In Praise of the Buddha

Raj Arumugam (Director, TTS – www.ttsworld.com.au)

 

Teachers of so-called Truth often bring attention to themselves.
Through means subtle or simply crude, these teachers create an importance for themselves rather than for the truth that they espouse.
Teachers of so-called Truth invariably curtail or take away the independence of those they teach. They create systems that deprive the individual of their freedom, their individual responsibility and their will.
Not so the Buddha.
Therefore is there praise for the Buddha.

 

The Buddha himself taught the Dharma (what we call the teachings of the Buddha) for about 45 years, but he never made himself important; he never made the teacher more important than what is taught. Also, the Buddha taught equality in all spheres of life – including to the moment of one gaining total freedom in nirvana. The Buddha taught that each and everyone has the Buddha nature.
The Buddha always did that.
Therefore is there always praise for the Buddha.

 

 

The Buddha encouraged individuals not to accept any ideas or tenets without first thoroughly investigating these teachings. He advocated that individuals should not accept a teaching just because a teacher is considered great; or because a teacher said so; or because that is the tradition; or because it is in the Holy Book (no matter how Holy any system may claim its Books to be); or simply because it is considered revelation.
The Buddha challenged the individual to challenge themselves, the teacher, and the teaching. This is the way to direct knowledge and insight. This is the way to clear and true freedom.
Thus the Buddha taught.
Therefore is there praise for the Buddha.

There is the way to end dhukka that the Buddha declared. Like a good doctor, he identified the cause:tanha desire; craving or attachment). He proposed that one could end this and achieve a state of pure and total freedom, nirvana. And he taught the way that one could find out for oneself – a way that one could actually test and follow if satisfied – and that way he called: The Noble Eightfold Path.
In that teaching he offered freedom to the individual. In that teaching he did not introduce submission of the individual to the teacher. In that teaching he did not introduce submission of the individual to an establishment. There is the individual and there is the teaching.
The Buddha offered the gift of absolute freedom to the individual.
Therefore is there praise for the Buddha.

 

 

Once the Kalamas of Kesaputta approached the Buddha and asked him:
There is a great deal of confusion. Each group and each teacher preach that their way is the only way. How is one to know which is the truth in this context?

 

And the Buddha enjoined them not to accept any teaching until they have thoroughly examined that teaching. Including what he taught. He declared nothing should be accepted because someone said so or because it is taught to be true. One accepts what one knows for oneself that it is the truth, and that it is beneficial for one. There is nothing that should not be scrutinized thoroughly.
He removed fear of inquiry. He removed the fear of challenging authority.
Therefore is there praise for the Buddha.

 

 

Towards the end of the Buddha’s life Ananda, the Buddha’s cousin and disciple, asked him if he would like to leave instructions for the community. The Buddha said that he had taught all there was to be taught. He had no further instructions as such, for since all had been taught, he did not consider himself that the teaching or the community was dependent on him.
Even in his last moments, the Buddha maintained clarity of purpose and refused to create an authority of the teacher, and refused to introduce any form of subservience of the individual to a higher power.
Throughout all his years as a teacher, from first to last, the Buddha always offered unconditionally that gift of absolute and pure freedom.
Therefore is there praise for the Buddha.

 

The Buddha said: Be you a lamp unto yourself.
Consider the wisdom and measureless depth of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raj Arumugam
(Director, TTS ( www.ttsworld.com.au )

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