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 (the causes of
untruthfulness) the fifth, the craving for unwholesome
excitement.
Edmond 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 to prove the
superiority of Christianity over Buddhism. He failed in this task
but he achieved a greater victory than he expected. He became a
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
