What is Buddhism?

What is buddhism,is it a philosophy or a religion or an ethical system? Stictly speaking it is not a philosophy, for it does not contain an elaborate system of theories and facts exclusively for cogitation, although it must be admitted that the Buddha has anticipated much modern speculation.

What is known as Buddhism consists of three aspects, the doctrinal (pariyatti), the practical (patipatti) and the realizable( pativedha), which are interdependent and interrelated. THe doctrine is preserved in the Tipitaka. This Tipitaka, which contains the word of the Buddha, is estimated to be about eleven times the size of the Christian bible. As the word itself implies, it consists of three baskets, namely- the Basket of Discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), the Basket of Discourses (Sutta Pitaka) and the Basket of Ultimate Things (Abhiddhamma Pitaka)/

The Vinaya Pitaka, which is sub-divided into five books, deals with the rules and regulations of the Order of monks and nuns, and gives a detailed account of the life and ministry of the Buddha. The Sutta Pitaka consists of discourses preached by the Buddha and also, in some instances, by his distiguished disciples such as the Ven. Sariputta, Moggallana, Ananda, etc. Divided into twenty-six books it is rather like a collection of prescriptions, for the sermons were propounded to suit the oocasion and the temperament of different individuals. The Abhiddhamma Pitaka, however, is the most important and the most interesting because it elaborates the four eltimate things i.e. consciousness (citta), mental properties (mental concomitants, cetasika), matter (material qualities, rupa) and Nibbana.

Thus we see that Buddhism is concerned with truth and facts, and has nothing to do with theories and philosophies which may be accepted as gospel truth today and may be thrown overboard tomorrow. The Buddha has presented us with no new astounding philosophical theories, nor did he venture to create any new material science, rather did he explain to us what is within and withous so far as it concerns our emancipation, and ultimately he laid out a path of deliverance which is unique.

It should be understaood that the Buddha did not preach all the he knew. On one occasion while he was passing through a forest the Buddha took a handful of leaves and said to some bhikkhus. "O Bhikkhus, what I have taught is comparable to the leaves in my hand, and what I have not taught is comparable to the amount of leaves in the forest", for he taught us only that which is necessary for our emancipation. Incidentally, though, he has made some statemtents which are accepted as scientific truths today.

Buddhism is not merely to be preserved in books, or is it a subject to be studied only from an historical or literary point of view. On the contrary, it is to be learned and put into practise in the course of one's daily life, for without actual practice one cannot aprpeciate truth. tudy and practice come first, but above all it is realization, self-relaization, whic his its ultimate goal. As such, Buddhism is comparable to a raft which is meant for the sole purpose of escaping from the ocean of samsara; Buddhism therefore, cannot strictly be called a philosophy.

Is it then a religion? Neither is it a religion in the sense in which that word is commonly understood, for it is not a system of faith or worship. Buddhim does not demand blind faith from its adherents, here, mere belief is dethroned and replaced by confidence, saddha, as it is known in Pali, based on knowledge of truth. The confidence placed by a follower in the BUddha is like that of a sick man towards the physician, or that of a student towards his teacher. A Buddhist seeks refuge in the Buddha because it is he who discovered the path of deliverance. A sick man should use the remedy which the physician prescribes in order to be cured, and the pupil should study what his teacher says in order to become learned. In just the same way, a Buddhist who possess saddha should follow the BUddha's instructions in order to gain deliverance.

The starting point of Buddhism is reasoning, or understanding or in other words sammaditthi. TO seekers after truth the BUddha says," DO not believe in anything on mere hearsay; do not believe in anything that is traditional just because it is old and handed down through generations; do not believe in rumours or antyhing because people talk about it; do not believe simply because the written testimony of some ancient sage is shown to thee; never believe in anything because the custom of many yesras leads thee to regard it as true; do not believe in anything on the mere authority of the teacher or priests. According to thine own experience, and after thorough investigation, whatever agrees with the reason and is conducive to thine own well being and to that of all other living beings, accept htat as truth and live accordingly.

Is Buddhism, then an ethical system> It no doubt contains an excellent code of morals which is adaptable to all climes and ages, but it is much more than ordinary morality. THe Singala Sutta, Mangala Sutta, Metta SUtta, VAsala Sutta, Dhammika Sutta etc.. should be read carefully to understand the high standard of morality, but morality or sila is only the A.B.C. of Buddhism.

Buddhism, therefore is neither a philosophy nor a religion, nor an ordinary ethical code, it is the doctrine of actuality, a means of deliverance, or as it is called in Pali, the Dhamma.

Reference: Essential themes of buddhist lectures given by Ashin Thittila Aggamahapandita, Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru, Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika P.18

"20.10.2009" one of my friend's birthday... may he be well, happy and peaceful, may the deva n deties always be with him...