Vesak Reflections
Happy is the arising of the
Buddhas. Happy is the teaching of the Dhamma. Happy is the Unity
of the Sangha.
As these words from the Dhammapada show, the Birth of a
Buddha is a rare and joyous occasion, for He brings light to a
world in darkness. Today, Buddhists the world over celebrate the
Birth, Enlightenment and the Parinibbana of this Great Teacher
who showed us the path to salvation more than 2,500 years ago.
His words, the Dhamma, still hold true today. The Dhamma, in
fact, is more relevant than ever in a world that is seeing
strife everywhere. The Buddha espoused that Hatred does not
cease by Hatred, but by Love alone. Herein lies the answer to
not only to conflicts among nations and individuals, but also to
the rages that consume us from within.
There is a wrong notion that Buddhism is a very advanced
philosophy that can rarely be applied to our day-to-day lives.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Buddha preached
several Suttas solely for lay people, describing how they should
conduct themselves to lead a pious life.
And none of these is impractical. The Pancha Seela, for
example, can be observed by anyone. One does not have to kill,
steal, lie, consumer alcohol and engage in wrongful behaviour.
It is this simplicity, this universality that sets Buddhism
apart.
"Should a person commit evil, he should not repeat it. He
should not delight in doing evil. Suffering is the result of
accumulation of evil." The very essence of Buddha's teaching is
ending this suffering that binds us on a very long Samsaric
journey. Nirvana, the state in which there is no suffering and
no re-birth is the ideal which every Buddhist should aspire to
achieve, as the Buddha advised.
"Knowing it to be so, a wise man should be virtuous and lose
no time in clearing the path that leads to Nibbana."
Being mortals, it is difficult for us to renounce all ties to
material things. It would not be incorrect to say that money
rules in today's globalised, commercialised world. We have lost
sight of moral values and distanced ourselves from religious
thoughts as we relentlessly pursue money and wealth. And many
have unfortunately chosen immoral and illegal means to make
money, instead of honest, ethical ways. That is a major
predicament facing today's society.
In this context, moderation is the best course of action.
Life has its ups and downs, victories and defeats. The Middle
Path, as espoused by the Buddha teaches us to take life as it
comes and gather merit. "Good people give up attachment for
everything; Saintly men do not speak of things longingly. In
happiness they are not elated, nor are they depressed in
suffering."
The only way to achieve this goal is seeking refuge in the
Dhamma. "Those who understand the Dhamma well-expounded by the
Buddha and live according to it, will cross the sea of Samsara
so difficult to cross and reach Nibbana."
We should listen to the Dhamma more often and take Buddha's
advice to heart. Mere listening will not suffice if an honest
effort is not made to put those words into action. We should
cultivate pure thoughts, words and deeds at all times. "To
refrain from doing evil, to indulge in doing good, to cleanse
one's mind - this is the teaching of all Buddhas."
It is thus very important for all Buddhists to have a close
relationship with the Maha Sangha at their neighbourhood temple.
Going to the temple on Poya Day will be meaningless if
worshippers do not follow the Buddha's words.
The Buddha Dhamma must be inculcated in the younger
generation without fail so that a more virtuous society can be
expected in the future. This could be an eventual answer to the
crime wave too.
Vesak comes only once a year. It is an ideal time for true
Buddhists to heed the words of the Buddha and turn their lives
around for their own good and the good of others. That was what
the Buddha expected his followers to do, all those years ago.
Only by turning the lamp inwards, into the innermost recesses of
our mind, can we rise above worldly attachments to conquer
suffering.
"Those whose minds are cultivated in the factors of
Enlightenment, who cling at nothing with longing and are bent
towards Nibbana find themselves free even in this world." (The
Dhammapada) |