Buddhism is not a religion

Thangjam Sanjoo Singh *

Wat (Buddhist Temple) from Thailand - 2007 :: Pix - WT

Buddhism, the philosophy of awakening is the teachings of the fully awakened one, awakened completely from miseries through inner peace. Buddhism, therefore, is not a religion in the same sense in which term religion ( religio) is completely understood in the West, which means respect for what sacred, reverence for the gods' or obligation, the bond between man and the gods but a way of life.

Although, there are many explanations, however, the proper definition of the word religion, is reverence for God or the gods, careful pondering of divine things according to Max Muller (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion#Definition).

Buddhism, on the other hand, is the teachings of the Buddha, the man who transformed himself into superhuman being through perfecting the 10 perfections or completeness of
1) Generosity ,
2) Morality ,
3) Renunciation ,
4) Insight wisdom ,
5) Acceptance ,
6) Honesty ,
7) Resolution ,
8) Loving kindness ,
9) Compassion and
10) Equanimity, rather than through a bond to God, or reverence for God.

Buddhism is, therefore, also known as the way of good conduct brought about by mental development, cultivation of good actions and walking the path that leads to the perfect peace. That way is known as meditation.

Buddhists are indeed the followers of the Buddha and his teachings, but they do not present in the same way as the followers of other religions, beliefs and faiths. Further, the Buddha did not claim any unalterable truth nor did he demand that his teachings should simply be accepted, taken on trust or acquired through an act of faith.

He instead encouraged his followers to experiment for themselves as individuals, retaining what is useful and wholesome and abandoning what is not. He instructed his followers that "don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies ,by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'this contemplate is our teacher.'

Inviting one to come and see, Ehipasiko , is one of the qualities of Buddha's teachings that provides a wide space for everyone to come and observe and come , investigate and question his teachings rather than asking just 'come and believe'. It is an open question that provides enough space to doubt on his teaching.

Furthermore, the Buddha always encourages everyone to doubt, study, investigate and put into practice that which one finds useful in order to fulfil human endeavor of inner wisdom and liberation.

The Buddha's teachings, Dhamma, therefore, are "well-expounded", to be seen here and now. In the daily Buddhist chanting, the recollection of teachings further explains that 'it is timeless, inviting everyone to come and see, leading inward. It is to be seen by the wise for themselves through self-realization' and offers each individual to investigate within themselves rather than the sensual world.

Buddha's birth – Greatest Hope for Human Beings

The birth of the Buddha is man's greatest hope for the future since he showed the great height to which a man could reach, complete extinction of all defilements, greed, craving, hatred, anger, jealousy and illusion. He achieved this state,enlightenment by himself through his practice with great energy and strong dedication and unshaken determination.

He introduced the same way to be followed by all sentient beings for their liberation but, it seems that only a handful will possess the courage and determination to approximate his great example. Yet it is within each individual's reach and capability to follow the path he has shown and we each possess potential to understand his teachings and eventually attain the ultimate goal of sublime peace.

'You are your own master, no one else, says the Buddha in one if the verses in the book of the path. He further says that we are a result of what we have created and what we have become is dependent upon what we are doing now. Further, 'If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.'

'It is Intentional action says the Buddha, "Which motivates one to perform beneficial action that defines destiny." Therefore, we all have the same destiny, and achieve it depending on individual effort, perseverance, dedication and continual practice, if we must make the effort to walk on the guided path rather just holding the signpost, which goes nowhere except running around in the continuous cycle of samsara.

The Goal Of Buddhism

The entire Buddhist teaching is to recognize the suffering, Dukkha; and its extinction,Nirodha. The Buddha taught that life is 'dukkha' – suffering or dissatisfactory-ness cause by wanting, desire, craving, clinging, grasping attachment. Clear understanding of suffering and its origin and path leading to elimination of it is the basic Buddhist declaration of 'sukha', happiness or lack of suffering.

To eliminate it the Buddha provided a systematic way of dealing with it which is called meditation, which facilitates one to stop clinging to the unsolved suffering and problems by understanding the true nature 'anicca' – constant change of entire phenomena. Clear mind and right understanding of good and bad actions regardless of any judgments will help to see this constant change.

Therefore, the Noble Eightfold Path is the moral obligation that needs to be fulfilled through mental development and training which leads to the elimination of three roots of defilements;
1) Greed ,
2) Hatred and
3) Delusion.

The ultimate elimination of these three unwanted states is called Nirvana, the sense of ultimate tranquility of mind which one can enjoy in this life, leaving no conditions for new existence.

The Buddha said:
'The extinction of Greed, the extinction of anger; and the extinction of delusion: this indeed is called Nirvana.'