WhatWhat BuddhistBuddhist BelieveBelieve Expanded 4th Edition Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada HAN DD ET U 'S B B O RY eOK LIBRA E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.buddhanet.net Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc. Published by BUDDHIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY MALAYSIA 123, Jalan Berhala, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, 1st Edition 1964 Malaysia 2nd Edition 1973 Tel: (603) 2274 1889 / 1886 3rd Edition 1982 Fax: (603) 2273 3835 This Expanded Edition 2002 Email: [email protected] © 2002 K Sri Dhammananda All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any in- formation storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Cover design and layout Sukhi Hotu ISBN 983-40071-2-7 What Buddhists Believe Expanded 4th Edition K Sri Dhammananda BUDDHIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY MALAYSIA This 4th edition of What Buddhists Believe is specially published in conjunction with Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda’s 50 Years of Dhammaduta Service in Malaysia and Singapore 1952-2002 (BE 2495-2545) Photo taken three months after his arrival in Malaysia from Sri Lanka, 1952. Contents Forewordxi Preface xiii 1 LIFE AND MESSAGE OF THE BUDDHA CHAPTER 1 Life and Nature of the Buddha Gautama, The Buddha 8 His Renunciation 24 Nature of the Buddha27 Was Buddha an Incarnation of God?32 The Buddha’s Service35 Historical Evidences of the Buddha38 Salvation Through Arahantahood41 Who is a Bodhisatva?43 Attainment of Buddhahood47 Trikaya — The Three Bodies of the Buddha49 CHAPTER 2 His Message Message for All53 Miraculous Power57 The Buddha’s Silence61 How to Answer Questions63 The Buddha’s Attitude towards Worldly Knowledge65 The Last Message of the Buddha67 CHAPTER 3 After the Buddha Does the Buddha Exist after His Death?70 A Successor to the Buddha74 The Future Buddha75 VI WHAT BUDDHISTS BELIEVE 2 BUDDHISM: ESSENCE AND COMPARATIVE APPROACHES CHAPTER 4 Timeless Truth of the Buddha The Lion’s Roar64 What is Buddhism?67 Impact of Buddhism on Civilization70 Buddhist Contribution to Humanity72 The Ultimate Truth74 Two Main Schools of Buddhism77 CHAPTER 5 Basic Doctrines Tri-Pitaka (or Tipitaka)82 Sutra Pitaka85 Abhidharma Pitaka86 What is Abhidharma?89 Mind and Matter (Nama-Rupa)95 Four Noble Truths97 The Danger of Selfish Desire100 The Noble Eightfold Path — The Middle Way102 Gradual Development103 Righteous Life104 Everything is Changeable110 What is Karma?113 Misconceptions Regarding Karma115 Our Own Experience117 Other Factors which Support Karma119 Can Karma be Changed?120 Impartial Energy122 Classification of Karma124 Is Everything Due to Karma?126 Why Some Wicked People Enjoy While Some Good People Suffer127 Rebirth129 How Does Rebirth Take Place?133 Is Rebirth Simultaneous?135 Dying Moment136 Nirvana137 Nirvana and Samsara139 Contents VII Law of Dependent Origination157 Eternalism and Nihilism164 Can the First Cause be Known?166 Is there an Eternal Soul?168 Soul-Theories168 Anatta: The Teaching of No-Soul171 CHAPTER 6 Buddhism Vis-a-vis Other Approaches Is Buddhism Similar to Other Contemporary Teachings in India?175 Is Buddhism a Theory or a Philosophy?177 Is Buddhism Pessimistic?181 Is Buddhism Atheistic?184 3 LEADING A BUDDHIST LIFE CHAPTER 7 Moral Foundation for Humanity What is the Purpose of Life?188 Understanding the Nature of Human Beings189 Understanding the Nature of Life190 The Need for a Religion191 Searching for a Purpose in Life193 Realisation194 Buddhism for Human Beings in Society197 The Buddhist Way of Life for Householders201 CHAPTER 8 Buddhist Morality and Practice Buddhist Ethics204 Buddhist Morals are Based on Intention or Volition207 What is Vinaya?208 Development of Sangha Community211 Changing Society213 Dharma and Vinaya215 Characteristics of a Monk216 Ten Meritorious and Ten Evil Actions218 Ten Evil Deeds221 Precepts224 Five Precepts226 Eight Precepts227 VIII WHAT BUDDHISTS BELIEVE Loving-Kindness230 Real Charity234 Buddhist Attitude Towards Human Organ Donation237 The Buddhist Attitude to Animal Life239 The Need for Tolerance Today243 Buddhist Funeral Rites245 CHAPTER 9 Dharma and Ourselves as Refuge Why We Take Refuge in the Buddha248 No Self Surrender253 No Sinners254 Do It Yourself257 Human Beings are Responsible for Everything259 Human Beings are their own Jailors260 You Protect Yourself263 You Have to Save Yourself266 CHAPTER 10 Prayer, Meditation and Religious Practices Faith, Confidence and Devotion274 The Meaning of Prayer276 Meditation278 Nature of Modern Life281 The Significance of Paritta Chanting285 Are Buddhists Idol Worshippers?290 Religious Significance of Fasting296 Vegetarianism297 The Moon and Religious Observances300 4 HUMAN LIFE IN SOCIETY CHAPTER 11 Life and Culture Traditions, Customs and Festivals306 Rites and Rituals307 Festivals308 Status of Women in Buddhism309 Buddhism and Politics311 Contents IX CHAPTER 12 Marriage, Birth Control and Death Buddhist Views on Marriage321 Divorce323 Birth Control, Abortion and Suicide324 Committing Suicide326 Why Does the World Population Increase?327 Sex and Religion329 5 A RELIGION FOR HUMAN PROGRESS CHAPTER 13 Nature, Value and Choice of Religious Beliefs Human Beings and Religion334 Misconceptions on Religion 339 Which is the Proper Religion?342 Moral and Spiritual Development345 The God-Idea347 The Development of the God-idea347 The God-idea and Creation349 Human Weakness and the Concept of God350 Changing a Religious Label before Death354 Short-cut to Paradise and End of the World356 CHAPTER 14 Promoter of True Human Culture Modern Religion358 Religion in a Scientific Age360 Buddhism and Science361 Limitations of Science363 Learned Ignorance365 Beyond Science366 Science Without Religion367 Tribute to Buddhism368 Religion of Freedom369 Buddhist Missionaries374 CHAPTER 15 War and Peace Why is there no Peace?378 Can We Justify War?381 The Buddhist Attitude383 Can Buddhists Join the Army? 385 Mercy Killing 388 Killing for Self-Protection 389 The Buddhist Stand on the Death Sentence390 6 THIS WORLD AND OTHER WORLDS CHAPTER 16 Realms of Existence The Origin of the World 396 Other World Systems 400 The Buddhist Concept of Heaven and Hell403 Belief in Deities (Devas) 406 Existence of Spirits 408 The Significance of Transference of Merits to the Departed409 Highest Gift to the Departed 411 CHAPTER 17 Divination and Dreams Astrology and Astronomy 414 Buddhist Attitude towards Astrology 418 Fortune-Telling and Charms 422 Consulting Mediums 424 Dreams and their Significance 425 Faith Healing 431 Superstitions and Dogmas 433 Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Foreword EN. DR. K. SRI DHAMMANANDA is a renowned Buddhist scholar of noble character and profound knowledge. For nearly fifty Vyears, he has devoted himself to disseminating Buddhism in Malaysia. His activities have been extensive and diverse, including writing, teaching, supporting the activities of many Buddhist groups, promoting education, welfare, cultural activities and so forth. The Venerable was present at the First World Buddhist Conference, the Buddhist Summit, which was held in Kyoto, Japan in 1998. He wholeheartedly agreed with the summit’s purpose saying: “Let us, the Buddhists of the world, overcome the barriers among our denominations and return to the original teachings of Lord Buddha”. As one of the initiators of the Conference, he has been striving to realize peace and serenity for humankind, the ideal of Lord Buddha. There are many religions in the world today but from the past to the present people of different faiths have continued to fight one another, each group believing that their belief alone is true. Taking revenge because of a grudge has incurred another grudge and the misunderstanding has kept growing. While preaching love and peace, these warring groups continue fierce conflicts by force and arms. It will be impossible to attain true world peace and human happiness through such self-righteous and discriminatory attitudes. In this chaotic world of ours, Buddhism is the religion that can lead the modern world into peace. Through the tireless efforts of Venerable Dhammananda, I hope the Buddhist Summit will develop further and the light of Buddhism will shine over the entire world. This book, written by Venerable Dhammananda mainly from the Theravada perspective, is a good introduction to Buddhism. It explains basic principles of Buddhism in detail and is suitable for helping beginners obtain a general view on the religion. There are various Buddhist denominations, which can be categorized into three Theravada, Mahayana and Vajirayana. Although they share the same origin, the teachings of Lord Buddha, each has charac- teristics of its own. I sincerely hope that readers of this book will make a positive effort to also learn the teachings of different denominations , return to the fundamental teachings of Lord Buddha, the origin of all the denominations, and then proceed hand in hand toward Nirvana, that perfect and everlasting peace for all people and the final common goal for every Buddhist denomination. May the Triple Gem bless you all. MOST VEN. DR. KYUSE ENSHINJOH President WORLD BUDDHIST CONFERENCE Founder Priest NENBUTSUSHU BUDDHIST SECT OF JAPAN Preface hen Ven. Dr K. Sri Dhammananda first came to this country fifty years ago, on January 2 1952, Malaya had Wbarely emerged from the devastation of the Second World War and was embroiled in the communist emergency, which had begun some years earlier. The economic and social conditions were far from satisfactory and the practice of Buddhism