A Good Question And A Good Answer

Question 17 : I read that Buddhism is just a type of Hinduism. Is this true?

2011-06-25T10:00:00.008+08:00

Buddha Image at Dhammavijaya BMSM Retreat centre, Dengkil, Malaysia.

Answer 17:

No it is not.

Buddhism and Hinduism share many ethical ideas, they use some common terminology like the word kamma, samadhi and nirvana and they both originated in India. This has led some people to think that they are the same or very similar.

But when we look beyond the superficial similarities we see that the two religions are distinctly different. For example Hindus believe in a supreme God while Buddhists do not.

One of the central teachings of Hindu social philosophy is the idea of caste, which Buddhism firmly rejects.

Ritual purification is an important practice in Hinduism but it has no place in Buddhism.

In the Buddhist scriptures the Buddha is often portrayed as criticizing what the brahmins, the Hindu priests, taught and they were very critical of some of his ideas.

This would not have happened if Buddhism and Hinduism were the same.

Question 16 : I have sometimes heard the Buddha’s teachings called the Middle Way. What does this term mean?

2009-09-08T21:00:00.005+08:00

SBS Sima hall at the break of dawn

Answer 16 :

The Buddha gave his Noble Eightfold Path an alternative name, majjhima patipada, which means ‘the Middle Way’.

This is a very important name because it suggests to us that it is not enough to just follow the Path, but that we have to follow it in a particular way.

People can become very rigid about religious rules and practices and end up becoming real fanatics. In Buddhism the rules have to be followed and the practice done in a balanced and reasonable way that avoids extremism and excess.

The ancient Romans used to say ‘Moderation in all things’ and Buddhists would agree with this completely.

Question 15 : Some people say, "All religions are really the same." Would you agree with them?

2009-08-06T00:23:00.006+08:00

The Buddha Statue in the SBS Sima Hall

Answer 15 :

Religion is a phenomena far too complex and diverse to be encapsulated by a neat little statement like that. A Buddhist might say that this statement contains element of both falseness and truth.

Buddhism teaches that there is no god while Christianity, for example teaches that there is. I think that this is quite an important difference.

However, one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible says:

"If I speak the languages of men and angels but have no love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so strong that it can move a mountain, but I have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and even surrender my body to the flames but I have no love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs done. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres." I Cor. 13-7

This is exactly what Buddhism teaches - that the quality of our heart is more important than any super-normal powers we might have, our ability to foretell the future, the strength of our faith or any extravagant gestures we might make.

So when it comes to theological concepts and theories, Buddhism and Christianity certainly differ. But when it comes to heart-qualities, ethics and behaviour they are very similar.

Question 14 : Is Buddhism scientific?

2009-07-17T23:46:00.005+08:00

A picture of the SBS Sima Hall on Kathina Day

Answer 14 :

Before we answer that question it would be best to define the word 'science'.

Science, according to the dictionary is - "knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws, a branch of such knowledge, anything that can be studied exactly."

There are aspects of Buddhism that would not fit into this definition but the central teachings of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, most certainly would.

Suffering, the First Noble Truth is an experience that can be defined, experienced and measured.
The Second Noble Truth states that suffering has a natural cause, craving which likewise can be defined, experienced and measured. No attempt is made to explain suffering in terms of metaphysical concept or myths.
Suffering is ended, according to the Third Noble Truth, not by relying upon a supreme being, by faith or by prayers but simply by removing its cause. This is axiomatic.
The Fourth Noble Truth, the way to end suffering, once again, has nothing to do with metaphysics but depends on behaving in specific ways. And once again, behaviour is open to testing.

Buddhism dispenses with the concept of a supreme being as does science, and explains the origins and workings of the universe in terms of natural laws. All of this certainly exhibits a scientific spirit.

Once again, the Buddha's constant advice that we should not blindly believe but rather question, examine, inquire and rely on our own experience, has a definite scientific ring to it. He says :

"Do not go by revelation or tradition, do not go by rumour, or the sacred scriptures, do not go by hearsay or mere logic, do not go by bias towards s notion or by another person's seeming ability and do not go by the idea 'He is our teacher'. But when you yourself know that a thing is good, that it is not blamable, that it is praised by the wise and when practised and observed that it leads to happiness, then follow that thing."

So we could say that although Buddhism is not entirely scientific, it certainly has a strong scientific overtone and is certainly more scientific than any other religion.

It is significant that Albert Einstein, the greatest scientist of the twentieth century said of Buddhism:

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual and a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism"

Question 13 : You certainly think highly of Buddhism. I suppose you think your religion is right and all the others are wrong.

2009-07-11T22:37:00.003+08:00

Evening Puja

Answer 13 :

No Buddhist who understands the Buddha's teachings thinks that other religions are wrong. No one who has made a genuine effort to examine other religions with an open mind could think like that either.

The first thing you notice when you study the different religions is just how much they have in common. All religions acknowledge that man's present state is unsatisfactory. All believe that a change of attitude and behaviour is needed if man's situation is to improve. All teach an ethics that includes love, kindness, patience, generosity and social responsibility and all accept the existence of some forms of Absolute.

They use different language, different names and different symbols to describe and explain these things and it is only when they narrow-mindedly cling to their one way of seeing things that religious intolerance, pride and self righteousness arise.

Imagine an Englishman, a Frenchman, a Chinese and an Indonesian all looking at a cup. The Englishman says, "That's a cup." The Frenchman answers, "No, it's not. It's a tasse." The Chinese comments, "You're both wrong. It's a pei." And the Indonesian laughs at the others and says "What fools you are. It's a cawan."

The Englishman gets a dictionary and shows it to the others saying " I can prove that this is a cup. My dictionary says so." "Then your dictionary is wrong," says the Frenchman "because my dictionary clearly says it is a tasse." The Chinese scoffs at them. "My dictionary is thousands of years older than yours, so my dictionary must be right. And besides, more people speak Chinese than any language, so it must be a pei,"

While they are squabbling and arguing with each other, a Buddhist comes and drinks from the cup. After he had drunk, he says to the others, "Whether you call it a cup, a tasse, a pei or a cawan, the purpose of the cup is to be used. Stop arguing and drink, stop squabbling and refresh your thirst."

This is the Buddhist attitude to other religions.

Question 12 : Why are there so many different types of Buddhism?

2009-07-10T21:58:00.004+08:00

Nuns lining up during the Taiping Insight Meditation Society(TIMS) 20th Anniversary Celebration up at Sasanarakha Buddhist Sanctuary(SBS)

Answer 12 :

There are many different types of sugar; brown sugar, white sugar, granulated sugar, rock sugar, syrup and icing sugar but it is all sugar and it all taste sweet. It is produced in different forms so that it can be used in different ways.

Buddhism is the same. There is Theravada Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism but it is all Buddhism and it all has the same taste- the state of freedom.

Buddhism has evolved into different forms so that it can be relevant to the different cultures in which it exists. It has been reinterpreted over the centuries so that it can remain relevant to each new generation.

Outwardly, the types of Buddhism may seem very different but at the centre of all of them is the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

All major religions, Buddhism included have split into schools and sects. But the different sects of Buddhism have never expressed hostility towards each other and to this day, they go to each other's temples and worship together. Such tolerance and understanding in certainly rare

Question 11 : Why is that you don't hear of charitable work being done by Buddhists?

2009-07-09T22:34:00.005+08:00

Devotees offering alms to monks

Answer 11 :

Perhaps it is because Buddhists don't feel the need to boast about the good they do. Several years ago the Japanese Buddhist leader Nikkho Nirwano received the Templeton Prize for his work in promoting inter-religious harmony.

Likewise, a Thai Buddhist monk was recently awarded the prestigious Magsaysay Prize for his excellent work among drug addicts.

In 1987 another Thai monk, Ven. Kantayapiwat was awarded the Norwegian Children's Peace Prize for his many years of work helping homeless children in rural areas.

And what about the large social work being done among the poor in India by the Western Buddhist Order? They have built schools, child minding centres, dispensaries and small scale industries for self sufficiency.

Buddhists see help given to others as an expression of their religious practice just as other religions do but they believe that it should be done quietly and without self-promotion. Thus, you don't hear so much about their charitable work.

Question 10 : If Buddhism is so good why are some Buddhist countries poor?

2009-07-08T22:42:00.005+08:00

Kuo Ming Teng with aspirations and prayer dedicated to the people and monks of Myanmar

Answer 10 :

If by poor you mean economically poor, then it is true that some Buddhist countries are poor. But, if by poor, you mean a poor quality of life, then perhaps some Buddhist countries are quite rich.

America, for example is an economically rich and powerful country but the crime rate is one of the highest in the world, millions of people are neglected by their children and die of loneliness in old people's homes, domestic violence and child abuse are major problems. One in three marriages end in divorce, pornography is easily available.
Rich in terms of money but perhaps poor in terms of quality of life.

Now, take Burma, a country that is economically backward. Parents are honoured and respected by their children, the crime rate is relatively low, divorce and suicide are almost unheard of, as are domestic violence and child abuse, pornography and sexual licence are non existent. Economically backward, but perhaps a higher quality of life than a country like America.

But even if we judge Buddhist countries in terms of economics alone, one of the wealthiest and most economically dynamic countries in the world today is Japan where 93% of the population call themselves Buddhists.

Question 9 : Why do people burn paper money and do all kinds of strange things in Buddhist temples?

2009-07-08T21:28:00.004+08:00

Monks of SBS on their way downhill for Pindacara

Answer 9 :

Many things seem strange to us when we don't understand them. Rather than dismiss such things as strange, we should strive to find out their meaning.

However, it is true that Buddhist practice sometimes has its origin in popular superstitions and misunderstanding rather than the teachings of the Buddha. And such misunderstandings are not found in Buddhism alone, but arise in all religions from time to time.

The Buddha taught with clarity and in detail and if some fail to understand fully, the Buddha cannot be blamed.

There is a saying:

If a man suffering from a disease does not seek treatment even when there is a physician at hand, it is not at fault of that physician. In the same way, if a man is oppressed and tormented by the disease of the defilements but does not seek the help of the Buddha, that is not the Buddha's fault.
JN 28-9

Nor, should Buddhism or any religion be judged by those who don't practice it properly. If you wish to know the true teachings of Buddhism, read the Buddha's words or speak to those who understand them properly.

Question 8 : But I have heard people say that Buddhists worship idols

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A monk in deep contemplation by the waterfalls

Answer 8 :

Such statements only reflect the misunderstanding of the persons who make them. The dictionary defines an diol as - "an image or statue worshipped as a god".

As we have seen, Buddhists do not believe that the Buddha was a god, so how could they possibly believe that a piece of wodd or metal is a god?

All religions use symbols to express various concepts. In Taoism, the ying-yang is used to symbolise the harmony between opposites. In Sikhism, the sword is used to symbolise spiritual struggle. In Christianity, the fish is used to symbolise Christ's presence and the cross is used to symbolise the sacrifice.

And in Buddhism, the Buddha is used to symbolise human perfection. The statue of the Buddha also reminds us of the human dimension in Buddhist teaching, the fact that Buddhism is man-centered, not god-centered, that we must look within not without to find perfection and understanding.

So to say that Buddhists worship idols is not correct.

Question 7 : If the Buddha is not a god, then why do people worship him?

2009-07-05T23:25:00.003+08:00

A Thai version Buddha idol

Answer 7 :

There are different types of worship. When someone worships a god, they praise and honour him or her, make offerings and ask for favours, believing that the god will hear the praise, receive their offerings and answer their prayers. Buddhists do not indulge in this kind of worship.

The other kind of worship is when we show respect to someone or something we admire. When a teacher walks into the room, we stand up, when we meet a dignitary we shake hands, when the national anthem is played we salute.

These are all gestures of respect and worship and indicate our admiration for persons or things. This is the type of worship Buddhists practise.

A statue of the Buddha with its hands rested gently in its lap and its compassionate smile reminds us to strive to develop peace and love within ourselves. The perfume of incense reminds us of the pervading influence of virtue, the lamp reminds us of the light of knowledge and the flowers which soon will fade and die reminds us of impermanence.

When we bow, we express our gratitude to the Buddha for what his teachings have given us. This is the nature of Buddhist worship.

Question 6 : Was the Buddha a god?

2009-07-05T20:57:00.004+08:00

An SBS devotee paying respect to the Buddha idol

Answer 6 :

No, he was not. He did not claim that he was a god, the child of a god or even the messenger from a god. He was a man who perfected himself and taught that if we followed his example, we could perfect ourselves also.

Question 5 : The Buddha is dead so how can he help us?

2009-07-05T20:31:00.007+08:00

Flower offering to the Buddha

Answer 5 :

Faraday, who discovered electricity, is dead, but what he discovered still helps us. Louis Pasteur who discovered the cures for so many diseases is dead, but his medical discoveries still save lives. Leonardo da Vincci who created masterpieces of art is dead, but what he created can still uplift and give joy.

Noble men and heroes may have been dead for centuries but when we read of their deeds and achievements, we can still be inspired to act as they did.

Yes, the Buddha is dead but 2500 years later his teachings still help people, his example still inspires people, his words still change lives. Only a Buddha could have such a power centuries after his death.

Question 4 : Wasn't it irresponsible for the Buddha to walk out of his wife and child?

2009-07-05T20:21:00.006+08:00

Devotees in anjali

Answer 4 :

It couldn't have been an easy thing for the Buddha to leave his family. He must have worried and hesitated for a long time before he finally left. But he had a choice, dedicating himself to his family or dedicating himself to the whole world.

In the end, his great compassion made him give himself to the whole world. And the whole world still benefits from his sacrifice. This was not irresponsible. It was perhaps the most significant sacrifice ever made.

Question 3 : Who was the Buddha?

2009-07-05T17:56:00.007+08:00

A lighted candle

Answer 3 :

In the year 563 B.C. a baby was born into a royal family in northern India. He grew up in wealth and luxury but eventually found that worldly comfort and security do not guarantee happiness. He was deeply moved by the suffering he saw all around - and resolved to find the key to human happiness.

When he was 29 he left his wife and child and set off to sit at the feet of the great religious teachers of the day to learn from them. They taught him much but none really knew the cause of human suffering and how it could be overcome.

Eventually, after six years study and meditation he had an experience in which all ignorance fell away and he suddenly understood. From that day onwards, he was called the Buddha, the Awakened One.

He lived for another 45 years in which time he travelled all over northern India teaching others what he had discovered. His compassion and patience were legendary and he made thousands of followers.

In his eightieth year, old and sick, but still happy and at peace, he finally died.

Question 2 : So Buddhism is just a philosophy?

2009-07-05T17:39:00.004+08:00

Monks and Nuns in SBS chanting during the TIMS 20th Anniversary Celebrations

Answer 2 :

The word philosophy comes from two words 'philo' which means 'love and 'sophia' which means 'wisdom'. So philosophy is the love of wisdom or love and wisdom, both meanings describing Buddhism perfectly. Buddhism teaches that we should try to develop our intellectual capacity to the fullest so that we can undertsand clearly. It also teaches us to develop love and kindness so that we can be like a true friend to all beings. So Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.

Question 1 : What is Buddhism?

2009-07-05T17:28:00.007+08:00

A devotee lighting up a candle

Answer 1 :

The name Buddhism comes from the word 'budhi' which means 'to wake up' and thus Buddhism is the philosophy of awakening. This philosophy has its origins in the experience of the man Siddhata Gotama, known as the Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of 36.
Buddhism is now 2500 years old and has about 300 million followers world-wide.
Until a hundered years ago, Buddhism was mainly an Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining adherents in Europe and America.