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The Teaching of Buddha”

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The Teaching of Buddha” THE TEACHING OF BUDDHA WHEEL OF DHARMA The Wheel of Dharma is the translation of the Sanskrit word, “Dharmacakra.” Similar to the wheel of a cart that keeps revolving, it symbolizes the Buddha’s teaching as it continues to be spread widely and endlessly. The eight spokes of the wheel represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, the most important Way of Practice. The Noble Eightfold Path refers to right view, right thought, right speech, right behavior, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. In the olden days before statues and other images of the Buddha were made, this Wheel of Dharma served as the object of worship. At the present time, the Wheel is used internationally as the common symbol of Buddhism. Copyright © 1962, 1972, 2005 by BUKKYO DENDO KYOKAI Any part of this book may be quoted without permission. We only ask that Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, Tokyo, be credited and that a copy of the publication sent to us. Thank you. BUKKYO DENDO KYOKAI (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism) 3-14, Shiba 4-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 108-0014 Phone: (03) 3455-5851 Fax: (03) 3798-2758 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.bdk.or.jp Four hundred & seventy-second Printing, 2019 Free Distribution. NOT for sale Printed Only for India and Nepal. Printed by Kosaido Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan Buddha’s Wisdom is broad as the ocean and His Spirit is full of great Compassion. Buddha has no form but manifests Himself in Exquisiteness and leads us with His whole heart of Compassion. This book is valuable because it contains the essence of the Buddha’s teachings as recorded in over five thousand volumes. These teachings have been pre- served and handed down for more than twenty five hun- dred years extending beyond borders and racial barriers of the world. The words of Buddha contained in this book touch on all aspects of human life and bring meaning to it. DHAMMAPADA Hatreds never cease by hatreds in this world. By love alone they cease. This is an ancient Law. (5) A fool who thinks that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man. The fool who thinks that he is wise is called a fool indeed. (63) Though he should conquer a thousand men in the battlefield a thousand times, yet he, indeed, who would conquer himself is the noblest victor. (103) Though he should live a hundred years, not seeing the Truth Sublime; yet better, indeed, is the single day’s life of one who sees the truth Sublime. (115) Hard is birth as man, Hard is the life of mortals, Hard is the hearing of the Sublime Truth, Hard is the appearance of a Buddha. (182) Not to do any evil, To cultivate good, To purify one’s mind, – This is the advice of the Buddhas. (183) There are no sons for protection, neither father nor even kinsmen; for him who is overcome by death no pro- tection is there from kinsmen. (288) CONTENTS BUDDHA Chapter One Shakyamuni Buddha . 2 I. The Life of The Buddha . 2 II. The Last Teaching of The Buddha . 10 Chapter Two The Eternal and Glorified Buddha . 15 I. His Compassion and Vows . 15 II. Buddha’s Relief and Salvation for us . 19 III. The Eternal Buddha . 22 Chapter Three The Form of Buddha and His Virtues . 25 I. Three Aspects of Buddha’s Body . 25 II. The Appearance of Buddha . 29 III. Buddha’s Virtue . 32 DHARMA Chapter One Causation . 38 I. The Fourfold Noble Truth . 38 II. Causation . 41 III. Dependent Origination . 42 Chapter Two The Theory of Mind-Only and The Real State of Things . 46 I. Impermanency and Egolessness . 46 II. The Theory of Mind-Only . 49 III. Real State of Things . 52 IV. The Middle Way . 57 Chapter Three Buddha-Nature . 65 I. The Mind of Purity . 65 II. Buddha-Nature . 71 III. Egolessness . 75 Chapter Four Defilements . 81 I. Human Defilements . 81 II. Human Nature . 88 III. Human Life . 90 IV. Reality of Human Life . 95 Chapter Five The Relief Offered by Buddha . 102 I. Amida Buddha’s Vows . 102 II. Amida Buddha’s Land of Purity . 110 THE WAY OF PRACTICE Chapter One The Way of Purification . 116 I. Purification of the Mind . 116 II. The Good Way of Behavior . 123 III. Teaching in Ancient Fables . 134 Chapter Two The Way of Practical Attainment . 150 I. Search for Truth . 150 II. The Ways of Practice . 163 III. The Way of Faith . 176 IV. Sacred Sayings . 184 THE BROTHERHOOD Chapter One Duties of the Brotherhood . 194 I. Renunciants . 194 II. Lay Followers . 200 III. Practical Guide to True Way of Living . 212 Chapter Two Building a Buddha Land . 225 I. The Harmony of Brotherhood . 225 II. The Buddha’s Land . 233 III. Those Who Have Received Glory in Buddha’s Land . 238 Source References . 245 The Appendixes I. Brief History of Buddhism . 258 II. Transmission of Buddha’s Teaching . 268 III. History of “The Teaching of Buddha” . 271 IV. Index to “The Teaching of Buddha” . 273 V. Sanskrit Glossary . 281 Society for the Promotion of Buddhism and Distribution of “The Teaching of Buddha” . 288 BUDDHA CHAPTER ONE SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA I THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA 1. The Shakya clansmen dwelt along the Rohini River which flows among the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Their king, Shuddhodana Gautama, esta- blished his capital at Kapilavastu and there had a great castle built and ruled wisely, winning the acclaim of his people. The Queen’s name was Maya. She was the daughter of the King’s uncle who was also the king of a neighbor- ing district of the same Shakya clan. For twenty years they had no children. But one night Queen Maya had a strange dream, in which she saw a white elephant entering into her womb through the right side of her chest, and she became pregnant. The King and the people looked forward with anticipation to the birth of a royal child. According to their custom the Queen returned to her parents’ home for the birth, and on her way, in the beautiful spring sunshine, she took a rest in the Lumbini Garden. － 2 － Shakyamuni Buddha All about her were Ashoka blossoms. In delight she reached her right arm out to pluck a branch and as she did so a prince was born. All expressed their heart-felt delight with the glory of the Queen and her princely child; Heaven and Earth rejoiced. This memorable day was the eighth day of April. The joy of the King was extreme and he named the child, Siddhartha, which means “Every wish fulfilled.” 2. In the palace of the King, however, delight was fol- lowed quickly by sorrow, for after several days the lovely Queen Maya suddenly died. Her younger sister, Mahaprajapati, became the child’s foster mother and brought him up with loving care. A hermit, called Asita, who lived in the mountains not far away, noticed a radiance about the castle. Interpreting it as a good omen he came down to the palace and was shown the child. He predicted: “This Prince, if he remains in the palace, when grown up will become a great king and subjugate the whole world. But if he forsakes the court life to embrace a religious life, he will become a Buddha, the Savior of the world.” At first the King was pleased to hear this prophecy, but later he started to worry about the possibility of his only son leaving the palace to become a homeless recluse. － 3 － Shakyamuni Buddha At the age of seven the Prince began his lessons in the civil and military arts, but his thoughts more naturally tended to other things. One spring day he went out of the castle with his father. Together they were watching a farmer at his plowing when he noticed a bird descended to the ground and carried off a small worm which had been turned up by the farmer’s plough. He sat down in the shade of a tree and thought about it, whispering to himself: “Alas! Do all living creatures kill each other?” The Prince, who had lost his mother so soon after his birth, was deeply affected by the tragedy of these little creatures. This spiritual wound deepened day by day as he grew up; like a little scar on a young tree, the suffering of human life became more and more deeply engrained in his mind. The King was increasingly worried as he recalled the hermit’s prophecy and tried in every possible way to cheer the Prince and to turn his thoughts in other direc- tions. The King arranged the marriage of the Prince at the age of nineteen to the Princess Yashodhara. She was the daughter of Suprabuddha, the Lord of Devadaha Castle and a brother of the late Queen Maya. － 4 － Shakyamuni Buddha 3. For ten years, in the different Pavilions of Spring, Autumn and the Rainy Season, the Prince was immersed in rounds of music, dancing and pleasure, but always his thoughts returned to the problem of suffering as he pen- sively tried to understand the true meaning of human life. “The luxuries of the palace, this healthy body, this rejoicing youth! What do they mean to me?” he thought. “Some day we may be sick, we shall become aged; from death there is no escape. Pride of youth, pride of health, pride of existence – all thoughtful people should cast them aside. “A man struggling for existence will naturally look for something of value.
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