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FOREWORD

         The volume now presented was written in Thai by Mr. Sujib Punyanubhab, an expert in the Tripitaka and lecturer in the Mahãmakuta Educational Council, The Buddhist Uni­versity. Due to its being based on an extensive research, it is very popular in the Buddhist circles in Thailand. Now the author, together with Mr. Siri Buddbasukh, a lecturer of English, has joined efforts in their attempts to render it into English with the purpose of making it known also by the English-reading public.

        Through the essays therein the readers will be acqua­inted with various prominent characteristics which show un­questionably, among others, the intelligent aspect of Bud­dhism. The most prominent is perhaps the Buddha’s urge for the people to use their intelligent or reasoning impar­tially before accepting or rejecting any part of the Teaching This 18 regarded as a right approach to Buddhism. It is also worth noting that there is here no threat or luring promise of any kind or degree.

        The combined efforts of the two lecturers are highly appreciated. For the following instructive essays are sure to offer new approaches to the Buddha’s Dhamma for many people, thereby giving them a true and accurate picture of Buddhism.

PHRA DEBKAVĨ

Secretary-General,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. 1-21

B. E. 2500, — 2,545 years of Buddhism……………….1

Asoka’s Missionary Movement……………….1

Dominating Influence of Buddhism in Thailand……………….2

The Study of Buddhism……………….2

Buddhism versus Present Civilization……………….3

Compassion and Tolerance……………….3

Purpose of the Present Work……………….4

What is Buddhism? ……………….4

Who and What is the Buddha ? ……………….5

The Historic Buddha……………….5

The Generic or Legendary Buddha……………….6

Potential Power of Man……………….7

Three Kinds of Buddha……………….3

1. The SAMMASAM BUDDHA……………….8
2. The PACCEKABUDDHA……………….8
3. The SUTABUDDHA or ANUBUDDHA……………….8

Classification of Religions……………….9

1. THEISM……………….9

Buddhist Attitude towards Theism……………….9

What Looks Like Prayer……………….10

Trend of Practice Required in Buddhism……………….11

1. ATHEISM……………….12

Is Buddhism Theism or Atheism ?……………….13

Epitome of the Buddhist Practice……………….13

Manners of the Buddha’s Teaching……………….14

1. Revolution……………….14
2. Reformation or Re-interpretation……………….15
3. Reconstruction……………….16

Summary of Twelve Essays on Some Prominent Characteristics of Buddhism……17

Essay No. 1 MIRACLE. 23 34

A Buddhist’s Faith should not be Based on Miracles……………….27

Buddhist Attitude towards so-called Miracles……………….27

A Life of Courage, Faith and Sacrifice……………….28

Freedom of Reasoning, Doubt and Investigation……………….28

Buddhist Sense of the Word ’Miracle’ ……………….29

Miraculous Powers Not to be Treated as Final Attainment……………….30

Facts and Fictions about Supernormal Powers……………….31

Increasing Evidence of Possibility……………….32

Attainment of Psychio Powers to be Only By-product……………….33

Essay No. 2 DEMOCRACY. 35-57

Origin of Democracy in Greece……………….39

Three Consecutive Periods in the History of Greece……………….40

How Buddhism is a Democracy……………….40

Comparison between Grecian Democracy and Buddhism……………….40

SOLON: Forfeiture of Personal Freedom Prohibited……………….41

Democracy in Buddhism during the time of Solon……………….43

CLEISTHENES: The Right to Vote and Banishment by Plebiscite……………….43

PERICLES: The Golden Age……………….44

Evidence of Democratic Spirit in Buddhism……………….45

Three Kinds of Ordination……………….45

Quorum……………….46

Quorum for Each Activity of the Sangha……………….47

SIMA or Consecrated Boundary……………….49

Freedom of Voting……………….51

Texts of Formal Announcement to the Sangha……………….52

Announcement for the KATHINA Procedure……………….52

Announcement for the Ordination Procedure……………….53

Argument Based on Chronological Records……………….55

Dates Compared……………….56

Essay No. 3 SLAVERY 59-85

Slavery a Worldwide Institution……………….55

Causes of Slavery……………….55

Two More Causes of Slavery……………….56

Slavery In Ancient Times……………….57

Condition of Slaves in Greece and Rome……………….57

Slavery In England……………….68

Religious Attitude towards Slavery……………….69

Influential Role of Monks……………….70

The League of Nations and Slavery……………….70

Existence in the Modern World of Slavery……………….71

King Rama the Fifth and Slavery In Thailand……………….72

Kinds of Slaves……………….72

Movement towards Slavery-Abolition Act……………….73

Other Reforms……………….75

1. Abolition of Wrist-tattooing……………….76
2. Abolition of Corvée Labour……………….76
3. Expropriation……………….76
4. Equalization of Individual Dignity……………….76
5. Practice of Criminal Court……………….77
6. Lashing of Prisoners……………….77

Buddhism and Slavery……………….78

Buddhist Attitude towards Slavery……………….78

From the Book of Discipline……………….78

From the Book of Discourses……………….79

Metaphorical Sense of the Word ‘Fire’……………….80

Buddhist Conception of Spiritual Slavery……………….81

Spiritual Slavery Not to be Overlooked……………….81

The Untamed Stallion of Mind……………….82

First Duty of a Buddhist……………….83

Buddhist Method of Releasing Mail from Spiritual Enslavement……………….84

Crude Enslavement……………….84

Mild Enslavement……………….84

Subtle Enslavement……………….85

Essay No.4 FORUM OF MORALITY. 84-113

First Example: Story of an Exceptional Outcaste……………….91

Second Example: SUNDANIKASUTTA……………….96

Third Example: AMBATTHASUTTA……………….97

Fourth Example: Massacre of the Sakyans……………….99

Distinctive Feature of Each Caste……………….104

Elimination of Caste Pride in Buddhism……………….105

The Buddha’s Pioneer Struggle Against Caste System……………….110

Inclusion of Buddhist Cause in Modern India’s Con­stitution……………….111

Essay No. 5 MERIT-MAKING. 115-147

Four Kinds of Brahmanical Sacrifice……………….119

Sacrifices Other Than the Four Kinds……………….122

Sacrifices Mentioned in Buddhist Scriptures……………….127

KUTADANTA Brahman’s Sacrifice……………….127

King PASENADI’s Sacrifice……………….128

Commendable Sacrifice……………….129

Evidence of Buddhist Principles that are Opposed to Sacrifices…………130

Re-interpretation of the 5 Brahmanical Sacrifices……………….131

1. SASSAMEDHA versus ASSAMEDHA……………….131
2. PURISAMEDHA versus NARAMEDHA……………….132
3. A Material Noose versus A Mental One……………….132
4. Drinking the Water as an Element versus Drin­king the Water of Wholesome Speech…133
5. The Killing of All vs. The Abolition of Door Bolts……………….134

Reasons for the Prohibition of Killing……………….137

Five Precepts and Five Virtoes……………….137

Developing a Broad Outlook on Life……………….139

Buddhist Attitude towards Social Welfare……………….141

Merit making in the light of Buddhism……………….143

Essay No. 6 FACING FACTS. 149-185

The Brahman’s Boast……………….155

The Art of Speaking the Truth……………….155

The Ability to Face Inevitable Facts……………….157

Inevitable Facts are Ethically Neutral……………….158

The Study and Revealing of Facts is Not Pessimism……………….158

Buddhism is the Study of Facts from All Angles……………….160

Buddhist Attitude towards Astrology……………….161

Different Steps of Practice……………….161

Influence of Stars is of Subordinate Importance……………….163

Fate versus Karma……………….164

Sky Calendar……………….165

Buddhist Attitude towards Holy Water……………….167

RATANASUTTA……………….167

Holy Water is an Instrument of Auto-suggestion……………….168

Holy Water in Brahmanism……………….169

Buddhism and the Holy Water Idea……………….171

Holy Water Conception in Thailand……………….172

Conclusion Regarding Holy Water……………….173

Gods and Deities……………….174

Three Kinds of Gods or Deities……………….175

Brahma……………….176

Conclusion Regarding Deity Concept……………….177

Possible Existence of Heaven and Hell……………….179

Heaven and Hell in the Moral Sense……………….180

Heaven and hell in the Metaphorical Sense……………….181

Heaven and Hell in the Religious Sense……………….182

Ultimate Goal of Buddhism……………….184

Essay No. 7 ECONOMICS AND SELF-CORRECTION. 187-212

Some desires must be satisfied, others are to be subdued……………….191

Buddhist Formulas for Economic Progress and Security……………….192

1. Sources of Economic Stability in the present Life……………….192
2. Avoidance of the Great Causes of Ruin……………….192
3. Sources of Happiness for the Laity……………….192
4. Avoidance of Causes Leading to Destruction even of a Wealthy Family……….193

Prevention of Crimes through Economic Stability……………….194

Higher Economics……………….195

Simplicity as a Basis and Framework for Buddhists……………….196

Noble Wealth To Counteract Vice with Virtue……………….200

Deep-rooted but Groundless Fear: ……………….200

To be Taken Advantage of as a Weakling……………….201

A Cure as well as a Prevention……………….203

The Evil of Revenge……………….203

A Fear of Worsened Situation……………….203

To Prevent a More Serious Damage by Accepting a Smaller, Bearable One…….204

Revengeful Acts Prohibited by Law……………….205

Advantage of Preventive Method over Curative One……………….206

Self-correction is the Key to Inspire Morality……………….207

Self-survey is to Come First in the course of Self-correction……………….207

Sublimation of Impression……………….208

A Bird’s-eye View of Human Evolutionary Nature……………….209

Essay No. 8 LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 213-234

The Principle of Righteousness is Based on Reason and Decency………………217

Three Kinds of Sovereignty or Bases of Motives………………218

1. Sovereignty of Self………………218
2. Sovereignty of the World ………………219
3. Sovereignty of Righteousness………………221

Specific Application of Principle of Right­eousness………………221

1. To Mete out Justice………………222
2. To Distinguish Good from Evil………………223

Instruction to KALAMA people………………224

Evidence of the Buddha’s Adherence to Righteousness………………224

1. Conception of a Good Omen………………225
2. Caste System and Forum of Morality………………226
3. An Unsurpassed Tolerance………………227
4. Superiority of Monks over Laymen………………227
5. The Buddha’s Democratic Character………………228
6. Time and Place are no Obstacles………………229
7. The Higher Kind of Worship………………230
8. DHAMMA is our Teacher by Proxy………………232

Quotations in support of Impersonal and Impartial Law of Righteousness………………233

Essay No. 9 AN INTELLIGENT DEALING WITH SUFFERING. 235-264

PANNA (Wisdom) is the Basis and Framework of SADDHA (Faith) ……239

The Two Extremes: – Bigotry and Credulity………………241

Experience as opposed to Speculation………………242

The Superiority of Wisdom………………243

Classification of PANNÃ (Wisdom) ………………245

Varying in Degrees, Function and Acquisition

Twofold Function of Wisdom………………247

Mindfulness (SATI) and Discrimination or PANNÃ itself

The Art of Dealing With Suffering by means of Wisdom………………249

Dealing with Suffering in the light of the Four Noble Truths………………250

How Desire is the Cause of Suffering………………252

The Problem of Suffering in Everyday Life………………255

Dealing With Suffering Intelligently………………255

Direct or General Method………………256

Detailed or Specific Method………………257

Example on the Problem of Death………………258

Questionnaire for Psychological Assessment………………259

More Facts for Deeper Understanding of Death………………261

Death is Not a State of Nothingness………………261

Death is a Natural Process of Disposing of Waste Matter………………262

Buddhist Attitude towards Death………………263

Essay No. 10 SELF-HELP AND THE LAW OF KARMA. 265-320

Self-help is the Essence of Buddhism………………271

Self-Reliance In Doing Good………………271

Twofold Strength of Self-help………………272

Self-help is the Natural Method………………274

Self-help is Not Selfishness………………276

Self-discipline in view of Self-ennoblement………………277

Etiquette………………278

Hygience………………280

Preserving Common Property………………282

Social Duty………………283

To Learn To Do without Prayer or Oblation………………285

The Law of Karma………………288

Time-element Varying with Different Karmas………………289

Each Being has a Record Both of Good and of Evil………………291

Results of Karma, Outward and Inward………………292

Some Concrete Examples Showing the Indestructibility of Karma………………295

1. Quenching Thirst With Boiling Water………………295
2. A Victim Turning out a Nemesis………………297
3. A Cock-fighter ………………297
4. A Pig-slaughterer………………299
5. A Chicken-killer………………300
6. Boiled Alive………………301

Analysis of Karma………………302

Characterized by Time………………302

Characterized by Function………………303

Characterized by Force………………304

Benefit of Belief in the Law of Karma………………305

No Entire Failure or Despair………………305

The Will to Counteract Evil Results………………307

Effect in proportion to Cause………………308

How Merit Can Counteract Evil………………310

Causes that Determine Various Effects………………311

The Law of Karma versus the Buddha Himself………………312

No Effect without Cause………………314

The AN ATT A Doctrine………………316

Relative (Conventional) and Absolute Truth………………316

informal Talk versus Serious Discussion………………316

Neither Stage of Truth can be Denied………………318

Essay No. 11 LOGIC. 321-337

Derivation of ‘Logic’………………325

Various Definitions………………325

Scope of Logic………………327

Kinds of Logic………………327

Nature of Knowledge………………328

Nature of Knowledge from the Buddhist View-point………………329

Sources of Knowledge………………330

Immediate Apprehension………………330

Inference or Reasoning………………331

Testimony or Authority………………331

Forms of Knowledge: Buddhist Attitude towards Logic………………332

Immediate or Direct………………332

Mediate or Inferential………………332

Utility of Logic to Buddhism………………334

Origin of the Knowledge of Logic………………335

The Truth of Buddhism Supersedes Speculation………………336

Essay No. 12 SCIENCE. 339-367

Meaning of the Word ‘Science’………………343

Kinds of Science………………343

PHYSICAL………………343

BIOLOGICAL………………344

SOCIAL………………344

PURE and APPLIED SCIENCE………………344

Various Branches of Science in Each Category………………345

PHYSICAL SCIENCE………………345

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE………………348

SOCIAL SCIENCE………………350

Three Spheres of Science………………351

COSMOSPHERE, BIOSPHERE, SOCIOSPHERE………………351

Range and Purpose of Buddhism………………352

Buddhism as a Mental and Spiritual Science………………354

Benefit of a Two-sided Knowledge………………356

The Buddha’s Purpose in Mentioning ‘Element’………………359

Harmony between Buddhism and Science………………360

Basis of Belief………………360

No Accident or Chance………………360

Presentation of Truth………………361

Non-attachment………………361

Dependent Origination………………362

Analysis………………363

Astronomical Knowledge………………363

Uplifting Influences………………363

Scientific Pattern of the Buddha’s Teaching………………364

CONCLUSION. 369-382

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