THE VALUE OF BUDDHISM IN THE PRESENT DAY SOCIETY Todays society is becoming increasingly strife torn.

You just note mounting natural disasters caused by group bad kamma and man made problems and troubles caused by not practising wholesome deeds. What can be the root of all this chaos? The 3 defilements craving, hatred and ignorance in every one of us. How can we overcome them? Simply, obtain the Buddha Dhamma knowledge, get acquainted with It and gradually practice It. Sakyamuni Buddha has sounded the clarion call of human liberty through His Dhamma to all living beings. Although He preached the Dhamma over 2550 years ago, It has still retained Its freshness, purity and effectiveness and will do so in the future. Truth [Sacca] is that which is and is an incontrovertible fact. Buddhism has indicated to Its lay disciples [Upasaka and Upasika] that there are 4 such Noble Truths all associated with man. The 4 Noble Truths exist irrespective of whether the Buddha exists or not. It takes a Buddha to reveal the Noble Truths to the ignorant world. The First Noble Truth touches on Dukkha. We must comprehend that no living being is devoid of sorrow so long as he is subject to the cycle of Samsara. To the one who sees things as they really are, the world holds no real happiness. What we term happiness is just the gratification of some of our desires. Suffering comes about when we are subject to birth [jati], decay [jara], disease [vyadhi] and death [marana] which are the main causes of sorrow. There are instances when weak ignorant folks are compelled to terminate their lives for being unable to face unpleasant circumstances like disease, death and so on. Buddhism is neither totally pessimistic nor wholly optimistic. On the contrary, it teaches the truth that lies midway between them. While stressing on the truth of suffering, Sakyamuni Buddha suggested a way to cast away this suffering and obtain the Highest Happiness. The Second Noble Truth deals with the Cause of Suffering which is Craving. The Dhammapada states, From craving springs grief, from craving springs fear; For one who is wholly free from craving, there is no grief, whence fear? Suffering exists so long as there is craving [Tanha] which comes in 3 forms namely, craving for all sensual pleasures [kammatanha], attachment to the view of Eternalism [bhavatanha] and attachment to the view of Nihilism [vibhavatanha]. The Third Noble Truth is the complete Cessation of Suffering Nibbana [Bliss Supreme]. The Fourth Noble Truth is the Path leading to the cessation of Suffering the Noble Eightfold Path. The Path veers away from the extremes of self mortification that weakens ones intellect and self indulgence that retards ones spiritual advancement. The 8 factors of the Path are: 1. Right Understanding [Samma Ditthi] is the knowledge of the 4 Noble Truths. One gets to comprehend things as they really are. It also makes one understand oneself as one really is. 2. Right Thoughts [Samma Sankappa] are of 3 kinds : a] Thoughts of Renunciation [Nekkhamma Sankappa] are opposed to lustful desires. b] Benevolent Thoughts [Avyapada Sankappa] promote good-will c] Thoughts of Harmlessness [Avihimsa Sankappa] promote Loving kindness These thoughts tend to purify the mind of His followers. 3. Right Speech [Samma Vaca] deals with refraining from falsehood, slandering, harsh speech and idle talk. Wherever one goes, one will be looked on with respect and trusted if one practises Right Speech. 4. Right Action [Samma Kammanta] touches on the refraining from taking life, stealing and unchastity. One will be considered a fool by the wise if he performs wrong deeds; a person practising a proper moral code of conduct is a true human 5. Right Livelihood [Samma Ajiva] deals with the 5 kinds of trades which every lay disciple should avoid being trading in weapons, people, breeding animals for slaughter, intoxicants and poison. Weapons promotes violence and killing, slavery and slaughtering of animals promotes and gives untold sufferings to all the living, intoxicants dulls the mind and keeps us from the true realities of life and poison promotes the shortening of life before the end of the actual life span of the persons. Hypocritical conduct is cited as wrong livelihood for monks. A Buddhist lay disciple should give a helping hand to others along the Middle Path but not help them to stray from it. 6. Right Effort [Samma Vayama] is fourfold; the endeavour to : a] discard evil that has already arisen b] prevent the arsing of unrisen evil c] develop unrisen good d] promote the unrisen good that has already arisen. The Maha Janaka Jataka can be cited as an example. 7. Right Mindfulness is the mindfulness regarding the body, sensations, mind and Dhamma. The practice of Right Mindfulness is most important before practising concentration and Right Concentration. 8. Right Concentration / Meditation [Samma Samadhi] is one pointedness of the mind [ekagata].

The first 2 factors are gathered in Wisdom [Panna], the next 3 in Morality [Sila] and the remaining 3 in Concentration [Samadhi]. According to the order of development, Sila, Samadhi and Panna are the 3 stages of the Path which are embodied in : To cease from all evil,, To do what is good, To purify the mind. This is the advice of all the Buddhas. In one way or another every living being on earth has tasted suffering or sorrow. Thus, since every one knows what Dukkha is, he will undoubtedly try his utmost to avoid but in addition performing wholesome deeds will give you good Vipaka. The Buddha has mentioned in the Dhammapada : Mind is the fore-runner of [all evil] states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with a wicked mind, because of that, suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hooves of the draught-ox but if one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows one even as ones shadow that never leaves. Lord Buddhas followers are practising Sila when they perform wholesome deeds. This is practising in avoidance. The followers are expected to observe 5 Precepts [Panca Sila] daily. The Precept against : a] destruction of life b] taking of things not given to us c] sexual misconduct d] telling untruths e] taking intoxicants and drugs. The Buddha prescribed the 5 principles of regulated behaviour for His lay followers to practice daily for the morality, well-being and happiness of all humanity in this strife torn world. Just as one dislikes , looks down and punish all evil doers; so we ought not indulge in evil too. Lay followers can observe 8 Precepts as they progress. 10 Precepts are observed by a Novice monk [Samanera] while 227 Precepts are observed by Bhikkhus. Sila is the first step to spiritual progress. Lord Buddha had said, Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves. In both states, the evil doer grieves. He grieves, he is afflicted, perceiving the impurity of his own deeds. I cite an illustration : A pork butcher, Cunda, earned his living by killing pigs throughout his life time and was subject to much suffering during his final days. He rolled on the floor, oinking and squeaking like a pig. He was reborn in a woeful state after passing away. The Buddha told those who practise virtues, Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices. In both states the well-doer rejoices. He rejoices, exceedingly rejoices, Perceiving the purity of his own deeds. A devout person, Dhammika, led a religious life. While lying on his death bed, he perceived happy celestial visions. He was reborn in a heavenly plane after dying peacefully. Thus, for whatever actions one performs beneficial or otherwise there will be an equal reaction [result]. This leads us to the Law of Kamma [Cause] and Vipaka [Effect]. Kamma in its ultimate sense, means good and evil volitions. Whatever we sow so shall we reap. If we sow good quality seeds, we shall obtain healthy plants bearing high quality fruits. Kamma necessarily leads to rebirth. Past Kamma conditions the present birth. The present Kamma goes hand in glove with the past Kamma to condition the future one. There are reasons to believe in Rebirth: a] Buddha is the greatest authority on rebirth. He said, With clairvoyant vision, purified and supernormal, I perceived beings disappearing from one state of existence and re-appearing in another. I beheld the base and noble, the beautiful and ugly, the happy and miserable, passing according to their deeds. b] In His first Paean of Joy [Udana], He uttered, Through many a birth [anekajati] wandered I c] The very interesting Jataka tales which deal with His previous lives show proof of Rebirth. d] The Supreme Buddha had perfected the 10 Perfections, one of which is the Sacca [Truth] Paramita. There is no reason for the Supremely Enlightened One to speak falsehood now. As the Bodhisatta, Sumedha Pandit advised himself and decided to practice the Sacca Paramita, Thus there is no reason for the Buddha to deceive His followers, O, Sumedha, from henceforth, you must fulfil the Perfection of Truth as well. Even though the thunderbolt may descend on your head, you must not utter a conscious lie for the sake of wealth and so forth; being activated by desire. There is no reason for the Supremely Enlightened One to speak falsehood now. The Maha Sutasoma Jataka can be cited as an instance of how our Bodhisatta as King Sutasoma kept his promise made to the man-eater, Porisada, [to return to Porisada to be sacrificed] and saved the lives of 101 warrior kings. e] How are we to account for great characters and geniuses like Mozart and Beethoven, infant prodigies like Christian Heinecken and Williams James Sides who are conversant with different languages and certain subjects which they had never learnt in their present lives; if it had not been due to their previous life/lives.

Another value of Buddhism si that it discourages blind faith. The Kalama sutta can be cited as a very fine example. The Buddhas advice to the Kalamas over 2500 years ago not to accept or believe in anything until an investigation had been made still applies with equal force to todays rationalists. The Buddha does not prevent anyone from querying topics on the Buddha Dhamma to clear His followers doubts. The Sangha or the Buddhas fraternity of Bhikkhus [Monks], the representatives of the past Arahants, plays an important role in peoples lives in todays society by advising, expounding the Dhamma and guide the Upasakas and Upasikas to lead a life of purity. The Suttas [Discourses] like the Mangala, Ratana, Karaniya Metta and Siglovada guide and lead the followers to Perfection and Nibbana. Buddhism has spread far and wide. Buddhism has known no holy war. Sakyamuni Buddha has presented us His Dhamma which excels all other gifts and is excellent in the beginning, in the middle and in the end. It is within every ones grasp to practice and attain the eternal Bliss of Nibbana. Finally, a quotation from the Dhammapada, Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless; heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die; the heedless are like unto the dead. Thus, let all of us Buddhists follow the final advice of our Perfect Teacher, Sakyamuni Buddha, to Strive on diligently [and heedfully everyday] till Nibbana our ultimate Goal of Nibbana. May all living beings be well and happy. Mr. K. T. Yeoh PJM