Book Review The Essence of (Dukkha is for Seeing, but Sukha is for Living)*

Author: Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Payutto)

Phraadhikan Saengthong Thaniyo (Waree) and Phramaha Mit Thitapanyo Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, KhonKaen Campus, Thailand E-mail: [email protected]

1. Introduction 2. The Structure of the book The book entitled “The Essence of There are 3 main topics of the book: Buddhism (Dukkha is for Seeing, but Sukha 1) the heart of Buddhism: avoiding of all is for Living)” was composed from the evil and bad actions, culturing goods and Dhamma talk given by the most venerable wholesome actions, and purify the mind; Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Payutto) to the 2) the essence of Buddhism: the truth is senior administrative officers at department the truth, the Tathagata is just the one who of religious affairs on 12th February, 1998. present to the mankind; most of people This book was published for free distribution think that they live with happy live, but in on the cerebration of in 2011. Now fact they live with unreal happiness which it is the 17th press version; thus, it was the is full of sad and unsatisfied, having most recommended book on the topic of understood the reality of live, a man live the reality of live, the heart of Buddhism, with wisdom and find out the ways to natural law, the liberation as the ideology generate the wisdom to live on the right of Buddhism. path it should be; 3) Dhamma principles of

* ได้รับบทความ: 9 กุมภาพันธ์ 2561; ตอบรับตีพิมพ์: 21 ธันวาคม 2561 Received: February 9, 2018; Accepted: December 21, 2018 468 Dhammathas Academic Journal Vol. 18 No. 3 (September - December 2018) Special Issue living: the path of living that lead to prefect topics, and I would review each topic as aim or living as a wise man that free from following: ignorance (Avijja), graving (Tanha), attachment, The point on the heart of Buddhism living with the principle of Four Noble Truth The writer stars with introducing the (Ariyasacca). Being free form suffering or heart and the main doctrines of Buddhist liberation is the final goal of Buddhist training; teachings such as Ovadapatimokkha (the thus, Buddhist practices mostly focus on Fundamental Teachings), Arirasacca (the training oneself to obtain the right knowledge Four Noble Truth), suffering and the ways and wisdom in order to understand the to end it, Paticcasamuppada (Dependent reality of human personality and the reality Origination), and Nibbana or liberation. of the universe that full of unsatisfication, However, the himself pointed out and then realize the truth. However, the one should not attached on the liberation or Nibbana is the supreme goal Dhamma. Many Buddhist might confuse of the Buddhist cultivation and it is the true that which Dhamma considered as the heart essence of Buddhism. of Buddhism; the answers was whatever This book started with presenting Dhamma could be the heart teaching, but the heart of Buddhism, showing how the all liked to the principle of the Four Noble world really is, and continues to the essence Truth (Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Payutto), of living and that of Buddhism. To me, the 2012 : 4). most venerable Phrapromkunaporn did On the issue of the heart of Buddhism, very well on presenting the topics on this Venerable Buddhadadassa mentioned in book, he presents with academic order and his book of “The Handbook of Mankind” in excellent style of presentation. the word thus“Sabbe DhammaNalang Abhinivesaya (all Dhamma principles should 3. The structure of the content not be attached on)”. Here, the word attached As I study on this book, the most mean holding the Dhamma principles as venerable Phrapromkunaporn gave the one own. The heart Buddhist teaching Dhamma talk to the senior administrative should be all the Dhamma that could lead officer at the department of religious affairs the practitioner to be free form suffering. that could be summarized into 3 main (Buddhadasa , 2008 : 71 -73). ปีที่ 18 ฉบับที่ 3 (กันยายน - ธันวาคม 2561) ฉบับพิเศษ วารสารวิชาการธรรมทรรศน์ 469

The two great Buddhist scholars the essence of Buddhism. To me, the two have the same point at the end, although Buddhist scholars have different view on they had likely difference at the beginning. topic of the heart of Buddhism due to the way Venerable Phrapomkunaporn stressed that of individual interpretation; nevertheless, one should not attached on the principle they came up with the same conclusion. of Ovadapatimokkha (the Fundamental The point on the essence of Buddhism Teachings), Arirasacca (the Four Noble Venerable Phra Promkunaporn Truth), suffering and the ways to end it, explained the essence of Buddhism that it Paticcasamuppada (Dependent Origination), is very importance to look at the main and Nibbana or liberationas these all intend purpose of Buddhism, that of, seeing the the practitioner to realize the Four Noble thing as it really is; he mentioned his point Truth. However, he said at the end that the with the frequent Pali chanting of “Uppadava Four Noble Truth is the practical principles bhikkhave tathagatanan anuppadava that a mankind could utilize the reality of tathagathanan thita va sa dhatu… even the world in accordance to the principle there was no the Tathagata (the blessed of Indappacayata-Paticcasamuppada order one) reality is there and it is always there- to develop oneself to attain Nibbana. this is the truth of the thing”. In short, the Nevertheless, the Buddha presented the reality of the world is nothing but just only principle of the Four Noble Truth as the the depending re-origination of the law of practical principles for his followers to nature, and it is always present as it is, the understand easily and interested to engage Buddha didn’t create or wrote it; he just the Buddhist teachings, to understand the represent what was there before. What the essence of Buddhism. On one hand, Venerable Buddha developed himself in accumulating Buddhadasa Bhikkhu pointed out that the all the perfections to become to Buddha saying of the Buddha thus “Sabbe Dhamma was to enlighten the reality and presented Nalang Abhinivesaya (all Dhamma principles it to the poor people. Therefore, the whole should not be attached on)” is the heart of Buddhist teachings and practices always of Buddhism, as this saying lead a Buddhist referred to the reality of the thing such as practitioner to realize that there is no place all things are impermanent (Anicca), full of of attachment in Buddhism-the same as suffering (Dukkha), and have no self at all 470 Dhammathas Academic Journal Vol. 18 No. 3 (September - December 2018) Special Issue

(). (Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Payutto), the ways to success, it guides the path of 2012 : 23) On the same corner, Subhee living and free him from suffering that of Tumthongs hared the same ideal of Venerable liberation. (Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Phra Promkunaporn that a man’s life is Payutto), 2012 : 45) Setting the 3 stages of noting rather than the combination of live, he puts the principles of Threefold mental physical factors which running on Trainings (Tisikkha) for developing a the law of nature or the reality of depending mankind with the means of integration. re-origination. There was no creator and The Threefold Trainings was divided as Sila superpower deity who created the world. (moral conduct), Samathi (meditation), and (Subhee Tumthong, 2012 : 49-50) Moreover, Pañña. It is the process of developing the Venerable Buddhadadassa also agrees that behavior, mind, and generating the wisdom the essence of Buddhism is nothing rather leading to attain the goal of liberation. Living than the law of causality, no place for the with wisdom, being far always greediness man to attach or cling on as all things are and attachment, is the way to eradicate conditioned with different factors, it is Samudaya that is Nirodha. Whoever develop useless of cling on it. (Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, his live in accordance to the Three Fold 2008 : 18-19) Training, he would be noble man who All the three Buddhist scholars achieve the certificate of education of lives. agree that the essence of Buddhism was This Three Fold Trainings is the shorted the law of nature, no one created it, reality version of the principles of the Noble is reality and always be there forever, even Eightfold Path; while, looking at the view of there was no the Buddha. Ariyasacca it is the path leading to the The point on the core of Dhamma noble living. Here, the most Venerable for living Venerable Phrapromkunaporn Phra Promkunaporn mainly focused on the says on this concern that as the life of the developing of wisdom as it is the key of all being could be divided into 3 stages Buddhist practices that leading one to earn (arising, continuing, and ending), the most the right path of living, to change unwanted important core of life should be the characteristic and eventually leading to developing of oneself to have wisdom, liberation. (Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. because, only with wisdom one could find Payutto), 2012 : 47). ปีที่ 18 ฉบับที่ 3 (กันยายน - ธันวาคม 2561) ฉบับพิเศษ วารสารวิชาการธรรมทรรศน์ 471

The real essence of Buddhadhamma is with wisdom that liberated oneself from liberation with one own potential among the conditioned suffering. (Buddhadasa community of noble friends (Kallañanamitta); Bhikkhu, 1958 : 67-68). again, the essence of Buddhist practice is To me, those two scholars pointed Vimutti or being released from suffering and out the core Dhamma for living should be liberation. (Phra Pomkunaporn (P.A. Payutto), carry on with no attachment to anything. 2012 : 23) This goes in accordance with the This concern goes on the same vein of the Mahasaropamasutta where the Buddha teaching in the Pali canon of the word addressed on the case that the monk “Cetovimutti” the deliverance of mind Devadatta tried to instigate the to which is the total aim, the essence of the split up in which could be summarized noble practices. The reason for the outcome thus, this noble doctrine is not windfall, of this conclusion arises from direct experience neither the perfection of moral conduct of the two great Buddhist scholars at all nor meditation nor wisdom but it is the time, as they study the Dhamma together deliverance of mind (Cetovimutti) that stand with putting it into practiced, then, share as the total essence. (M.Mu. 12/311/346) their direct experience to us. This is the Venerable Phra Promkunaporn further beauty of impeccable in conduct and concluded thus: understanding of them. 1. Acquisitionand fame are like the branch of wood. 4. Conclusion 2. Sila is like splinter. Remarkable Point 3. is like bark. Having read this book “The Essence 4. Wisdom is like sapwood. of Buddhism (Dukha is for seeing, but Sukha 5. Vimutti is like the essence of is for living)”written from the speech of the the wood. great Buddhist scholar of all time, Venerable Moreover, Venerable Buddhadasa Phrapomkunaporn, even though it is the also agrees that the Buddha once address academic work, it could let a reader to the short conclusion of his wholesome have clear understanding on the essence teaching thus one could be purified by wisdom of Buddhism. Being as a great Buddhist not by moral conduct nor meditation but scholar of the world of 472 Dhammathas Academic Journal Vol. 18 No. 3 (September - December 2018) Special Issue would guarantee the authentic of his work. reality of the world. Thus I do recommend However, this book could draw attention this book to those who interested to study of a reader to practice the Buddhadhamma the Buddhist teachings and the core as the true practical book for living. living of life. At last, reading this book, Presenting Point one would understand that Dukkha is This book enlighten me to the the nature, so be with it; instead, we essence of Buddhism. Reading this book, should look beyond such the point and let me understand the truth of the things prepare to develop oneself to the live and the principles to leading us to realize the with wisdom. References Changkhounyuan, P. (1995). Political Thought in Tipitaka. 2nd Edition. Bangkok : Chulalongkorn University Press. Buddhadadasa Bhikkhu. (2008). The Essence of Buddhism. Press 4th. Bangkok : Tathagata Press. ______. (1958). The Handbook of Mankind. Press 4th. Nonthaburi : Pimdee Publishing Limited. Phra Promkunaporn (P.A. Payutto). (2012). The Essence of Buddhism Dukha is for seeing, but Sukha is for Living. Tumthong, S. (2012). Look at the Mind, Developing the Live with Happiness. Press 3rd. Nakhonpathom : Salapimmakan.