Please read: What Buddhists Believe --
Man and Religion
...Man developed religion in
order to satisfy his desire to understand the life within him and
the world outside him. The earliest religions had animistic
origins, and they arose out of man's fear of the unknown and his
desire to placate the forces which he thought inhabited inanimate
objects. Over time these religions underwent changes, being shaped
by the geographical, historical, socio-economic, political and
intellectual environment existing at that time.
Many of these religions have become organized and are flourishing
to this day, backed by a strong following of devotees. Many people
are drawn to organized religions because of the pomp and ceremony,
while there are some who prefer to practice their own personal
religion, inwardly venerating their religious teachers and applying
moral principles in their daily life. Because of the importance of
practice, every religion claims to be a way of life, not merely a
faith. In view of their various origins and paths of development
which religions undergo, it is hardly surprising that the religions
of man should differ in their approach, the understanding and
interpretation of their followers, their goal and how it can be
achieved, and their concept of reward and punishment for deeds
performed.... (continued in webpage)
Which is the Proper Religion?
....Which is the Proper
Religion?
If any religion has the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path,
then it can be regarded as a proper religion.
It is a very difficult for a man to find out why there are so many
different religions, and which religion is the true one. Followers
of every religion are trying to show the superiority of their
religion. Diversity has created some uniformity, but in matters of
religion, men took upon each other with jealousy, hatred and
disdain. The most respected religious practices in one religion are
deemed ridiculous to others. To introduce their divine and peaceful
messages some people have to resorted to weapons and wars. Have
they polluted the good name of religion? It seems that certain
religions are responsible for dividing instead of uniting
mankind.
To find a true and proper religion, we must weigh with an unbiased
mind what exactly is a false religion. False religion or
philosophies include: materialism which denies survival after
death; amoralism which denies good and evil; any religion which
asserts that man is miraculously saved or doomed; theistic
evolution which holds that everything is preordained and everyone
is destined to attain eventual salvation through mere faith.
Buddhism is free from unsatisfactory and uncertain foundations.
Buddhism is realistic and verifiable. Its Truths have been verified
by the Buddha, verified by His disciples, and always remain open to
be verified by anyone who wishes to do so. And today, the Teachings
of the Buddha, are being verified by the most severe methods of
scientific investigation.... (continued in webpage)
------------------------
Also see: http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1g.htm (A religion
beyond this world[/url]
A Religion beyond this world
By Venerable Shen-Kai
It is commonly believed that all religions are the same because
they all teach us to be good. In addition to teaching 'to do no
evil and to perform all good deeds", Buddhism distinguishes itself
by also teaching 'to purify the mind.' This is a very important
difference because all things are created by the mind. Buddhism is
also very broad, and it goes beyond the world as we know it - where
we come from and where we headed for.
The word 'religion' originated from the Western countries. A
religion is a system of faith and worship. In the Chinese language,
'religion' has a broader meaning and refers to the purpose of a
teaching and the teaching itself.
Buddhism is more than a system of faith. A practitioner of Buddhism
cultivates his mind and deeds, and seeks true freedom or
liberation. The development of purity in the body, speech and mind
will enlighten the inner wisdom of humanity. Buddhism is a religion
based on the profound teachings of Buddha. Buddha's teachings are
so broad and profound that sentient beings call Buddha the World
Honoured One; the Saint of Saints; the Heaven of Heavens. Buddhism
is called 'the illuminating Saintly Teaching', for it teaches what
wisdom is and how to develop wisdom.
All religions, except Buddhism, exist in the Three Fields - the
Fields of Desire, Form and Formlessness. They are in the cycle of
the Six Realms - the Realm of Heaven, Asura, Human, Animal, Ghost
and Hell.
Buddhism teaches people 'to do no evil; to perform all good deeds;
and to purify the mind.' If people do evil, their evil karma leads
them to suffer in the Three Evil Realms - the Realms of Animal,
Ghost and Hell. If people perform all good deeds, their good karma
brings them the happiness of the Three Good Realms - the Realms of
Heaven, Asura and Human. Those who perform great virtuous deeds
will be reborn in the Heavenly Realm. There are 28 heavens in the
world. In the highest heaven - the Heaven that is beyond the
condition of thinking or non-thinking, the heavenly beings do not
have a physical nor any form of body. They only have
mind-consciousness. If those heavenly beings had committed killing
in the past, and that karma presents to them from their mind, they
will die immediately. They are then reborn in the Hell Realm
because of the past karma of killing. That is why Buddha said 'no
true freedom can be found in the Realm of Heaven.'
It is most important that Buddhist practitioners should seek to
liberate from the Three Fields or the Six Realms. The practitioners
of Hinayana Buddhism must liberate from the 28 heavens to attain
Arahathood(the highest level of wisdom and freedom one can attain
from the practice of Hinayana Budhism.) If people pursue Buddhahood
and want to become a Buddha, they have to relinquish the Arahat
path and cultivate the Bodhisattva path. To attain Buddhahood and
the supreme enlightenment, people should not do any evil deeds.
After performing all good deeds, they should not attach to the good
deeds that they have performed. In this way, the ego dies and the
true nature of oneself, the Buddha Nature, is revealed. When a
person becomes Buddha, the Buddhahood one attains must also be
relinquished.
Notes
1. Kalpa: A long period of time; an age. 1 small kalpa = 16.8
million years; 1 medium kalpa = 336 million years; 1 great kalpa =
1.344 billion years.
Buddhism is a profound religion that leads people to go beyond the
world itself. Other religions exist in the domain of this mundane
world. In Buddhism, 'world' means the Three Fields or the Six
Realms. Buddhism will last forever whereas other religions may last
hundreds or thousands of years. For example, a previous earth
existed before the present earth was formed and existed during the
time called the 'Kalpa[1]of Majesty'. There were a thousand Buddhas
who appeared on the previous earth. The present time of this
earth's existence is called the 'Kalpa of the Virtues'. A thousand
Buddhas will appear on the present earth. Sakyamuni Buddha was the
fourth Buddha on this earth. After the present earth decays and
becomes empty, there will be a new earth. The time during the
existence of the future earth is called the 'Kalpa of Stars'. There
will also be a thousand Buddhas appearing on the future earth.
Therefore, it is said that Buddhism will last forever. Sakyamuni
Buddha taught this in a sutra called the "Names of Three Thousand
Buddhas'.
Buddhism existed, exists and will exist in the past, the present
and the future in worlds in the ten directions of the cosmos.
People should feel happy and honoured being a Buddhist.
Most religions, including Buddhism teach people not to do evil and
to perform good deeds. However, only Buddhism teaches people how to
purify their minds. This is why Buddhism is more profound than
other religions.
