Sayings of Buddha

[WeenDwijler]

The Peter Pauper Press, 1957

[WeenDwijler]

According to legend the man who became Buddha, or the Enlightened One, was born a prince, over five hundred years before Christ. He was screened by a doting father from all unhappiness until he was married, and himself a father.

Then, accidentally, he learned about old age, sickness, and death, and suddenly it was clear to him that he had been depending on transient things for his happiness. He stole away from his home to seek a truth which would not decay, and after a asceticism which brought him no help, the truth he sought was revealed under the Bodhi-tree. He became the Buddha, the Enlightened One. He began to explain the Dharma, or Truth. Through many years he preached the Eightfold Path, and the brotherhood of Buddhist monks grew in size and influence. Upon his death his disciples (according to legend) recorded his sayings for the sake of future generations.
But it is not certain that the earliest Buddhist books date back twenty-five hundred years to his death. The narrative of his life has as its principal source the Sanskrit stories of the monk Asvaghosha, which were translated into Chinese in 420 A.D. and from the Chinese into English by Samuel Beale in the Eighteenth Century.

The present text is derived chiefly from "The Gospel of Buddha", a compilation by Paul Carus from many source-books of Buddhist teachings, including Beale.

The picture of Buddha that comes down to us from these sources is that of a sage, who in his understanding wisdom is able to open up in other men's minds a revelation of the nature of life. He is not a god or a man carrying from Heaven a supernatural revelation, to be accepted on faith.
He does not speak of a God, a Creator. He does not tell WHY we live, but HOW to live. He teaches a way of life, a way to rise above the troubles of life, and finally a way to achieve the ultimate happiness of Nirvana, in which state of blissful non-being untroubled peace is combined with the complete opening-up of understanding.

The reward for such a way of life promises immortality only in the disciple's awareness of his identity with the immortal process, a process in which he is the product of earlier lives' thoughts and deeds (karma), and in turn continues the life-stream by present thoughts and deeds which will flow into future lives.

(to be continued.....)

[WeenDwijler]

I have recognized the deepest truth, which is sublime and peace-giving, but difficult to understand; for most men move in a sphere of worldly interests and find their delight in worldly desires. The worldling will not understand the doctrine, for to him there is happiness in selfhood only, and the bliss that lies in a complete surrender to truth is unintelligible to him. He will call resignation what to the enlightened mind is the purest joy. He will see annihilation where the perfected one finds immortality. He will regard as death what the conquerer of self knows to be life everlasting. The truth remains hidden from him who is in the bondage of hate and desire. Nirvana remains incomprehensible tot the vulgar whose minds are beclouded with worldly interests.

The Tathagata [Perfect One] does not seek salvation in austerities, but neither does he for that reason indulge in worldly pleasures, nor live in abundance. He has found the middle path.
Neither abstinence from fish and flesh, nor going naked, nor shaving the head, nor wearing matted hair, nor dressing in a rough garment, nor covering oneself with dirt, nor sacrificing to Agni, will cleanse a man who is not free from delusions. Anger, drunkenness, obstinacy, bigotry, deception, envy, self-praise, disparagement, superciliousness and evil intentions constitute uncleanness; not verily the eating of flesh.
And sensuality is enervating. The self-indulgent man is a slave to his passions, and pleasure-seeking is degrading and vulgar. But to satisfy the necessities of life is not evil. To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our minds strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus, but does not wet its petals. This is the middle path that keeps aloof from both extremes.

[WeenDwijler]

The spokes of the wheel are the rules of pure conduct: justice is the uniformity of their length; wisdom is the tire; modesty and thoughtfulness are the hub in which the inmovable axle of truth is fixed. He who recognizes the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy, and its cessation has fathomed the four noble truths. He will walk in the right path. Right views will be the torch to light his way. Right aspiration will be his guide. Right speech will be his dwelling-place on the road. His gait will be straight, for it is right behavior. His refreshments will be the right way of earning his livelihood. Right efforts will be his steps; right thoughts his breath; and right contemplation will give him the peace that follows.

[WeenDwijler]

Now, this is the noble truth concerning suffering: Birth comes with pain, decay is painful, disease is painful, death is painful. Union with the unpleasant is painful, painful is separation from the pleasant; and any craving that is unsatisfied, that too is painful. In brief, bodily conditions which spring from attachment are painful. This is the noble truth concerning suffering.

Now, this is the noble truth concerning the origin of suffering: Verily, it is that craving which causes the renewal of existence, accompanied by sensual delight, seeking satisfaction now here, now there, the craving for the gratification of the passions, the craving for a future life, and the craving for happiness in this life. This is the noble truth concerning the origin of suffering.

Now this is the noble truth concerning the destruction of suffering. Verily, it is the destruction, in which no passion remains, of this very thirst! It is the laying aside of, the being free from, this thirst. This is the noble truth concerning the destruction of suffering.

Now, this is the noble truth concerning the way which leads to the destruction of sorrow: Verily, it is this noble eightfold path, that is to say: Right views; right aspirations; right speech; right behavior; right livelihood; right effort; right thoughts; right contemplation. This is the noble truth concerning the destruction of sorrow.