Lesson 2

1. Lesson 2 What Buddhism Is Not

2. What Buddhism Is Not Essence of the Doctrine Avoid Evil Do Good Purify the Mind This is the teaching of all Buddhas.

3. 1. Beware of Preconceived Ideas Don’t be narrow minded. Study Buddhism with fresh eyes and open mind. What Buddhism Is Not Beware of preconceived ideas created by others to discredit Buddhism.

4. Don’t judge Buddhism through the beliefs and practices of those ignorant of the teachings. What Buddhism Is Not 1. Beware of Preconceived Ideas Do not dismiss any fact as untrue because you cannot understand it as yet.

5. 2. The Light of Buddhism First religion which drew people together from a vast spectrum of races, customs, languages and civilization. What Buddhism Is Not Its motive is to help mankind forward to its final goal.

6. 2. The Light of Buddhism H.G. Wells: Buddhism has done more for the advance of world civilization and true culture than any other influences on the chronicles of mankind. Albert Einstein: If there is a religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism. Prof. Karl Jung: As a student of comparative religions, I believe that Buddhism is the most perfect one the world has ever seen. What Buddhism Is Not

7. Buddhism: What Buddhism Is Not Has no hidden doctrines Is non-aggressive Is not blind faith Is not idol-worshipping or meaningless rituals Is not reciting prayers Is not dogmatic and superstitious Is not pessimistic

8. What Buddhism Is Not No hidden doctrines No hidden doctrines that are taught to a selected group of disciples. Buddhist scriptures have no hidden meanings, and can be studied and unambigously understood by all.

9. What Buddhism Is Not Non-aggressive No blood shed in the name of the Buddha. No forced conversions. Buddhism spreads because of its intrinsic merit and unsurpassed beauty of its teachings. No aggression and the conquest of others, even if it is for spreading the religion.

10. What Buddhism Is Not No demand of blind faith from its followers. Mere belief is dethroned and is replaced by confidence based on knowledge. A Buddhist does not believe that he can gain purity by mere faith in the Buddha. Knowledge and understanding, not blind faith are needed to walk the path. Blind faith

11. What Buddhism Is Not Buddhists are not idol-worshippers. Budddhists pays homage to what the image represents. The Buddha image symbolises the wisdom, loving-kindness and compassion of the great teacher. They try to live according to their Teacher’s high standards of wisdom, loving-kindness and compassion. Not idol-worshipping

12. What Buddhism Is Not Devotional practices such as offerings of lighted candles, lamps, flowers and incense serve to remind devotees about loving-kindness, compassion, purity and the impermanency of human life and all worldly objects. Not idol-worshipping

13. What Buddhism Is Not Enjoyment of worldly pleasures, happiness and material goods are not discouraged. He only encouraged Buddhist to do everything in moderation and not to crave for more and more. The Buddha preached the Four Noble Truths. The first two Noble Truths present the philosophy of worldly sufferings and their causes, the Third Noble Truth declares that suffering can be brought to an end and the Fourth Noble Truths prescribed the path to end the sufferings. Not pessimistic

14. What Buddhism Is Not A Buddhist does not pray to the Buddha to beg for favours or salvation over others who do not. The Buddha clearly stated that neither the mere recital of religious books, nor self-torture nor repetition of prayers, hymns can bring salvation. Not reciting prayers

15. What Buddhism Is Not The Buddha spoke out against the ignorance and superstition. Buddhism does not claim the monopoly of truth nor does it condemn any other religions. The Buddha said that if you can find truth in any religion, accept the truth. The Buddha discouraged meaningless ceremonies and rituals because they are a waste of time and money. Not dogmatic and superstitious

16. The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts the taste of Dhamma excels all taste, the delight in dhamma excels all delights, The Craving-Freed vanquishes all suffering. - Dhammapada verse 354 End of Lesson 2