What Buddha Wanted to Introduce and The True Religion

WHAT THE BUDDHA WANTED TO INTRODUCE

The Buddha was only concerned about showing the path to ultimate happiness. He was not concerned with founding a religion in his name. The Buddha wanted to show people the difference between good and evil, he wanted to teach humans how to lead a happy, peaceful, and righteous way of life. He never advised his disciples to convert people from one religion to another. His idea of conversion was to introduce a righteous, noble and religious way of life. In fact he said that the greatest miracle one could perform was to convert a bad person into a good one.

The Buddha did not criticise or condemn any religion. He only wanted to enlighten the people by showing them the correct path to avoid superstitious and meaningless practices in the name of religion. He wanted human beings to behave decently after seeing things-as-they-really are. There may be certain age-old traditions and customs maintained by people and incorporated into their religions but some of them are out of date today because scientists have discovered many things in this world which people could not understand earlier.

THE TRUE RELIGION

On the question of what constitutes a true religion, the Buddha has given a liberal answer, stating that wherever the teachings of the FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS and the NOBLE EIGHT FOLD PATHS could be found, and where one can find genuine followers who have gained spiritual development, therein lies the true religion. He did not say that Buddhism is the only true religion in this world, but exhorted people to accept and respect truth wherever truth was to be found. This means that we need not ignore the reasonable teachings of the other religions. Such an attitude clearly shows that the Buddha never had any prejudice towards other religions, nor did he try to monopolise religious truth. He wanted to point out one thing - the TRUTH and all his teachings are based on the FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS - that'of SUFFERING or unsatisfactoriness, its CAUSE, its CESSATION and the WAY leading to its cessation. The Truths are a reality which exist wherever there are human beings.

Whenever the Buddha advised his disciples to do something or to keep away from something, he always asked them to do so, not only for their own welfare and happiness, but also for the welfare and happiness of others. He said, 'if it is good for you and others, then do it; on the other hand, if it is bad for you and for others, do not do it.' He did not introduce them as commandments or religious laws but as advices. He also did not create fear or temptation through Buddhism.

As a social reformer, the Buddha discovered the deepest roots of human suffering
- GREED, HATRED and DELUSION, which are deeply fixed in the mind. Therefore it is only through mind that true reform can be effected. Reforms imposed upon the external world by compulsion or fear can only last for a short while, but those that spring from the transformation of a person's inner consciousness and understanding are more durable.

The evil tendencies towards GREED, HATRED and DELUSION must eventually be overcome and substituted by the forces of generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom. It is only through such mental purification that peace and happiness can be effectively brought about through religion. And to do this one must exert oneself mindfully: mere prayer and ritual are not enough.