Lesson 2

What Buddhism Is Not

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

What Buddhism Is Not

1. Beware of Preconceived Ideas Dont be narrow minded. Study Buddhism with fresh eyes and open mind. Beware of preconceived ideas created by others to discredit Buddhism.

What Buddhism Is Not

1. Beware of Preconceived Ideas

Dont judge Buddhism through the beliefs and practices of those ignorant of the teachings.
Do not dismiss any fact as untrue because you cannot understand it as yet.

What Buddhism Is Not

2. The Light of Buddhism
First religion which drew people together from a vast spectrum of races, customs, languages and civilization.
Its motive is to help mankind forward to its final goal.

What Buddhism Is Not

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

Buddhism:
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

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.

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.

What Buddhism Is Not

Blind faith
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.

What Buddhism Is Not

Not idol-worshipping
Buddhists are not idolworshippers. 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 Teachers high standards of wisdom, loving-kindness and compassion.

What Buddhism Is Not

Not idol-worshipping
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.

What Buddhism Is Not

Not pessimistic
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.

What Buddhism Is Not

Not reciting prayers
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 selftorture nor repetition of prayers, hymns can bring salvation.

What Buddhism Is Not

Not dogmatic and superstitious
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.

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