BUDDHIST COUNTRIES HAVE BUILT STRONG SOCIAL FABRIC BUT NOT STRONG DHARMIC INDIVIDUALS

V.S.Gopalakrishnan

Amongst the Buddhist countries practising either the Theravada (formerly called Hinayana, the old tradition) or the Mahayana (the modified tradition), I have visited Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar (known earlier as Burma) and Cambodia. I have not yet travelled to Sri Lanka, Laos and Viet Nam which are also Buddhist. Two years ago, I wrote here a series of 4 blogs historically tracing the spread of Buddhism from India to Afghanistan, Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia etc.

Though Buddhism has very steeply declined in India, the countries that have adopted it are steadfast in the preservation of Buddhist culture. I believe that Islam or Christianity cannot pose any danger to them. I shall soon post a blog on the reasons for the decline of Buddhism in India.

The old Theravada (Hinayana) tradition encouraged the sanctifying of only Buddha's relics such as teeth, ash, bones etc. No statues were to be built for him. But the modified Mahayana tradition almost gave god-hood to Buddha and his statues began to proliferate everywhere rather ironically. Buddha in fact did not believe in God or statue-worship. Some clever Hindus have added Buddha within the Dasaavathaar!

Going by the experience of Hinduism, statues or idols play an important role in helping the mind to captivate the sense and essence of God and its attributes. That way, I would believe that the millions of statues of Buddha all over the Buddhist countries have been a significant factor in cementing the Buddhist societies. Even in the Theravadin countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, the statues abound apart from the relics. The Buddhist temples, stupas, viharas, chaityas, monasteries etc. have contributed to the strong social stablisation of the practitioners of Buddhism, both the clergy and the laymen. The making of Buddha's statues (sitting, standing or reclining) has spawned great and amazing levels of artistry amongst these people.

Most of us are aware of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path preached by Buddha. Let us quickly recapitulate them.

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS:

• Life consists of suffering (Dukkha)
• The origin of suffering is attachment.
• The cessation of suffering is possible.
• The path to the cessation of suffering. 

THE EIGHTFOLD PATH:
1. Right understanding
2. Right thinking 
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood 
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right collectedness/concentration.
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The 4 Noble Truths explain the cause of human suffering in terms of metaphysical analysis. The Eightfold Path explains the path to overcoming the suffering and to attainment of calm, peace, wisdom and liberation (Nirvana) in terms of postulates for thinking and action. The Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Path or Middle Way, avoiding the extremes of self-mortification or self-indulgence.

What is not well-publicised and not well known to the public including even Buddhists are the precise ethical commandments or precepts advocated by the Buddha for individual behaviour which are called Pancha Shila or Five Precepts. It lays down Five Ethical Commandments as follows:

1. "Do not kill." (Unintentional killing is considered less offensive)
2. "Do not steal." (Including misappropriating someone's property)
3. "Do not engage in improper sexual conduct." (e.g. sexual contact not sanctioned by secular laws, the Buddhist monastic code, or by one's parents and guardians)
4. "Do not tell lies or make false statements." (Also includes pretending to know something one doesn't)
5. "Do not drink alcohol."

Do the Buddhists, as individuals follow the Five Precepts? No way. That is the failure of Buddhism. No one talks about this or writes about this strangely! Everyone talks about the theoretical Noble Truths and Middle Way!

The first precept says "do not kill". Yet, the Buddhists are non-vegetarians, fierce fighters, bloody warriors, cool killers and are given to terrific violence! Buddha himself died from consuming stale pork. The Chinese eat even cats, dogs and monkeys. Here the Jains come out in a better light! The other four precepts too (excepting stealing) are usually observed by the Buddhists in their breach. If only all the five precepts had been properly followed, the Buddhists would have been on a much higher plane than the members of other religions. That is why I have said in the title that Buddhism has provided a strong social fabric but not strong dharmic individuals.

It is somewhat strange that Buddha has not vehemently preached love, charity, generosity, sharing etc which other religions have usually done. It is also strange to me that he did not realise an Ultimate Reality, a Paramatman, the One Truth, the Almighty , the Creator or whatever you call it.
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