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

Don’t 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

Don’t 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 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.
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 self-
torture 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