Lesson Four: The Triple Gem (Part I)

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The Buddha's Greatness


Despite the fact that the Buddha was


born, lived, preached and died in India,


his greatness and attainment have


overcome geographical and historical


barriers. On his Enlightenment, he


discovered the Truth which was


beyond allthat was taught by former


religiousteachers.


The Buddha didnot claim that he was a
god. To call the Buddha a god is to
discredit him of his attainment. As
described in the sacred texts of various
sects, certain gods show characteristics
of anger, jealousy, love for praises,
prejudice and various other human
failings.


The Buddha is beyond all such failings.


In his innumerable births, he had


developed to perfection the ten


transcendental virtues of generosity,


morality, renunciation, wisdom,


energy, patience, truthfulness,


determination, loving-kindness and


equanimity.


He had eradicated all greed,hatred and


delusion. It has beensaid:


The Buddha



  • taught the egocentric, power-


seeking world, the noble ideal


of selfless service.



  • protested against the evils of the


caste- system that hampered


progress and advocated equal


opportunities for all.



  • declared that the gates of


deliverancewere open to all, in


every condition of life, high or


low, saint or sinner, who would


but care to turn into a new leaf


and aspire toperfection.



  • raised thestatus of down-trodden


women, and not only stressed on
their importance in society but also
founded the first religious order
for women.


  • attempted to abolish slavery for the
    first time in history.

  • pointed out the cruelty and futility
    of the sacrifice of animals and
    brought them within his ambit of
    compassion.

  • granted complete freedom of thought
    to his followers and urged them
    to regard for him but only
    after discovering the truth in them.

  • comforted bereaved women like
    Patacara who went insane after
    losing her husband, two children
    and parents on the same day, and
    Kisa Gotami at the death of her only
    son.

  • with his own hands ministered the
    deserted sick like Putigatta Tissa
    Thera who had a contagius disease.

  • helped the poor and neglected like
    Rajjumala and Sopaka and saved them
    from an untimely and tragic death.

  • transformed the lives of criminals like
    Angulimala who was about to kill his
    mother for his one-thousandth victim.

  • ennobled courtesans like Ambapali.


What Can We Learn from His Life


Story?


The Buddha was a truly admirable figure: a
man of quiet majesty, of wisdom and
pleasant humour, consistent in thought, word
and deed. He was of perfect equanimity
and moral fervor, was free from every
prejudice, overcame evil with good and
was full of tenderness for all beings.
Even if the virtues of the Blessed One are
infinitely superior to those of ordinary
men, still the ideal can serve as a
pattern and guide. We can always take
the Buddha as our model so that the
recollection of his heroic and saintly life
may assist us to be a hero and saint as
well.

Known are the things to be known,
Cultivated are the things to be cultivated,
Destroyed are the things to be destroyed,
Therefore, Brahman, I am theBuddha.

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