1. Who is the Buddha?
When you hear the word Buddha, most people have the image of
Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, who actually lived in India
around 500 BC. The teaching of Buddha was founded and recognized
by him, and propagated through his unconditional effort. However,
he preached to people that Buddha is the truth as well as, a
person who is awakened to the truth, and that everyone has an
opportunity to become Buddha.
The many groups formed to practice this teaching were called the
Theravada tradition. Thus the teaching of Buddha was spread to
other countries. In the early years, this teaching was practiced
exactly as Shakyamuni had said, but quite a few followers
encountered difficulties due to the difference of culture,
weather, morals, etc. The Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions were
established to address these needs and to transcend the
differences.
"Who is the Buddha?" This question has been asked many
times and the answer differs by tradition. One belief is that
Shakyamuni is the only Buddha in history. For many years, this
belief was recognized as the only belief. Eventually, another
view evolved—that there are three ways to recognize the
Buddha.
(a) Dharmakaya Universal Life form
The Dharmakaya or Universal life is eternal and unchanging. This
is the foundation of all beings and recognized as Mahavairocana,
the Great Sun Buddha. This is the source of all life forms.
(b) Sambhogakaya Manifestation form
The Sambhogakaya or Manifestation form is the symbolic form of
Buddha that is attained through practice. There are many of these
symbolic forms. These Buddhas are enshrined in temples as focus
images of contemplation. Some examples are Akshobya and Amitabha.
(c) Nirmanakaya Historical form
The Nirmanakaya or Historic Buddha, Shakyamuni, was born to teach
sentient beings. Like him, there are many historical forms of
Buddha in the world.
Buddha is not a creator but is the same as universal truth. The
universe is always revealing the truth and it is up to the
individual to realize it. All beings are here in this phenomenal
world as its portion of life. All beings have the potential to
realize the truth through religious practice. If one asks,
"Who is the Buddha?" in Theravada tradition, the answer
is historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. The Mahayana tradition
emphasizes the historical and symbolic forms of Buddha. The
Vajrayana tradition believes in all three forms of Buddha. The
views differ, but they are just like alternative paths up a
mountain. It is okay to choose any of the Paths if it is suitable
to you. How fast you reach the summit is different according to
the chosen path and your skill.
2. What is its basic teaching?
The concept of Buddha is different by tradition. Likewise,
although the teaching is based on what Shakyamuni preached the
concept of the teaching is also different by tradition.
The Theravada tradition emphasizes the strict observance of the
precepts that were ordered by Shakyamuni. Precepts are just like
the written law. If one breaks it, one is no longer considered a
monk. Monks should observe over 250 precepts in their daily life.
For example, they should go begging food in the morning and not
eat more than two meals a day; they should not sit down next to
the opposite sex; they should not hold money, etc. Through
observing these precepts, monks try to reach the state of Arhat
(reachable human awakening). It is believed that it takes many
lifetimes for a person to reach enlightenment, therefore, when
people have a chance to be ordained, they practice the teaching
as a monk. Those who are unable to be a monk try to accumulate
merits by helping monks.
The Mahayana tradition adopted the precepts differently into
daily life. The precepts were examined to determine why
Shakyamuni told his disciples to observe them then they were
reestablished as guidelines rather than strict law. For instance,
there was a precept not to own and wear more than three robes.
This precept was inappropriate for monks living in very cold
climates. As for not touching the opposite sex, to save a girl
drowning in the river, a monk should touch her. Another precept
forbade monks to associate with any producing activities. This
was reinterpreted as an instruction to practice away from the
village and raise grains and vegetables for survival. Like these
examples, many precepts were reestablished as guidelines. Great
emphasis is placed on spiritual discipline in this tradition. Not
only monks, but also ordinary people can practice these precepts
and the teaching in their daily life.
The Vajrayana tradition was born after the Mahayana tradition
therefore it adopted the Mahayana precepts and added two more: to
hold awakening mind always, and to make a vow to live as a
Buddha. This tradition teaches people to live as a Buddha in
their daily life by practicing the three mysteries of body,
speech and mind. All beings have Buddhanature and each being
lives as a portion of universal life. If one realizes it and
concentrates his/her activities as Buddha, he/she can attain
enlightenment while still alive in this very life. Monks and
ordinary people can practice this teaching.
Appropriate for monks living in very cold climates. As for not touching the opposite sex, to save a girl drowning in the river, a monk should touch her. Another precept forbade monks to associate with any producing activities. This was reinterpreted as an instruction to practice away from the village and raise grains and vegetables for survival. Like these examples, many precepts were reestablished as guidelines. Great emphasis is placed on spiritual discipline in this tradition. Not only monks, but also ordinary people can practice these precepts and the teaching in their daily life.
The Vajrayana tradition was born after the Mahayana tradition therefore it adopted the Mahayana precepts and added two more: to hold awakening mind always, and to make a vow to live as a Buddha. This tradition teaches people to live as a Buddha in their daily life by practicing the three mysteries of body, speech and mind. All beings have Buddhanature and each being lives as a portion of universal life. If one realizes it and concentrates his/her activities as Buddha, he/she can attain enlightenment while still alive in this very life. Monks and ordinary people can practice this teaching.
3. What kind of merit can I obtain from enlightenment?
If one reaches enlightenment, he/she is liberated from rebirth. >From the Buddhist point of view, our spirits are continually reincarnating in six realms. These realms are hell, hungry ghost, animal, fighting demon, human and devas (gods). Our mind is always traveling these realms. For example, when you are starving, your main concern is how to get food. You are living with your strong survival instinct as animals do. When you are arguing with other people, your action is based on your emotion not compassion. You are in the realm of fighting demon. It is difficult to maintain the charity spirit especially in circumstances where your compassionate efforts go unrecognized such as when you help a person who has fallen on the street and he does not thank you.
We struggle when things do not go as we wish, because we have strong attachment to the issue that we believe is important. We call this Suffering, and as long as we live as normal people, our spirits are always in one of these six realms. When we attain enlightenment, our spirit is liberated from this cycle and we do not have to suffer any more. This state of mind is called Nirvana.
To attain an Arhat state is the human goal in the Theravada tradition, and only an Arhat can practice the liberation procedure to Nirvana. Some Mahayana branch schools believe that people will be reborn into the Pureland and have everlasting joy with the assistance of Amitabha Buddha or with the power of the Lotus Sutra. The Vajrayana tradition believes that the awakened one becomes one with the universal life force. The goal seems different, but actually it is the same goal with a different viewpoint.
4. What kind of discipline do Buddhists practice?
The method of discipline also varies depending on the tradition. Observing the precepts, studying the doctrine and practicing meditation are the main disciplines in the Theravada tradition for monks. Ordinary people go to the temple, listen to the monks preach, and assist monks by donating food, money, labor and items. Monks try to be enlightened through practice and members try to gain merits through assisting monks. In Thailand, monks ride public transportation including buses, ferryboats and trains free of charge.
Monks in the Mahayana tradition practice Zen meditation, chanting sutras, studying the doctrine and observing services for members. There is a famous verse, "Practice for enlightenment while assisting people with teaching." Assisting people is an important discipline. Members can practice the same discipline if they wish. Through practice, you cut your worldly desires and find peace of mind within.
Ritual meditation and concentration of the three mysteries are the main disciplines for monks in the Vajrayana tradition along with studying doctrine and observing services for members. Religious pilgrimage and practicing herb medicine are sometimes emphasized in this tradition. Members practice concentration of the three mysteries and meditation in their daily life. Through practice you enlarge your worldly desire to the universal level and find oneness with Buddhanature.
5. Why doesn't Buddhism believe in creation?
Creation is believed by many religions. Buddhism does not believe it because Buddhist teaching is based on the law of cause and effect. Everything in this world is changing. If you leave a cup of water on the table for a week, you may see less water or no water after a week. This happens due to the law of cause and effect. Water evaporates or turns into ice depending upon the condition. When there is 10 H20 in the cup, 10 H20 should be in the air after it evaporates. Water changes its form, but its contents remain the same. There is a law in nature that allows water to change its form, and there are many conditions that affect the form, such as temperature, pressure, amount, passage of time, etc. Without meeting nature's law and conditions, a cup of water cannot evaporate.
Is there an answer to this question, "When was this water born and when will it have decay?" We cannot create something from nothing. If there is no hydrogen and oxygen in this world, we cannot see, use or drink water let alone exist as this life form. There is always a cause of existence and effect of changing forms. It is hard to believe that this world was created from nothing. Some scientists say that the Big Bang was the beginning of the universe. If there was a Big Bang, there was a cause and effect for the Big Bang to occur. The Big Bang cannot take place from nothing.
6. What is the meaning of beginningless beginning and endless end?
As stated before, everything in this world is changing including time. There is a past, a present and a future in time. We are living in this present time of the world. We know there was a past and there will be a future. Time does not stop, even if a great king dies. Time continues forever. Thus it is understandable that time is infinite to the future. There will not be an end of time-meaning time is endless.
The same can be said for the past. The time is infinite to the past-meaning time is beginningless. If time were started at the moment of creation, what is the cause of the moment it started? How did creation take place without a timeframe?
No one knows when this world started. We do know that we are living at this moment in this world as we are. It is not important in Buddhism to ask questions like, "When did this world start?" or "When will this world decay?" but rather, how should we live at this moment, and how do we attain Buddhahood? These are the important issues in life. Therefore, in Buddhism we say beginningless beginning and endless end.
7. What is emptiness?
Many people think that emptiness and nothingness are the same. In the Buddhist view, they are quite different. When you see a glass with nothing in it, you naturally say it is an empty glass. In that respect, nothing and empty is the same. However, it can be said that the glass has no water in it, but is full of air. Then nothingness is not the same as emptiness, is it? Our mind is always influenced by our five senses, and we sometimes make false statements because of them. We have a tendency to believe a particular statement is the only truth.
When I asked small children to draw a picture of the sun, a boy drew a yellow sun a girl drew a red sun. Each child used a different color to draw the sun. There is only one sun, yet each child colored it as he/she saw it. Thus, truth is not one. It can be different depending upon the point of view, conditions, time, etc.
Emptiness is the translation of the Sanskrit word, Sunya. The concept of Buddhist teaching is based upon Sunya. This word is telling us to empty our deluded mind and widen our view to 360 degrees around us. Another translation of this word is interdependency. Everything is related in this world and nothing stands alone. There are many causes and conditions for a cup of water to evaporate. We are living in the world of interdependent causation.
We are always using our five senses for survival. Some people practice meditation to feel the state of nothingness. It is very difficult to attain nothingness in meditation because it is impossible for us to feel nothing. We should practice meditation to realize emptiness. If you do not feel anything, ask yourself why you do not feel anything. Change your viewpoint and examine your own mind. You will find different aspects of your mind. This is one of many methods of meditation to realize emptiness.
8. Where do we go after death?
In Christianity, people go to heaven or hell after their death according to God's judgment. The concept of life is different in Buddhism. As I explained earlier, a cup of water changes its form to steam or ice depending upon the condition, but its content, H20 does not change. When the cup breaks severely, it cannot hold the water inside itself anymore. However, the water exists somewhere as water, steam or ice. When it evaporates, it merges into air humidity and depending upon weather conditions, comes back as rain, snow, mist, etc. In this example, the cup represents our physical body and water signifies our spirit. Our physical body is changing constantly and when one's body can no longer hold his spirit inside, it is called physical death. The spirit goes back to the source of life like water merges into air humidity or clouds.
Imagine both you and I have a cup of water. It is easy to define which is your water and which is my water. If I pour my water into a big jar and you do the same can you define which is mine and which is yours? In the same light, because we have different bodies, we have individual life, but after physical death, our spirits go back to the source of life and merge together.
Depending upon the condition, spirit may return with a physical body. This is called Reincarnation in Buddhism. Many people misinterpret the word, reincarnation. It happens based on the law of nature. We are not here to suffer. We practice to attain enlightenment through many experiences and realization. If one reaches enlightenment, that person becomes one with the truth and no longer is in a cycle of reincarnation. This is the concept of life in Buddhism. We do not go to heaven or hell after death, but we can exist in heaven or in hell while we are living.
Some schools of Buddhism believe that we are reborn into the Pureland after death. The Pureland is another term for the source of life. Many people are afraid of death. In order to ease people's fear, this belief was introduced and widely believed.
9. Is human life more important than other life forms?
There are many life forms in this world, and many of us believe that human beings are best of all. On the other hand, human beings are the only beings that kill one another in the same species. Human beings experienced many wars in history and never learned from it. We still see extensive conflicts and wars taking place in the world. Some animals kill other animals for survival, not for fun or due to hatred. Lions fight each other to protect their territory and their food from others, but they know when to stop fighting. They know the rule not to kill other than to survive.
Not to kill or to harm life are the first precepts of Buddhism. Some practitioners practice nonviolence in conjunction with these precepts. Lions or animals know the precepts in nature but do human beings really know about this? Human beings are superior to any other species intellectually. If we do not practice this simple precept, not to kill or to harm life, how can we say human beings are better than others are?
I explained before that our spirits return to the source of life when we have physical death. Animals, bugs, plants and other living beings possess different physical bodies yet when they die physically, their spirits also return to the same source of life. All beings, though living individually with different bodies, are sharing the same life together. That is why we use the term "sentient beings" to express all beings. Buddhism is a teaching for sentient beings to attain awakening.
10. What is Karma?
After something happens to you, someone might say, "It is your Karma." You may think that Karma is a misfortune or something bad. Actually, it is energy created by your actions of body, speech and mind. This world has a law of cause and effect and there is always a cause for something to occur. Karma is an energy or cause to produce an effect in the future. Karma is not something good or bad, but depending upon how you process the situation physically and spiritually, the result can be different.
Even when two persons commit the same action, the Karma created by that action can be different for each one if their mind or intention behind the action is different. For example, two people catch fish: one catches fish for fun only while the other catches fish for survival. Do you think the intentions of the two are the same? Karma is created by actions of body, speech and mind, therefore, if mind behind the action is different, you create different energy or cause. This energy or cause will affect you in some way in the future. When you throw a ball to a wall, it comes back as hard as you throw it. In the same light, the Karma energy is invisible yet it comes back to you sooner or later. It is better for us to concentrate on our actions of body, speech and mind as positively as possible.
Facing difficulties is a good opportunity for you to cleanse your Karma. Things occur because of a past action. There is a reason for you to face that difficult situation. When you learn some good lessons through your experiences, you will not suffer the same difficulties again. Because you learned a lesson you know how to better deal with the same problem. If you run away from a difficult situation, or do not learn the lesson, the situation will either continue or come back with greater force later on. There is a law of nature. If you are against it, you are the one to pay for the cause.
11. Is Compassion different from Love?
Love is a strong energy we create inside. Love has two features of energy. First, love is a giving energy. You give materials, comfort, heart, etc. to someone you love. Without this energy, maintaining married life is difficult. When you love a particular person so much, you want that person to love you back with the same intensity. This is called starving energy. When this starving energy gets bigger, we face many problems. Incidents like arguments, fights, abuse, crimes and murders often occur from this starving energy.
Jesus Christ taught his followers to practice Love. "Love your neighbors" and "Love your enemies" are well known. He did not tell his followers to love particular persons, rather he taught them to love everyone equally, not to discriminate neighbors or enemies. This Love is different from personal Love. This is God's Love or unconditional Love.
Buddhist teaching emphasizes not to love because Love is an attachment and becomes a cause of suffering as I mentioned before. But Buddhism tells us to be compassionate to all beings. Most parents love their children and they are ready to sacrifice themselves when a danger threatens their children. Even if your child hates you, you try to protect him from a danger. Understanding the situation well, loving without attachment and not expecting any return is called compassion in Buddhism. It is different from personal love but very similar to unconditional Love. If your spouse whispers to you, "I love you the same as I love other people," how would you answer?
12. Does Buddhism believe in ghosts?
The existence of ghosts is believed by many religions and many people are afraid of them. But what is a ghost? Is it real or a product of our own imagination? In Buddhism, people believe in the existence of ghosts. Ghosts are deceased spirits who could not go into the cycle of the universal life force due to their strong attachments. All beings are sharing universal life and living with individual life forms. When one experiences physical death, his spirit receives reflection time to get ready to go back to the universal life force. One of the sutras says that one could use up to 49 days to reflect on his own life, therefore, many types of memorial services are held during this period to assist the deceased and to reduce family members’ grief.
Most people can release their attachments of love, hate, unfulfilled wishes, physical body, materials, money, fame, etc. within the allotted time period. However, there are some deceased spirits who do not know they have died or still have many attachments preventing the completion of their life-reflection within the period of time. Their spirits remain in this realm without physical bodies. They have the same desires as we, but they are not able to act on those desires because they lack a physical body. Most of them are suffering and they want our attention and help. They try to participate in many spiritual activities with us.
Quite a few people experience a chill or odd feeling when they visit a place where many individuals have committed suicide. This occurs because the spirits of the deceased are still existing at this place. When they stay longer in this realm, these spirits become negative energy that may interfere with living peoples' activities. They still have an opportunity to go into the cycle if they understand the situation and reflect deeply until they find the Buddhahood in their minds. Some schools of Buddhism practice rituals to save these ghosts.
13. What is Nirvana?
Some people use the word Nirvana to describe a fun place or extremely joyful condition. Actually, Nirvana is not a place where you can enjoy physical ecstasy. In Nirvana, you are liberated from physical and spiritual suffering.
There are four major sufferings that are difficult to escape 1) being born into this physical world, 2) aging, 3) illness and 4) death. The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, taught these four major sufferings to explain the concept of interdependency. The Buddhist goal is to be awakened, for when you are awakened, you will be liberated from cycles of rebirth becoming one with the life force. This state or condition is called Nirvana.
Some people consider Heaven and Nirvana to be the same. They are different. Many religions believe that the individual soul goes to Heaven after physical death occurs. Buddhism believes that each individual has a spirit and that this spirit returns to the source of life or the source of spirit to become one with this source after physical death. Buddhism does not believe in individual souls that continue as an individual solid soul.
This spirit condition can be explained by using two cups of water. Imagine that both you and I have a cup of water. It is definable that one is my water and another is your water. If I pour my water into a big jar and you pour your water into the same jar. Can you define which is mine and which is yours? This simple example demonstrates that the cups represent our bodies while the water represents our spirit or life. We are sharing the same spirit or life force, but each body's conditions are different, therefore, we are living differently. Some live longer than others, some die younger than others do.
Although we are all different physically, in Nirvana, there are no differences between you and me. All of us become one with the universal life force. It is this condition of oneness that is called Nirvana.
14. Are there miracles in Buddhism?
There are many stories of miracles in the world, miracles done by Jesus Christ, Mohammed, etc. It is written in some sutras that Shakyamuni performed miracles for his disciples and followers. However, he prohibited his disciples to practice or perform miracles. He taught his followers to concentrate on the practice of the teaching that the law of cause and effect runs everything in this world. When we thoroughly study and practice this teaching, we are able to understand that everything is happening under its law and nothing is a miracle.
The following is a true story of which I was a part. An elderly lady came to me for advice. Her medical doctor told her that she had brain cancer, and without medical surgery, she had about six months to live. This was her second cancer and she did not want to endure another painful procedure. First I asked her, "What is cancer? Is it something that came in from outside of you?" "No," she replied, “it started from my own cell." Then I said, "If you know it is started from your own cell, you can do something about it. Imagine that you plant a flower seed in a pot. You put it under the sun, give it fertilizer, water, etc., and you see the growth of a flower plant. But, if you stop giving it water, what happens to it?" "It weakens and will die." she answered. "That's right, your cancer is the same thing. There are energies that are sustaining the growth of your cancer. If you cut one or two of these energies, your cancer will weaken and change its form. There is always a cause and effect for a result. If you want to change a result, the most effective way is to deal directly with the cause or effects. " As soon as I said this, she smiled back to me and said, "I will work on it from now on."
Our normal cells help one another survive, but when a normal cell changes to a cancer cell, it becomes very independent and starts attacking the other cells. This cancer cell needs very independent energies to grow. She meditated on these energies and tried to change them into compassionate, positive energies. After three months, her doctor told her that her cancer was decreasing. After six months, her doctor could not find any cancer cells in her brain. He said to her, "It's a miracle!" She replied to him, "Doc, it is not a miracle. You do not know anything about the law of cause and effect, do you?" It was a miracle to that doctor, but for her, it was an incident under the law of cause and effect.
Like this story, when we do not open our eyes to the law of cause and effect, we often mistreat ourselves. When we try to understand it and practice it properly, we can enjoy happiness and joy rather than misery. Miracles occur because we do not know the law of cause and effect. When we understand it, miracles are not miracles any more.
15. Does Buddhism practice human or animal Sacrifice?
Buddhists should not practice Sacrifice because it is against the precept of not killing or harming life. Sacrifice is an egoistic trade between human beings and supreme beings. Some religions encourage the practice of Sacrifice to induce the deity to grant wishes. However, in Buddhism, we should not kill animals or any living beings for Sacrifice. If you practice Sacrifice in order to realize your wish, you may not gain any benefit from it, rather, you create negative Karma from it, and you will experience suffering or hardships because of it.
Buddhists should practice generosity or offerings instead of Sacrifice. No one lives alone in this world. We receive many benefits from others. By receiving education, we can make our living more efficient. By receiving protection of law, we are able to live peacefully. We are receiving countless benefits from the universe, nature, country, ancestors, families, friends, living beings, etc. If there is no Sun, we are not able to live any more. If you truly come to understand this principle, and how grateful we are to live, the sense of gratitude appears from the bottom of your heart. Practicing generosity and offerings represents showing your gratitude in action. When we live in mutual respect of one another, we can create ideal living conditions on this earth. This state of happiness is hard to come by from Sacrifice.
16. What is Dharma?
Dharma is a Sanskrit word that has many meanings. Buddha’s teaching is the most common meaning. Shakyamuni taught Dharma to his followers. The word Dharma also has meanings of law, truth and the whole universe as objects of thought. Shakyamuni taught the principles, the way to be awakened and how he had attained such a state. He taught his followers to understand the law of cause and effect, and asked them to release their attachments in order to attain spiritual liberation. He taught the truth of this universe to his followers and showed them how to achieve this spiritual renewal. All of his talks are considered as Dharma.
This universe is constantly revealing the truth but most of us are not able to understand it or not paying attention at all. The signals and signs of the universe are also considered as Dharma. Many great teachers heard and understood them, and taught them to people in their own languages. By studying the universe or nature, we can learn many truths and laws. We can contribute to the progress of our culture and academic fields. Dharmadhatu is a Sanskrit word that signifies the world of universal law. We are all living in the Dharmadhatu and we should learn the law well in order to enjoy spiritual freedom.
17. What is Sangha?
Sangha is a Sanskrit word that means the community of practitioners. When Shakyamuni taught the Dharma to people, each time, many became his disciples. They left their homes and started to live together for religious practice. Shakyamuni made precepts to keep the society in harmony.
At this time, India had a caste system that categorized people by their classifications. People had no freedom in marriage, job and many other situations. Shakyamuni taught that people should not be discriminated against by this caste system. He created a caste-free community and taught the members to respect one another instead of discriminating against others. This is a society of nourishing together. There was no rank or classifications in this society. All merits received from the general public were shared equally.
This Sangha was created for male disciples at first, then opened to female disciples later due to the increase of female practitioners. There are physical differences between men and women, but we are not different in the spiritual world. Everyone in Sangha practices the teaching according to his or her skills. The practitioner who masters the teaching assists other practitioners, and all seek awakening together. This is the spirit of Sangha, and it is how we should practice in Sangha.
18. What is Mandala?
A Mandala is a symbolic representation of the Universe and it is drawn on a sand altar or a scroll. Mandala is a Sanskrit word and its original meaning is an object that has an essence of the truth. Buddhist teachings are written on Sutras but words alone can not completely describe the essence of the truth. Mandala is a visual form of Dharma and it is used for rituals, meditations and ceremonies.
We are living in the universe but we are not able to see the whole picture of it. The universal truth can be divided into two forms of Mandalas. Vajradhatu (Diamond realm) Mandala represents the wisdom of the universe. That can be described as the law of cause and effect in another words. Garbhakosa (Matrix) Mandala signifies the principle of the universe and can be described as the existence. There are many existences in the world and they change their conditions due to the law of cause and effect. These two characteristics are inseparable but it becomes more understandable when you divide into categories.
This Mandala can be described as a set of statues, a temple complex or any three dimensional representations also. These can be seen many places as Toji Temple and Koyasan Monastery in Japan and Borabadur in Java. In Indian tradition a circular altar was formed that becomes the place for invoking the spirit of the deity or deities during the ritual ceremonies. This tradition spread to many countries.
There are four types of Mandalas as explained by Kobo Daishi.
(1) The Maha Mandala (Great Mandala) The Great Mandala expressed the entire universe in which, viewed broadly, human beings and all living beings maintain harmony and independence with one another. This includes all of other Mandalas.
(2) Samaya Mandala (Symbolized Mandala) Samaya is a Sanskrit word that means vow. The Buddhas express their respective vows through their hands by forming mudras, or holding lotus blossoms, swords or other symbols. The mudras and symbols express the essence that is hidden within the vow.
(3) Dharma Mandala (Character Mandala) The methods for transmitting the mind of the Buddha to people are the sutras, words and the names of the Buddhas. The essence of the teaching is contained in bija or seed mantras. Generally speaking, this refers to language, words and written texts.
(4) Karma Mandala (Action Mandala) This Mandala refers to the actions of the Buddha to teach and save people. In a broad sense, it refers to the actions and functions of everything in the universe, including the activities of people.
19. What are Sutra, Dharani and Mantra?
Shakyamuni and his early disciples never recorded his teachings in writing. His words were memorized as he taught them. After Shakyamuni died, his disciples got together and collected his words, put them in sequence, memorized them all and handed them down to the next generation. A few centuries later, these works were finally written on wood blocks. The oldest known text is the Pali Cannon.
These scriptures are categorized into three types by their length and substance. The longest scriptures are called Sutras and were originally written in Sanskrit or Pali languages then translated into Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan and other languages. The word Sutra originally meant warp. Warp is the foundation for cloth, and written scriptures are the foundation of Buddha's teachings, therefore, the word Sutra was adopted as scriptures in Buddhism.
Dharani and Mantra are medium and short forms of scriptures and mostly used for meditation and ritual practice. They are considered as excerpts of the teaching. Each character has a deeper meaning in the Sanskrit language, therefore, Dharani and Mantra are considered as sacred words of Buddha. Many Sutras are translated into other languages, but many Dharanis and Mantras are not translated into other languages. Even now they are chanted in Sanskrit in many Buddhist traditions.
20. What is Mudra?
Hand gestures or signs are generally used as one of the great tools to express one's own mind to other people. These hand gestures or signs are called Mudras in Sanskrit. When you watch Indian Dance, the dancers express their emotions, feelings, situations, etc. by forming different hand gestures to the audience. Buddhism adopted this as one of three major practices of Body, Speech and Mind. By forming Mudras, a practitioner concentrates the action of Body to go into deeper meditation. The concentration of Body, Speech and Mind are very important especially in Esoteric Buddhist traditions.
There is a famous story on Mudras. A young priest came to an older priest who was practicing Esoteric Buddhism to ask about the significance of Mudras. The younger priest asked the elder one, "Why are Mudras so important? I think chanting the Sutras is more important. " The elder priest replied, "If you think so, there is nothing to teach you. Go home!" As the younger priest turned to go home, he heard some clapping noise behind him. He looked back noticing that the elder priest was clapping his hands and beckoning him. The young priest returned to ask the elder priest what he wanted. The elder priest said, "I am not calling you back. I just clapped my hands and moved my hands. You came back to me. I can move you by my hands without saying a word. If I concentrate on my mind with Buddha and make Mudras, I can call Buddhas and can practice the teaching without chanting a long Sutra. "
Each Mudra has a symbolic meaning of Buddhas and the truth of the universe, therefore, it is important to practice Mudras with proper visualization and Mantras. These are called the Three Mysteries of the Body, Speech and Mind in Esoteric Buddhism.
21. Is Buddhism exclusive to other religions?
Buddhism is a very tolerant religion. It respects other religions. Believing in various religions has saved countless people. Most religions teach compassion, love, salvation, etc., therefore, it is important to have a faith that helps you and other people. Buddhism is considered as one of many paths that lead people to spiritual liberation. Buddhism teaches its followers that it is important to respect one another rather than discriminate against each other.
There are many people in the world -each one is unique. If there are 10 people in a room, there may be 10 different ideas. When we climb the mountain there are many paths to the summit. You should choose a path that is comfortable for you. Also, you should choose a cane that is suitable to you. In the same light, Buddhism has many schools and practices. Different canes represent different schools while different paths symbolize different practices. Even though the path is different, everyone is climbing toward the summit. Depending upon which path you choose, the time and the process are different. You should not discriminate against another person because he has a different cane. A taller person should hold a tall cane; a strong person may not need a cane at all. The difference is not a big issue in Buddhism, but how and when you reach the summit is extremely important.
Some religions see other religions as heresies and discriminate against them. Harmony cannot be born from discrimination. The purpose of religion is to believe in spiritual liberation and to practice its teaching in our daily life. Discrimination is based upon the idea to differentiate yourself from others. It is hard to liberate yourself from this condition. How can you liberate yourself if you make a fence around you and separate yourself from other people? Liberation can be experienced if you destroy the fence of discrimination around you and become free from all spiritual attachments. This state of mind is called Nirvana or Heaven.
22. Why are there many schools in Buddhism?
There are many schools in Buddhism because the way in which people practice the teaching is different by school. Shakyamuni taught the teaching differently to the followers based upon their skills and their understandings. For some disciples he emphasized the practice of meditation while he told other disciples to memorize the phrase of the teaching. Some monasteries were established to practice particular disciplines and followers went to those monasteries to accomplish certain skills.
These schools can be categorized into three major streams, Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. Theravada Buddhism is the most traditional stream of Buddhism. It is practiced exactly as it is said that Shakyamuni Buddha taught. Observation of the precepts is the most important practice in this tradition. In Mahayana Buddhism, the path opened to the general public. Observing the original precepts is very hard on ordinary people, therefore, Mahayana Buddhism reestablished them for people to practice the teaching at home. Vajrayana Buddhism emphasizes awakening in this very body and living as a Buddha in this very life as Shakyamuni did. Concentration of body, speech and mind are practiced in this tradition
Although the schools are different, they all are based upon the teaching of compassion. They do not discriminate against one another. The paths are different, but all go toward the goal of enlightenment.
There is a famous story about how to find the right path for you. Once there was a very serious disciple who practiced the teaching very hard day and night without resting. Shakyamuni asked him how one adjusts a harp before it is played. The disciple replied to Shakyamuni, "Tighten the strings." Shakyamuni then asked him, "If you tighten the strings too hard, what will happen?" "It does not create a good sound." he replied. Shakyamuni told him, "Practice the teaching in the same manner. If you keep too much tension day and night, your mind tires. You should choose the middle path."
23. What are the Four Noble Truths?
Shakyamuni Buddha taught this to explain the truth of our life. Wherever we live, we experience these Four Noble Truths.
A) There is suffering in life. As long as we live we experience some sort of suffering. Our life is based upon suffering because we do not understand the law of cause and effect. Even though you enjoy this moment, the joy may become sadness in the next moment.
B) There are causes for all the suffering. Suffering does not stand alone. There are always various causes for the suffering. For example, if you have a pain in your stomach, there is a cause or causes for the pain. When you take a painkiller you may not feel pain anymore, but the cause of the pain does not go away. Pain is not viewed as something bad in Buddhism. Pain is a signal from the body to our mind. Our body is telling us to find the cause of the pain, and asks us to take care of it. If we do not feel pain, the symptom may worsen. Many people take painkillers without discovering the cause of the pain. Is this a good treatment? There are always causes, effects and results. If you want to change the result, find the cause or effects. Then it is easier to deal with the issue. Through suffering, we are able to learn a good lesson on life. If you learn a lesson from suffering, you may not suffer any more because you know how to deal with it.
C) There is a final state of no suffering. Most people experience suffering. If one realizes the reason or cause and effect then undergoes proper treatment, he/she may not suffer any more. We are capable of living in a suffering-free world. As long as we are in a cycle of birth and death, we face some sort of suffering. When we practice the teaching and release attachments, we can be one with this universal truth and we are no longer in the cycle of birth and death. This final state of no suffering is called Nirvana.
D) There are paths to overcome suffering. Although you may know that there is a state of being called Nirvana, if you don't know how to get there you stand a good chance of remaining in the cycle of birth and death. If Nirvana is our goal in life, there are many paths to reach it. The different paths represent different schools and different practices of Buddhism. Each school emphasizes its unique practices to reach the goal. However, all of the schools are linked to the goal. Some practices are difficult and some are easy. You can choose one of many practices such as meditation, chanting sutras, performing rituals, making pilgrimages, etc. The important thing is to choose the path suitable to you.
24. Why do Buddhists worship statues?
Many people think Buddhists worship statues and pictures. This is a total misconception. We do not worship them at all. We use statues and pictures as symbols of the truth just as Christians use the cross as their symbol of faith. We live on the planet Earth, but we are not able to see the whole planet at once. To understand where we live, we use a globe, a map, pictures, photographs, etc. These items are not the real planet Earth, but by using them to expand our awareness, we are able to understand the truth more effectively. In the same light, we use statues, pictures, Mandalas, symbols, etc. to understand the truth or law of cause and effect.
As I explained earlier, there are three forms of Buddha: Universal Life form, Manifestation form and Historical form. Although it is difficult to understand the truth of these three forms, by using them supra rationally, we can experience it.
Some people may wonder why we use more symbols than words. Buddhism teaches how to be awakened to the truth by observing it. It is impossible to fully explain the planet Earth with words. It is easier and faster to understand the planet by looking at a globe rather than listening to a verbal explanation. Observation is a very important practice and key to realizing the truth in science and technology study. You should use your five senses to observe the truth and you should contemplate it until you understand it. Symbols are very useful factors for this process.
Often I am asked why we bow or make prostrations in front of symbols. Prostrations are common practice in Asian countries to show appreciation or respect to others. We are living as a part of Universal life and now we are able to practice the teaching. We show our appreciation or humbleness by prostrating ourselves before observing practice. Imagine that your friend thanks you with an arrogant attitude, do you really feel a sense of gratitude from him? We should be humble before we practice the teaching. Showing appreciation is the beginning of the practice in Buddhism.
25. Should Buddhists be vegetarians?
Some religions prohibit certain foods, but Shakyamuni did not prohibit any particular food. Recently to maintain a healthy diet, many people are vegetarians. However, you do not have to be a vegetarian to be a Buddhist. Shakyamuni ordered his followers to eat no more than twice a day and not to eat any solid food from noon to sunrise the next day. He did not mention remaining vegetarian. He ate whatever he was offered by the people. It is believed that the cause of his death was food poison from pork he ate. People offer monks a portion of their food cooked for their family members to enjoy. Shakyamuni prohibited monks to eat food that was prepared solely for the monks.
When Buddhism came into China, the emperor was fascinated by its teaching and made special laws for monks to protect their holiness. "Monks should not eat any meat because it is against the precept: do not harm life." This law influenced many other countries and some schools of Buddhism practice vegetarianism today.
In China, eggs are allowed in some schools. In Japan, not only meat, but also some vegetables are prohibited. The use of garlic, onion, leek and scallion is prohibited in monasteries because they create a strong scent, and also, by eating these vegetables, practitioners have a difficult time maintaining concentration in meditation practice. In India, cows are considered sacred animals therefore people hesitate to eat beef even though they are not prohibited from eating it.
26. What are the Eight Noble Paths?
The Eight Noble Paths were taught by Shakyamuni for us to realize awakening. We are often living with ego-centered mind and create sufferings due to discriminative thoughts and attachments. Through observing the Eight Noble Paths we are able to overcome our sufferings and can attain enlightenment. The following are the Eight Noble Paths:
(1) Proper Views
Even though we look at the same object, everyone may see it differently. If there are 100 people in a hall, there may be 100 different opinions. The viewpoint is different with each person. However, when you believe that what you saw was right, you might deny others' viewpoint. Then a conflict might occur. There is no absolutely right view in this world. When we understand others' viewpoint, we have an opportunity to solve any problem. Proper Views are to understand not only your viewpoint but also the viewpoint of others.
(2) Proper Aspiration
As long as you use your self-centered mind or egoistic mind there is a very good chance that you will suffer. You should shift this narrow mind to universal mind. If everyone thinks only for oneself and not for others, this world becomes a very difficult place in which to live. Making money only for myself is not bad idea, but if I enlarge my mind to contribute myself to the world, this world becomes a much, much better place and many people can enjoy and can receive benefit from my universal mind. Proper Aspiration is universal mind that each one should practice for inner peace toward world peace.
(3) Proper Mindfulness
When you get angry, it is hard for you to keep inner peace. Everyone has emotions and passions. When you lose their balance you also lose control of your mind. The mind is always changing depending upon the conditions. If you move your mind from excessive conditions or eruptive feelings, you enjoy a peaceful state of mind. When someone says something bad about you, do not get angry. Rather, first consider why he is saying this. If you understand the reason and the situation well, you can solve the problem without upsetting yourself. Proper Mindfulness can be enjoyed all the time when you feel everything through the third-person five senses, not through your own five senses.
(4) Proper Meditation
Meditation is a practice to calm your mind and lead your mind to a peaceful state. By practicing meditation, you can transform your egocentric energy into universal energy. When you hate a particular person, your accumulation of negative energy becomes the cause of karma, and may influence you in the future. If you calm your mind, and examine your mind as to why you hate this person, and also, how you can change the hate to a positive cause, you can actually cleanse your negative energy. Proper Meditation is to find your Buddhanature within your mind.
(5) Proper Speech
We often communicate with other people by words. Depending upon how you speak to others, you may create a good relationship or put yourself in difficult conditions. We can tell by listening to a person’s words what kind of mind activities that person has. When you are angry, your words have a special tone and energy of anger, therefore, other people know you are angry. Proper Speech is an ideal speech not only for you, but also, it is kind and gentle to other people. It is not based on your emotions rather it is based on your Buddhanature.
(6) Proper Conduct
Conduct is a physical action. Most people generally welcome kind and gentle actions. If your action is based upon your greed, hatred or ignorance, you have a good chance of giving other people a difficult time. Because your action creates your Karma, it is better to transform your ego-centered action to compassionate actions. Proper Conduct is an action based on compassion and your Buddhanature.
(7) Proper Livelihood
Livelihood is a pattern of living. We behave differently depending on the pattern. The pattern also is different by country, culture, gender, job, etc. If the pattern created is based upon survival, people naturally have a fighting spirit. If you construct peaceful living conditions and try to live peacefully, peace becomes your nature or habit and you have a good chance to create harmony with other people. According to our livelihood we can create hell or heaven on earth. We should practice peace and compassion in our daily life in order to live peacefully.
(8) Proper Effort
Without making an effort, it is hard to realize our wish come true. If you give up in the middle of the journey, you may ruin whatever you have built. When you set your mind on a goal, it is important to continue your steps toward that goal. There is a famous saying "Many a little makes a miracle." Continuation is the key for success. When you set a goal, it is important to make a plan on how to reach the goal, as well as, a good reason why you need to accomplish this plan. Otherwise, your effort may easily become in vain.
27. What is a Cakra?
Cakra is a Sanskrit word that means a circle or a center. In the early days of expansion, the Teaching of Buddha was expressed by the use of a wheel in picture or other art forms, therefore, Dharma Cakra or Wheel of Teaching became a symbol of Buddhism. The eight-spoke wheel represents the teaching of the Eight Noble Paths, and also signifies that the teaching of Buddha was spread in eight directions from India.
Another famous meaning of Cakra is an energy center. It is well known that human beings have seven Cakras inside the body and that each Cakra stores a particular energy. For example, the bottom or root Cakra (Muladhara) is in the area of the lower abdomen. This is where we store energy for our existence. These seven Cakras are not recognized by medical science, however, many people come to know their existence through meditations.
The names and positions in the body of the seven Cakras in Sanskrit are: Sahasrara Top of head Ajna forehead Visuddha throat Anahata chest Manipura navel Svadhisthana sex organ Muladhara lower abdomen
28. Why are there many types of Buddhas?
Many religions have only one God but there are many types of Buddhas in Buddhism. This is just as it is with people in society. All of us serve in the world with our own specialties in various spheres.
It is impossible to find a person who is identical to you in the world. In the same light each Buddha has special characteristics, a special vow, and powers of salvation. Followers choose a particular Buddha to use as their focus point or ideal image for meditation based on these characteristics, vows, and powers of salvation.
These Buddhas are categorized into four types based upon their characteristics. They are Tathagata, Bodhisattva, Vidyaraja and Deva.
Tathagata is the representation of the truth. Buddhism is a religion that teaches us to find a path to awakening. When you realize the truth and become one with the truth, you become a Tathagata. There are five Tathagatas in each of the Diamond and Matrix Mandalas. They represent the five wisdoms, Nature of the Dharma Realm Body, Great and Perfect Mirror, Equality, Unsurpassed Perception, and Accomplishing Metamorphosis.
Bodhisattva is a person who is practicing the teaching to seek enlightenment, and helping people with a compassionate heart. It is considered that an ordinary person must pass through all of the fifty- one stages to become a Bodhisattva. There are many Bodhisattvas who have already attained enlightenment, but chose to stay in this realm to save all beings. Avalokitesvara (Kannon), Maitreya (Miroku), Ksitigarbha (Jizo), Manjusri (Monju), Samantabhadra (Fugen), Akasagarbha (Kokuzo) are world-famous Bodhisattvas.
Vidyarajas have a furious appearance with flames around the body that signify the energy to fight evil spirits. This class of deities is often seen in Esoteric Buddhism. Acaranatha (Fudo), Trailokya (Gozanze), Kundali (Gundari), Yamantaka (Daiitoku), Vajraksa (Kongo Yasha) are Great Five Vidyarajas and are considered as the incarnations of the Five Tathagatas.
Most of the Devas were gods in other religions, or representations of supernatural powers. Many religions existed before the expansion of Buddhism, and people had strong beliefs in their gods. Buddhism did not ask them to abandon their faith. Rather, Buddhism adopted these gods as protectors of the teaching. Many temples have enshrined Devas as guardians of Buddha and his teachings. Eight kinds of Devas are famous. They are Devas, Nagas, Yaksas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kimnaras and Mahoragas.
29. Is Buddha a Savior?
When Shakyamuni preached his teaching to people, he did not ask anyone to rely on him. He taught people how to be liberated from sufferings, but he did not claim himself as a Savior even once. His last words to his disciples were, " Make of yourself a light. Rely upon yourself; do not depend upon anyone else. Make my teachings your light. Rely upon them." Thus, Shakyamuni was a spiritual leader in Buddhism but he was not a Savior.
We have a tendency to believe in and rely on others. When we see a famous doctor recommend a particular food for good heath on TV, we buy it without doubt, don't we? Although each of us has a different health condition, we often get information from TV, books or other mass media on how to loose weight fast or some other health enhancing opportunity, and try to do the same without considering our condition. When things do not go as we wish, we may say, "There is nothing I can do. Please save me God!" Even the bible says, "God helps those who help themselves."
Shakyamuni did not tell his disciples to blindly believe him. He always taught his disciples to examine the teaching and use it as a good tool to help bring about change. Some people pray for Buddha to save them, but Buddha is not a Savior. Buddha is the truth or energy of the world. When you try to cross over a muddy stream, you should learn the energy flow of the stream and how much energy and skill you have. If you go across it without knowing these facts, your life is in danger and no one can save you. But if you learn these teachings and use nature's energy effectively, you may have a good chance to accomplish the crossing.
Buddha is not a Savior. When we understand the teaching well, and we come to know our own skill and energy, we can save ourselves by many directions. Buddha is telling us to open our eyes to realize the truth then we can rely on ourselves without praying, "Save me!"
wakened without properly using our five senses. When we face difficulties, it is a time for us to learn a lesson physically and spiritually. If we give up our life and kill ourselves, our whole life becomes in vain. When we open our eyes to the reality, we are able to find a path that is suitable for us. Whatever happens to us, we should not give up our lives.
There were quite a few priests who killed themselves in history. During the Viet Nam war several priests killed themselves to protest the war. Before the Chinese Army took over Tibet, many Tibetan monks committed suicide. Because of these historical incidences, some people think that Buddhism encourages individuals to commit suicide. This is not true. There were reasons behind those suicides. War creates a living hell in this world, and no one benefits from fighting. People hurt their bodies and minds thereby suffering tremendously. There is a Bodhisattva vow to lead people toward a nonviolent world. The priests who committed suicide in Viet Nam demonstrated this vow to stop the war. Also, if a soldier kills a monk, he will face a huge negative energy of Karma, therefore, by killing himself, the monk can save soldiers from the status of killing a monk.
The Diamond Sutra says, "The best hero of Bodhisattvas who has held supreme knowledge performs the vow of salvation for all sentient beings, until the world vanishes, and has no intention of entering to the abiding state of Nirvana... Those who take up this unsurpassed secret teaching will always be protected and secure, because no demons or anyone else will hurt or slay them. Those who take up this teaching, will reach the state of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and obtain all the fruitful fulfillment soon which they have sought and wished for."
32. Where is our mind?
It is easy to recognize our physical bodies by using our five senses, however, it is hard to define where we have our mind. Some say that our mind is in our brain. Others may say that our mind is in our heart. Most scientists say that our brains control all of our physical and mental activities. If this is true, what is guiding the growth of a small embryo? Why do people undergo parental training during the pregnancy? If our mind is in our heart, when a doctor performs heart transplant surgery for you, does your mind become the same as the donor's mind? Many patients who lose a portion of their bodies continue to feel itching or pain in their lost body part. There are many unsolved mysteries about our bodies and mind, even when you study today's advanced medical science.
In Buddhism, we believe that our spirit stays in our body while we are alive. The spirit is the core of our mind and we have many opportunities to add other features while we are living, such as emotion, instinct, knowledge, reason, etc. Each cell has a portion of our spirit. Each cell contains the unique identification of our body and mind, therefore, when a virus or some other bacterium tries to invade the body, the body starts working to destroy them. This we call the immune system of the body. Your identity remains in your body even when your physical body ceases to function. Therefore, when your organs are transplanted to another person, that person may face rejection problems depending upon the condition. The physical body is the medium of the mind. When the physical body cannot work as a medium anymore, this condition is called physical death, and the spirit goes back to the original source of life, just as a glass of water evaporates and merges into air moisture.
When we look at nature, we can see all the trees and plants which do not have brains, but grow regardless. They know when to bloom and when to bear fruit. All living things have spirit in their bodies, the same as human beings. We live differently because we have different body and brain systems. The concept of life, however, is the same.
There is a famous verse that we recite before meals. "I have eight thousands of tissues in my body, each tissue contains nine hundred thousands of cells. I take this food to sustain my life and my mind. May I attain the Buddhahood as all awakened ones realized before." How many of us can see the concept of life in this short verse?
33. Why does Buddhism emphasize Meditation?
Buddhism is a teaching to lead you to spiritual awakening. There are many methods to reach this goal. The key is to know your own mind as it truly is. Do you know everything about yourself? If you know well your physical body and its function, you can control your life more easily, can't you? Meditation is considered one of the best disciplines to come to know your own mind as it truly is. Shakyamuni awakened to the truth through the practice of deep meditation. Buddhism offers many types of meditation forms.
Practitioners should acquire the basic technique of breathing. We breathe to survive; therefore, we think that we know how to breathe. However, each person's rhythm, tempo and pitch are different, just as the rhythm of our individual hearts is different. It is better to first find one's comfortable breathing rhythm before practicing any meditation forms. A major recognized method of breathing is to inhale through your nose, hold your breath in the navel area, and then breathe out slowly from your mouth.
Meditation is not only a spiritual discipline. One should know the proper posture to lead one's mind into the sacred world. When you take an uncomfortable posture, after awhile, your body starts aching, which causes your physical condition to change. When your body is not comfortable, it is hard for you to enjoy meditation. For those who cannot sit down due to physical difficulties, they can practice meditation as they are lying on the bed with a proper lying posture. We have a tendency to sleep when we lie down. One should guard against this when practicing lying meditation. Actually, I sometimes see people who are sleeping while they are practicing sitting meditation.
The most critical element is how to set our mind in calmness and purity. Since the day we were born, our mind is always conditioned by our own false ego. By believing this false ego, which gives us an entirely different viewpoint from reality, we experience a sense of anger, sorrow, hate, prejudice, etc. in our daily lives as a result. Therefore, each school teaches many techniques to change or purify our false ego. Through meditations, we are able to find our Buddhanature within, which in turn enables us to live our lives creatively day by day. The present moment never returns. You are the only one who can change your life toward an ideal life.
34. Are there punishments in Buddhism?
Punishment doled out by a divine power is widely believed in many religions. If you do not believe in God, or if you commit a sin, you may face punishment, and as a result, you may not be able to go to heaven. Buddhism does not believe in punishment by a supreme being.
We are living under the law of cause and effect. When you throw a ball against a wall, it will come back to you with the same force as it was thrown. In the same light, if you make a negative cause, it may create a negative result. Everyone is responsible for his or her own activities of body, speech and mind in Buddhism. Also, we do not believe in an eternal heaven or an eternal hell after death. We may make our heaven or hell realms while we are living, depending upon our physical and spiritual conditions.
We live under man-made laws in our daily lives. The rules and ordinances for each city and country keep the community in peace and harmony. If you break the law, you should follow man's rules to correct your behavior. Punishment exists in our moral life.
There are many precepts in Buddhism, but they were not established to punish people. They were adopted as guidelines for daily practice. For example, telling a lie is against the precept of refraining from false speech, therefore, we should not tell a lie. But a circumstance might arise where you may have to tell a lie in order to save or assist people. There is a famous story about this precept.
Once upon a time there were two boys who wanted to go to the moon. They asked many people how to go to the moon, but no one knew the answer. One day, while the boys were playing a game inside their house, their mother, who was outside, discovered that the house was on fire. The fire surrounded the house, which prevented her from rescuing them. She shouted to her boys to get out, but the boys were playing the game wholeheartedly and did not pay attention to her. A monk ran to the house and shouted, "Boys, I will take you to moon, come out at once!" They ran out from house with minor injury and asked the monk when he would take them to moon.
As a monk, he vowed not tell a lie, but who could punish him for telling a lie to save the boys' lives. Shakyamuni admitted that we may have to break the precepts in a difficult circumstance like this, therefore, he taught his disciples to return the vow to Buddha first, then conduct the best way to solve the problem. Take responsibility for the conduct without giving any excuse. Finally, make a vow to follow the Buddhist teaching again. Shakyamuni strongly taught his disciples not to make the same mistakes over again.
35. Why do Buddhists use a lot of incense?
Many kinds of incense are used in the temple during prayers and services. Much significance is attached to its use. Incense can be divided into the following two types:
(1) Burning incense This type of incense is widely used in stick or ground form. These incenses are made of flowers, plants, woods, leaves, nuts, seeds, etc. that create a wonderful scent. When you burn good incense in the room, it creates a peaceful atmosphere that calms your mind in peaceful abiding. For this reason, burning incense before practicing meditation is recommended. Also the smoke of burning incense chases insects out of the room, which helps to prevent insect bites. Many insects lived in the villages of India and Asia where the Teaching of Buddha was first taught. Because Buddhists should not kill insects, chasing them out of a room by burning incense was an excellent solution.
Burning incense may also signify an attempt to cleanse our own actions of body, speech and mind. Stick incense does not stop burning until it reaches its end. Similarly, the incense reminds us to continue to cleanse our actions. The fourth significance is the offering to Buddha of the virtue of the perfection of diligence. Incense is one of the six fundamental offerings to Buddha.
(2) Rubbing incense Perfume is widely used by ladies, and these days, wearing perfume is accepted as proper. Rubbing incense was used as perfume in the past, and it is considered the origin of today's perfume. It is common sense for one to give others a good feeling by wearing good rubbing incense that creates a lovely scent before entering the meditation hall or temple. The pleasing scent refreshes our spirit of discipline, but I am sometimes frozen by the strong perfume that some ladies wear. It reminds me of the proverb, "More than enough is too much."