How Buddhism differs from other religions
- Part 9 -

Thangjam Sanjoo Singh *

Wat (Buddhist Temple) from Thailand - 2016

Political leaders and Religion

Political leaders have no authority to impose religious laws.

Their duty is to uphold the religious principles introduced by the enlightened religious teachers to maintain peace and order in the society.

Why religious discrimination?

There is no religion in the world that encourages the followers of another religion to practise their own religion.

One religion is being used to discriminate against another religion and develop jealousy or hostility. It seems people but to condemn and hate others. The unhealthy religious arrogance and competition have even created violence and bloodshed in many parts of the world.

At the same time, while cherishing their own imagination or concepts, which they regard as part of their culture or tradition, some religionists ridicule the culture and traditions of others. In their belief and practices, which are introduced as the only true religion, they promote such selfish ideas for material gain, political power and self-glorification.

Religion is to conquer

Religion is the conquest of fear; the antidote of failure and death. —Dr Radhakrishnan

Theory and Practice

Theory without practice is empty.
Practice without theory is blind.

Why some people do not like religion?

Some people do not like religion because religion asks them not to do many things that they like to do and to do many things which they do not like to do.

Religious twist

The followers of many religions are twisting and turning religious teachings to conform to worldly needs. This is to satisfy their desires and to influence others’ thinking by claiming that they are not worried that this reinterpretation will lead them to towards a dead end.

Religious principles should never be surrendered to satisfy the need for human gratification. Rather, religious principles should be upheld for human development.

God must be in the mind
Beware of the man
Whose god is in the skies? —George Bernard Shaw

Why religion influences hatred?

We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another. —Jonathan Swift

No religious monopoly on truth

No one religion, no matter how superior it is considered to be, has a monopoly on truth. Nor is any one religion the perfect embodiment of truth.

Given the fact, it would be best if different religions of the world would cooperate and support each other.

Belief in permanent soul

Monks, if there is a theory of permanent soul, grasping to which does not bring about grief, suffering, anguish, lamentation and despair, grasp onto it. But monks, do you see such a theory of soul? —Buddha

God listen to the heart
God is not interested what the mouth says.
He is interested in what the heart says. —Vision

Education can produce clever devils

If education is given without proper religious guidance, we make the young but clever devils. If man is selfish and wicked even with religion, what would he be without a religion?

Faith

You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing with it. —Samuel Butler

Purpose of religious education

The main purpose of religious education today is not impose one our thoughts today our and way of life on others, not to replace one religion with another, but to discover what others are doing, and help them live their lives peacefully. —Dr Radhakrishanan

Concept of god is important

If the concept of god did not exist, somehow or other, man would have created one because it is very important for his psyche. A divine power is necessary to allay our innate fear. —Anatole France

Moral principles are in religion

Religion is the recognition of our moral principles as laws that must not be transgressed. —Kant

Moral conduct and religion

Religion is the central part of our education that determines our moral conduct. —HG Wells

Let all religionists unite for peaceful survival
– To let all religionists unite not to use religious militarism.
– To unite them to stop all brutality and manslaughter in the name of war.
– To let them unite to give freedom to man to find a religion according to his own conviction.
– To let them unite to respect the other man’s religious beliefs and practices as long as these beliefs and practices are harmless and do not mislead the public.
– To let them unite to wipe out the challenging attitude of unhealthy religious competition.
– To let all religionists unite to eliminate the various vices and immoral practices that are common in our modern society.
– To let them also unite to introduce the moderate way of life amongst their followers and advise them not to go to extreme.

A great man has nothing to claim

Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. —Jesus Christ

Concluded....