Some reflections on buddhism and gandhism

Some Reflections on Buddhism and Gandhism

K.D. Gangrade The Teachings of Lord Buddha

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HE teachings of Lord Buddha may be divided into two groups: 1. Philosophical; 2. Moral. The two groups are interwoven in such a way that the one cannot be understood properly without knowledge of the other. The fundamental principle of the Buddha’s philosophy is the theory of Causation orDependent-Orientation. The Buddha said, “Suffering and pain are the direct result of ignorance.” Commenting on the cause of suffering in the Buddhistic ethics, Radhakrishnan writes, “Ignorance is the main cause out of which false desire springs. When knowledge is attained, suffering is at an end. Ignorance and false desire are the theoretical and the practical sides of the one fact.” The desire to live as thesole cause of suffering is not possible as long as the desire to live continues. If the craving for passion, existence, birth, rebirth, and pleasure is the cause of evil, the removal of evil can occur through the cessation of craving. The other important theory of the Buddha concerns the Four Noble Truths, the first being that all existence is full of suffering. The second truth is that allsuffering has a cause. The third truth is that suffering can be made to cause to an end and the last that there is a way to end suffering. Why does the Buddha say that the existence of a being is full of suffering? It is because all beings are subject to birth, decay, disease, death, and again, rebirth. Even pleasures and worldly happiness lead one to sorrow because they are both transitory and theloss of pleasure and happiness is worse than never to have had them at all. Just as a good doctor tries to discover the cause of a malady before advising a remedy, the Buddha, the great spiritual doctor, tried to find the ultimate cause of the worldly suffering of human beings, who all are animate creatures. He found the cause to be ignorance or the craving rising from it. The Buddha primarilyimplores the people to remove their ignorance of the mystery of birth and their craving for happiness. 77

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REFLECTIONS ON BUDDHISM AND GANDHISM

The Buddha proposes three phenomena as the course of suffering and unhappiness. First, Pride is the main causes of material suffering and misery as well as spiritual downfall. Second, that every being in the world is Transitory. Third, that we arethe makers of our own Destiny. One reaps what he sows. Desire is never satisfied. Lord Mahavira said, “... if the entire universe together with all its wealth is given to you, still it can neither satisfy your cravings nor will be able to protect to you.” Gandhi said, “There is enough in this world to satisfy everybody’s need, but not a single man’s greed.” Swami Vivekananda said, “Kill the desirefirst. That is the hardest of all disciplines. Try hard for the salvation of others if you want to scale the peak of spiritual attainment.” The importance of SEVA, or service to others, was expounded by Swami Vivekananda who declared that one should forget his own salvation and go all out to serve those who are poor and in distress. He said those who work only for their own sake are more deadthan living. Gandhi had beautifully summed it in three words; “Renounce and enjoy.” The Buddha’s heart was full of love for all living creatures. His sole purpose for dedicating his life to the propagation of truth was to provide a permanent cure for worldly ills. The Buddha therefore was morally above all, and could tolerate no hindrance in the way of prescribing a righteous life and a cure forsick souls and bodies, even if it meant scepticism with regard to God and Soul, etc. Give Up One’s Ego The life of righteousness is the key to Buddhistic ethics and it is this aspect of Buddhism that has been responsible for its popularity in India and the other countries. Discontent with worldly life, which prompts us to lead a life of detachment as commanded by the Buddha, should not however be...