In Buddhism there is no mention of the word “Religion”; Buddhists speak of the of the "Buddha Sasana" which means the "Teaching of the Buddha". Buddhists further speak of the “Buddha-Dhamma” (Dhamma meaning the Doctrine), the Norm of the Low, and they speak of “Saddha” which has been translated as “Faith”; but rather means “willingness”, willingness to listen to Buddha Dharma and to follow the Buddha’s Path of Enlightenment.
Still further the “Tisarana”, the “Three Refuges” or the “Triple Gem” of Buddhists which may be called the “Buddhist Creed”, namely ‘Buddham saranam gachchami’,should be correctly rendered as, “I go to the Buddha for guidance; ‘Dhammam saranam gachchami’ ,should be correctly rendered as , “I go to the Dhamma for guidance; ‘Sangam saranam gachchami’ ,should be correctly rendered as “I go to the Sanga for guidance”. This shows that Buddhists have no blind faith but only take the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sanga for their guidance along the Path of Enlightenment until they are able to read the Path by themselves without any outside help. Nevertheless, by common usage of language we speak of Buddhist Religion and Buddhist Faith. And we may allow saying so, because Buddhists do believe in a universal justice. They believe in the absolute justice of the inexorable, all-embracing moral Law of Karma to which the universe and all sentient life bound. The Law of Karma is an immutable Law of Nature, not a supernatural power held by a God- Entity. It is a law which has governed previous worlds and will continue to exercise its influence in future worlds. It is an eternal truth stated by the Buddha in exactly the same was his predecessors have done in former ages. It is not revelation. Buddhists believe in Karma, and they are aware that the must conform to the Law as long as they live. As the Law of Karma teaches that evil deeds will bring demerit and goof deeds merit, the endeavor to avoid evil and to do good work in order not to retard their salvation from sufferings. According to the Buddha this final salvation can be achieved by doing meritorious work and by diligently practicing the Buddha-Path which and to one’s deliverance from the “Circle of Rebirth” and from suffering. But this deliverance can only be achieved by destroying the forces of Karma and Karma itself, which bind all beings to the Circle of Rebirth and hence to suffering.
Still further the “Tisarana”, the “Three Refuges” or the “Triple Gem” of Buddhists which may be called the “Buddhist Creed”, namely ‘Buddham saranam gachchami’,should be correctly rendered as, “I go to the Buddha for guidance; ‘Dhammam saranam gachchami’ ,should be correctly rendered as , “I go to the Dhamma for guidance; ‘Sangam saranam gachchami’ ,should be correctly rendered as “I go to the Sanga for guidance”. This shows that Buddhists have no blind faith but only take the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sanga for their guidance along the Path of Enlightenment until they are able to read the Path by themselves without any outside help. Nevertheless, by common usage of language we speak of Buddhist Religion and Buddhist Faith. And we may allow saying so, because Buddhists do believe in a universal justice. They believe in the absolute justice of the inexorable, all-embracing moral Law of Karma to which the universe and all sentient life bound. The Law of Karma is an immutable Law of Nature, not a supernatural power held by a God- Entity. It is a law which has governed previous worlds and will continue to exercise its influence in future worlds. It is an eternal truth stated by the Buddha in exactly the same was his predecessors have done in former ages. It is not revelation. Buddhists believe in Karma, and they are aware that the must conform to the Law as long as they live. As the Law of Karma teaches that evil deeds will bring demerit and goof deeds merit, the endeavor to avoid evil and to do good work in order not to retard their salvation from sufferings. According to the Buddha this final salvation can be achieved by doing meritorious work and by diligently practicing the Buddha-Path which and to one’s deliverance from the “Circle of Rebirth” and from suffering. But this deliverance can only be achieved by destroying the forces of Karma and Karma itself, which bind all beings to the Circle of Rebirth and hence to suffering.
In consequence-although recognizing the absolute justice of the Law of Karma to which to which man must conform-Buddhists do not resign themselves to this Law of Nature, but on the contrary endeavors to cut themselves from its influence by following the Holy Path of Enlightenment taught and experienced by the Buddha. They deliberately must destroy the forces of Karma and Karma itself by subduing greed, hatred and delusion by the Practice of religious mediation, by self-control and self-restraint which lead to insight and supreme wisdom to the Cessation of all Suffering. With the attainment to the Absolute Truth, Nibbana the Buddhists goal is reached.
It can therefore be said that Buddhism is only a religion is its very beginning, because Buddhists first only believe in its very beginning, because Buddhists first only believe in the Law of Karma and therefore are willing listen to the Dharma and to follow the Buddha Path; but as the progress along the Path, belief and faith, the two attributes of all religions, are no longer needed as soon as one has actually entered the Path. As this stage we begin to realize the Truth of Buddha-Dhamma. We know by self-experience the true facts of life (not merely intellectually); we begin to see things as they really do we need any further guidance by a teacher as we have learned to see our salvation by our effort. Thus Buddhism is only a religion at its beginning. It becomes later on Cognition which is more than a religion or a philosophy of life. It is the realization of the absolute truth, the attainment to supreme wisdom, the deliverance from the circle of rebirth, the ending of all suffering which is Nibbana.
It must however be mentioned here that acquired knowledge whether by intelligent learning or by actual practice, does not constitute as yet insight into the true facts of life nor wisdom. Wisdom and real insight can only be attained by the practice of meditation upon self and by leading a perfect and pure life.
The attainment to the Absolute truth is therefore only given to very few people. It is only given to those who have acquired the right Karmic condition in their past lived which enable them to realize their salvation in present life. But who knows whether one has the right Karmic disposition to achieve the goal or not? Therefore it is the duty of all to strive and accumulate as much good work as one can in this present life and conscientiously practice the Holy Eightfold Path so as to achieve as soon as possible the ultimate purpose of life. We need not despair because n the end all beings will reach Nibbana, each in this own good time and according to his wisdom gained in life.
Having explained the difference between conventional religions and Buddhist Religion it may be useful to give some further definition of Buddhism.
- Buddhism is Doctrine of Truth. It is the doctrine of the Four Noble Truths discovered by Buddha over 2,558 years ago. The Four Nobel Truths represent the essence of the Buddha’s Teachings. They are
1) The “Noble Truth of suffering “
2) The “Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering”
3) The “Noble Truth of the Cessation of Sufferings”
4) The “Noble Truth of the Eightfold Path”
That leads to the Cessation of Suffering.
.
- Buddhism can be said to be a religion which teaches man to good, to avoid evil, and do purify his heart from human passion (Kilesa) namely Greed, Hatred and Delusion
- Buddhism is practical and rational Way of Life, an ethical method for escaping the misery of actual life by the practice of self-restraint, self-control and by the practice of mediation on one’s own self which leads to insight and Wisdom; to self-realization by one’s own effort and without any external help.
- Buddhism is the first religion of Cognition, of perfect understanding of the immutable, eternal Laws of Nature which can explain all questions pertaining to life. The Universal Laws discovered by Buddhism the Law of Impermanence-Misery and Non-Selfless of all phenomena of life-The Law of Karma-. The Law of Dependent Origination-The Five Aggregates of Attachment-The Four Nobel Truths and Nibbana which can’t be found is any other religion nor in any other philosophy of life.
- Buddhism is philosophy of Activism, not of passive resignation to man’s fate and to his social environment. It is an incentive to improve his individual and social well-being, and at the same time emphasizes his spiritual and moral welfare rather than his material welfare and material gain. It constantly urges man to exercise loving-kindness and compassion (Metta-Karuna), and tolerance towards his fellows and beyond this to all sentient beings.
Source : Buddhism An Introduction by Dr. Luang Suruabongs
