget the
happy chance which prompted him to undertake this work and thereby
make the precious Dhamma available to thousands in the West. The
name of this great scholar was Dr. Rhys Davids.
- Ven. A. Mahinda, "Blue Print of happiness"
Human Destiny
Over great areas of the world it still survives. It is possible
that in contact with Western science, and inspired by the spirit of
history, the original teaching of Gotama, revived and purified, may
yet play a large part in the direction of human destiny.
- H.G. Wells
Parliamentary system borrowed from Buddhism
It is probable that the tendency towards self government
evidenced by these various forms of corporate activity received
fresh impetus from the Buddhist rejection of the authority of the
priesthood and further but its doctrine of equality as exemplified
by its repudiation of caste. It is indeed to the Buddhist books
that we have to turn for an account of the manner in which the
affairs of the early examples of representative self-governing
institutions were conducted. It may come as a surprise to many to
learn that in assemblies of Buddhists in India 2500 years and more
ago are to be found the rudiments of our own parliamentary practice
of the present day.
The dignity of the assembly was preserved by the appointment of
a special officer ? the embryo of "Mr. Speaker" in our house
of commons. A second officer was appointed to see that when
necessary a quorum was secured ? the prototype of the Parliamentary
Chief Whip, in our own system. A member initiating business did so
in the form of a motion which was then open to discussion. In some
cases, this was done once only, in others three times, thus
anticipating the practise of Parliament in requiring that a bill be
read a third time before it becomes law. If discussion disclosed a
difference of opinion the matter was decided by the vote of the
majority, the voting being by ballot.
- Marquess of Zetland, a former Viceroy, "Legacy of
India"
MORALITY
Democracy
Buddhism was a democratic movement, which upheld democracy in
religion, democracy in society, and democracy in politics.
- Dr. Ambedkar
Ethical man of genius
In this sphere He gave expression to truths of everlasting value
and advanced the ethics not of India alone but of humanity. Buddha
was one of the greatest ethical men of genius ever bestowed upon
the world.
- Albert Schweitzer, a leading Western philosopher
World Culture
Buddhism has done more for the advance of world civilization and
true culture than any other influence in the chronicles of
mankind.
- H. G. Wells
TOLERANCE? PEACE? LOVE
To win Peace
The question that inevitably suggests itself is, how far can the
great message of the Buddha apply to the present-day world? Perhaps
it may apply, perhaps it may not, but if we follow the principles
enunciated by the Buddha, we will ultimately win peace and
tranquility for the world.
- Nehru
Wisdom is the sword and ignorance is the enemy
Not a single page of Buddhist history has ever been lurid with
the light of inquisitorial fires, or darkened with the smoke of
heretic or heathen cities ablaze, or red with blood of the
guiltless victims of religious hatred. Buddhism wields only one
sword, the sword of wisdom, and recognises only one enemy ?
ignorance. This is the testimony of history, and is not to be
gain-said.
- Prof. Bapat, "2500 years of Buddhism"
No unkind word
There was never an occasion when the Buddha flamed forth in
anger, never an incident when an unkind word escaped his lips.
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Practise of wisdom and compassion
It seemed that the kindly aesthetic, eternally young, seated
cross-legged on the lotus of purity with his right hand raised in
admonition, answered in these two words: "If you wish to escape
from suffering from fear, practise wisdom and compassion."
- Anatole France
No Persecution
There is no record known to me in the whole of the long history
of Buddhism throughout the many centuries where its followers have
been for such lengthened periods supreme, of any persecution by the
Buddhists of the followers of any other faith.
- Prof. Rhys Davids
MAN?S POSITION IN BUDDHISM
Man give law to nature
Law in the scientific sense is essentially a product of the
human mind and has no meaning apart from man. There is more meaning
in the statement that man gives law to nature than in its converse
that nature gives laws to man.
- Prof. Karl Pearson
Man is not ready made
Man today is the result of millions of repititions of thoughts
and acts. He is not ready made; he becomes, and is still becoming.
His character is predetermind by his own choice, the thought, the
act, which he chooses, that by habit, he becomes.
- Ven. Piyadassi
Man can stand on his own feet
Buddhism makes man stand on his own two feet and rouses self
confidence and engergy.
- Ven. Narada Thera, "Buddhism in a Nutshell"
Man can cease to be crushed
Man is greater that the blind forces of nature because even
though he is crushed by them he remains superior by virtue of his
understanding of them. Again., Buddhism carries the truth further:
it shows that by means of understanding man can also control his
circumstances. He can cease to be crushed by them, and use their
laws to raise himself.
- Pascal
SOUL
Belief in soul is the cuase of all the trouble
Buddhism stands unique in the history of human thought in
denyingthe existence of such a Soul, Self, ot Atman. According to
the teaching of the Buddha, the idea of self is an imaginary, false
belief which has no corresponding reality, and it produces harmful
thoughts or ?me? and ?mine?, selfish desire craving,
attachment, hatred, illwill, conceit, pride, egoism, and other
defilement, impurities and problems. It is the source of all
troubles in the world from personal conflicts to wars between
nations. In short, to this flase view can be traced all the evils
in the world.
- Ven. Dr. W. Rahula, "What the Buddha Taught"
Life after death is not a mystery
The difference between death and birth is only a thought moment:
the last thought moment in this life conditions the first thought
moment in the so called next life, which in fact is the continually
of tha same series. During this life itself, too, one thought
moment conditions the next thought moment. So, from the Buddhist
point of view, the question of life after death is not a great
mystery, and a Buddhist is never worried about this problem.
- Ven. Dr. W. Rahula, "What the Buddha Taught"
BUDDHISM AND SCIENCE
Buddhism and modern Science
?I have oftern said, and I shall say again and again, that
between Buddhism and modern Science there exist a close
intellectual bond?.
- Sir Edwin Arnold
Buddhism copes with Science
If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific
needs it would be Buddhism.
- Albert Einstein
A spiritual Science
Buddhism is, on the contrary, a system of thought, a religion, a
spirtual science and a way of life which is reasonable, practical
and all embracing. For 2500 years it has satisfied that spiritual
science and a way of life, which is reasonable, practical and all
embracing. For 2500 years it has satisfied the spirtual needs of
nearly one third of mankind. It appeals to the West, insists on
self reliance coupled with tolerance for the other ?s points
of view, embraces science, relgion, philosophy, psychology, ethics
and art, and points to man alone as the creator of his present life
and sole designer of his destiny.
- Christmas Humphreys
Buddhism begins where science ends
Science can give no assurance herein. But Buddhism can meet the
atomic Challenge, because the supramundane knowledge of Buddhism
begins where science leaves off. And this is clear enough to anyone
who has made a study of Buddism. For, through Buddhist Meditation,
the atomic constituents making up matter have been seen and felt,
and the sorrow, or unsatifactoriness, of their ?arising and passing
away? (dependant on causes) has made itself with what we call
a ?soul? or ?atma? ? the illusion of Sakkayadithi,
as it is called in the Buddha?s teaching.
- Egerton C.Baptist, "Supreme Science of the
Buddha"
Cause and effect instead of rewards and punishments
According to the Buddha the world is not so constituted.
Buddhist believe in a just rational of Kamma that operates
automatically and speak in terms of cause and effect instead of
rewards and punishments.
- A writer
WHAT IS NIBBANA
Salivation with out god
For the first time in the history of the world, Buddha
proclaimed a salvation, which each man could gain for himself and
by himself in this world during this life, without the least help
from the personal GOD or Gods. He strongly inculcated the doctrine
of self reliance, of purity, of courtesy, of enlightment, of peace
and of universal love. He strongly urged necessity of knowledge,
for without wisdom psychic insight could not be got in his
life.
- Prof. Eliot, "Buddhism and Hinduism"
Buddha and the salvation
It is not the Buddha who delivers men, but he teaches them to
deliver themselves, even as he has deleivered himself. They accept
his teaching of the truth, not because it comes from him, but,
because of personal conviction, aroused by his words, arises by the
light of their own spirit.
- Dr. Oldenburg, a German Buddhist scholar
BELIEF
Buddha does not demand belief
The Buddha has not merely awakened to the supreme reality, he
also presents his higher knowledge that is superior to that of "all
gods logical disguise and mythical clothing. Here, however, it is
given in so cogent a form that it presents itself as positively and
self evedent to the person to is avble to follow him. For this
reason the Buddha does not demand any belief, but promises
knowledge.
- George Grimm, "The Doctrine of the Buddha"
BUDDHISM AND OTHER RELIGIONS
Post Buddhistic Hinduism
The various ways in which Buddhism influenced, modified,
transformed, and revitalised Hindu religion among all the
philospohical Sutras of the Hindus, are admitted post Buddhistic.
The presuppostion of Indian philosophy in the doctrine of Karma and
rebirth and other pre Buddhistic system have attained fullest
development from Buddhistic literature and been established on
philosphical basis.
- Dr. S. N. Das Gupta
Universal Ethics
None the preBuddhistic religions of India may be said to have
been able to formulate a code of ethics and religion that wass
unversally and compulsorily valid for all.
- Dr. S. N. Das Gupta
Buddhism is Buddhism
Buddhism and Jainisn were certainly not Hinuism ot even the
Vedic Dharma. Yet they arose in India and were integral parts of
Indian life, culture and philosophy. Buddhist or Jaina in India is
a hundred per cent product of Indian thought culture, yet neither
is Hindu by faith. It is entirely misleading to refer to Indian
culture as Hindu culture.
- Nehru, "Discovery of India"
Eternal Debt to the Buddha
It is my deliberate opinion that the essential part of the
teachings of the Buddha now forms an integral part of Hinduism. IT
is impossible for Hindu India today to retrace her steps and go
behind the great reformations that Gautama effected in Hinduism. By
his immense sacrfice, by his great renuniation, and by the
immaculate purity of his life he left an indelible impress upon
Hinduism, and Hinduism owes an eternal debt of gratitude to the
great teacher.
- Mahatma Gandhi, "Maha Bodhi"
Dominant creed
A system which knows no God in the Western sense, which denied a
soul to man, which counts the belief in immorality a blunder, which
refuses any effecacy to prayer and sacrifice, which bides man to
look to nothing but their own efforts for salvation, which in its
orginal purity knew nothing of vows of obedience and never sought
the aid of the secular arm, yet spread over a considerable motley
of the old world with marvellous rapidity and is still, which
whatever base admixture of forcing supertitions, the dominant creed
of a large fraction of mankind.
- T.H. Huxley
Buddhist Idea of sin
Its idea of sin differs somewhat from the Christian idea. Sin to
the Buddhist is mere ignorance or stupidity. The wicked man is an
ignorant man. He doesn?t need much punishment and condemnation so
much as he needs instruction. He is not regarded as ?violating
God?s commands? or as one who mest beg for divine mercy and
forgiveness. Rather it is necessary fo rthe sinner?s friends to
make him reason in the human way. The Buddhist does not believe the
sinner can escape the consequences in prayerful attempts to bargain
with God. - John Walters, "Mind Unshaken"
Gods need salvation
For the first time in human history the Buddha admonished,
entreated and appealed to people not to hurt a living being, not to
offer prayer of praise or sacrifice to gods. With all the eloquence
as his command the exalted one vehemently proclaimed that gods are
slso in direction need of salvation of themselves.
- Prof. Rhys Davids
THE WORLD AND THE UNIVERSE
Unsatifactory world.
Buddha was not angry with the world. He thought of it as
unsatisfactory and transitory rather than wicked, as ignorant
rather than rebelliou. He troubled little about people who would
not listen to him and showed no nervous irritablity.
- Prof. Eliot, "Buddhism and Hinduism"
A great Battle
The whole universe is a vast field of battle. Everywhere there
is fighting. Existance is nothing but a vain struggle against germs
of dreadful diseases, molecules against molecules, atoms against
atoms, and electrons. Mind is still more scene of battle. Forms,
sounds, tastes, etc. are resultants of counteracting and
belligerant forces. Ther very existance of war proves that there is
a state of Perfect Peace. It is what we call Nibbana.
- Ven. Narada Thera, "The Bodhisatta Ideal"