ËÑÇ¢éÍ : What's Religion in Buddhism ? ¢éͤÇÒÁ : What\'s Religion in Buddhism ? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is Religion in Buddhism ? * What is Religion according to the concept of Buddhism ? Ven.Phramaha Nopadol Punnasuvaddhako, The Assistant Lord Abbot in Educational Affairs of Wat Mahapruttharam, the Royal Monastery, Head of Department of Pali and Sanskrit, Faculty of Buddhism, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya, has given his idea on religion meaning in Buddhism that: Religion is called ‘Sasanam(Buddha’s Teaching)’ in Buddhism, as it’s said by the Lord in Ovadapatimokkha; ‘Sabbapapassa Akaranam Kusalassupasampada Sacittapariyodapanam Etam Buddhana Sasanam.’(1) ‘To avoid doing all bad, to do the wholesome, to purify the mind, That is the Buddhas’ Teaching (Buddha-Sasanam/Buddha-Dhamma).’ 1 ( Suttanta,Dighanikaya,Mahavagga(Pali).10/54/45. Suttanta,Khuddakanikaya,khuddakapada-Dhammapada,Suttanipata(Pali). 25/24/29.) And also Religion is meant ‘the Saying of the Buddha; the Enlightened One; the Perfected One; the Blessed One,’ as it’s referred by Phra Assaji-Thera, the One of Five Holy Monks called ‘Pancavaggiya,’ when he answered the young man named Upatissa or known in the later name of Sariputta that; ‘ Ye Dhamma Hetupabbhava Tesam Hetum Tathagato Tesanca Yo Nirodho ca Evam Vadi MahaSamano’(2) ‘Whatever things come out the causes, The Lord Tathagata Buddha Says to the causes of those things, and says to the extinction of those Causes, The Lord Mahasamana Buddha always says like this.’ 2 ( Vinaya,Mahavagga(Pali), 4 part I, 65/55.) Therefore, Religion in the meaning of Buddhism is ‘The Buddha’s Teaching’ or ‘Buddha-Sasanam; Buddha-Dhamma’, it is not only the Recent Buddha, but also the Buddhas’ Teachings in the Past and Future, they always teach and say in the same way as the Cosmic Law or the Law of Nature, called ‘Buddha-Dhammas’ or ‘The Enlightened Ones’ Teachings, i.e. The Four Noble Truths (3): 1. The Suffering 2. The Causes of the Sufferings 3. The Cessation of the Suffering 4. The Eightfold Path or The Eightfold Way leading to the Cessation of the Suffering. 3 ( Vin.I.9;S.V.421;Vbh.99, and Vinaya.4/14/18; Sam.M.19/1665/528;Abhi.Vi.35/145/127 ) These Eightfold Path or The Eightfold Way can be summarized into the Threefold Principle of Buddhist Studies and Practicals in daily life (4): 1. The Study or Practice in Precept or Sila-Sikkha (Sila) 2. The Study or Practice in Mental Concentration or Citta-Sikkha (Samadhi) 3. The Study or Practice in Wisdom(Intellectual) or Panna-Sikkha (Panna). 4 ( D.III.220; A.I 229, and Di.Pa.11/228/231; Ang.Tik.20/521/294 ) Religion in the Buddhism’s concept means the Path or the Way leading to the cessation of suffering and to enlighten the Four Truths of human lives for World Peace, i.e. The Peace of This Global World and Human Beings’ World. We should study how to live together, to work together, to help each other as the human being friends on the same global world, in the same suffering, for releasing the mind of each other free from the causes of suffering, and for getting the liberal, peaceful, meaningful and happy life. May All Live together peacefully and happily to establish the World Peace. Yours in Buddha-Dhamma, Ven. Nopadol Punnasuvaddhako ¨Ò¡ : Ven.N.P.Punnasuvaddhako - - pnsaisuta@hotmail.com - 03/03/2003 16:10