156 15. THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA
“Tápác chedác ca nikasat svarnam iva panditaih
Parikshya blikshavo gráhyam madvaco na tu gauravát.”
“As the wise test gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it
(on a piece of touchstone),
so are you to accept my words after examining them
and not merely out of regard for me.”
The Buddha exhorted his disciples to seek the truth, and not to heed
mere persuasion even by superior authority.
Now, though it be admitted that there is no blind faith in Buddhism,
one might question whether there is no worshipping of Buddha images
and such-like idolatry amongst Buddhists.
Buddhists do not worship an image expecting worldly or spiritual
favours, but pay their homage to what it represents. A Buddhist goes
before an image and offers flowers and incense not to the image but to
the Buddha. He does so as a mark of gratitude, reflecting on the virtues
of the Buddha and pondering on the transience of flowers. An under-
standing Buddhist designedly makes himself feel that he is in the noble
presence of the Buddha, and thereby gains inspiration to emulate him.
Referring to images, the great philosopher Count Kaiserling writes, “I
know nothing more grand in this world than the figure of the Buddha. It
is the perfect embodiment of spirituality in the visible domain.” 250
Then again Buddhists do not worship the bodhi tree, but consider it a
symbol of enlightenment, and so, worthy of reverence.
Though such external forms of homage are prevalent amongst Bud-
dhists, the Buddha is not worshipped as a God.
These external objects of homage are not absolutely necessary, but
they are useful and they help one to concentrate one’s attention. An
intellectual could dispense with them as he could easily focus his atten-
tion on the Buddha, and thus visualise him.
For our own good, and out of gratitude, we pay such homage, but
what the Buddha expects from his disciples is not obeisance but the
actual observance of his teaching.
Just before the Buddha passed away, many disciples came to pay their
respects to him. One bhikkhu, however, remained in his cell absorbed in
meditation. This matter was reported to the Buddha who summoned
him and, on enquiring the reason for his absence, was told: “Lord, I
knew that Your Reverence would pass away three months hence, and I
thought the best way of honouring the Teacher was by attaining ara-
hantship even before the decease of Your Reverence.”
250.Travel Diary of a Philosopher.