|
“ |
- Whatever our sects, denominations or systems, as
Buddhists we all accept the Buddha as our Master who gave us the Teaching.
- We all take refuge in the Triple Jewel: the Buddha, our
Teacher; the Dhamma, his teaching; and the
Sangha, the Community of holy ones. In other words, we take
refuge in the Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.
- Whether Theravāda or Mahāyāna, we do not believe that this
world is created and ruled by a
god at his will.
- Following the example of the Buddha, our Teacher, who is
embodiment of Great Compassion (mahākaruṇa) and Great Wisdom
(mahāprajñā), we consider that the purpose
of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without
discrimination and to work for their good, happiness and peace; and
to develop wisdom leading to the realization of Ultimate
Truth.
- We accept the Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha,
namely, Dukkha, the fact that our existence in this world
is in predicament, is impermanent, imperfect, unsatisfactory, full
of conflict; Samudaya, the fact that this state of
affairs is due to our egoistic selfishness based on the false idea
of self; Nirodha, the fact that there is
definitely the possibility of deliverance, liberation, freedom from this
predicament by the total eradication of the egoistic selfishness;
and Magga, the fact that this liberation
can be achieved through the Middle Path which is
eight-fold, leading to the perfection of ethical conduct (sila), mental discipline (samadhi) and wisdom (panna).
- We accept the universal law of cause and effect taught in
the Paṭiccasamuppada (Skt.
pratītyasamutpada; Conditioned Genesis or Dependent
Origination), and accordingly we accept that everything is relative, interdependent
and interrelated and nothing is absolute, permanent and everlasting in this
universe.
- We understand, according to the teaching of the Buddha,
that all conditioned things (samkhara) are
impermanent (anicca) and imperfect and
unsatisfactory (dukkha), and all conditioned and
unconditioned things (dhamma) are without self (anatta).
- We accept the Thirty-seven Qualities conducive to
Enlightenment (bodhipakkhiyadhamma) as different
aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment,
namely:
- There are three ways of attaining Bodhi or Enlightenment according to
the ability and capacity of each individual: namely, as a Sravaka
(disciple), as a Pratyekabuddha (Individual Buddha)
and as a Samyaksambuddha (Perfectly and Fully
Enlightened Buddha). We accept it as the highest, noblest and most
heroic to follow the career of a Boddhisattva and
to become a Samyksambuddha in order to save others.
But these three states are on the same Path, not on different
paths. In fact, the Sandhinirmocana-sutra, a
well-known important Mahayana sutra, clearly and emphatically says that
those who follow the line of Śrāvakayāna (Vehicle of Disciples) or
the line of Pratyekabuddha-yana (Vehicle of
Individual Buddhas) or the line of Tathagatas (Mahayana)
attain the supreme Nirvana by the same Path, and that for all of
them there is only one Path of Purification (visuddhi-marga) and only one
Purification (visuddhi) and no second one, and that they
are not different paths and different purifications, and that
Sravakayana and Mahayana
constitute One Vehicle One Yana (ekayana) and not
distinct and different vehicles or yanas.
- We admit that in different countries there are differences
with regard to the ways of life of Buddhist monks, popular
Buddhist beliefs and practices, rites and rituals, ceremonies,
customs and habits. These external forms and expressions should not
be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.
|
” |
Wikis
Quiz
Search
