2006 - The Muslim Sunrise

sent a message to the blacksmith that he shouldnot blame himself or feel negative emotions forthe meal because he had offered food and thatwas a reward in itself. His final moments werespent lying on a stone couch with monks aroundhim paying their final respects. He told them tobe aware of themselves to such an extent thatthey vanquish the suffering of people seekingtemporary pleasures.Aclose examination of Buddha’s biography reveals that in his lifestyle, he wasnot significantly different from otherprophets of God, who appeared in differentparts of the world. Buddha was a prophet ofGod who found the Hindu concept of many godsto be abhorrent. He was a believer of one Godand propagated this very belief among his followers.I will examine this more closely after abrief historical background of early Buddhism.All researchers unanimously accepted thatthere has never been any official scriptureavailable for the disciples of Buddhism. Thephilosophy and the personality of Buddha wastransmitted verbally for a long time until KingAshoka (273-232 BC) appeared some threecenturies after his spiritual master. It was duringthe illustrious reign of Ashoka when the teachingsof Buddha were written on rocks and suptas inthe form of inscriptions. These inscriptions,carved into rocks, were ordered to be madethroughout his kingdom after his conversion toBuddhism and are known as ‘the Edicts’. Aroundthirty-three inscriptions have been discovered,in a language called Prakrit, a forerunner to theSanskrit language. None of these inscriptionsmentioned Buddhism as a polytheistic belief.These writings are of vital importance becauseIn spite of the fact that the teachings ofBuddha came into being a fewcenturies after Buddha, this abovementioned writing contains enoughevidence to indicate that Buddha wasneither an atheist nor an agnostic butwas indeed a believer in unity of God.these writings serve the purpose ofunderstanding Buddha’s philosophy and wayof life from the vantage point of Ashoka.Ashoka’s authority as a true representative ofBuddha has never been challenged. Dr. Le Bonwrites:“It is not in the books, but in the monuments thatone should study what Buddhism used to be.”Ashoka was not only instrumental in settingup missionary network to spread the beautifulmessage of Buddha as far as he could but he alsogathered about 500 scholars to bring forth theunifying message of Buddha and named thisbelief as Mahayana, the new belief, in place ofHanyana, the old belief.Historians generally conclude that anunderstanding of Buddhism given by Ashokashould have a stronger claim to acceptance.Against this understanding such views clearlyat variance with Ashoka’s may safely berejected. However, if the early sources seem tocontradict each other, caution has to be appliedin accepting one and rejecting the other. I willnow analyze the evidence found in history toprove the existence of God in Buddhism.1) Some individual Buddhists do relate tocertain higher beings, such as the goddessTara, as an independent and real being withpower over their destiny. For these practitionersTara is their sole refuge, their greatestobject of veneration and their trustedguardian and protector. What this beliefsuggests is that the inclination to seek refugein an external source is somethingdeeply natural for us as human beings.2) The Tibetan form of Buddhism not onlyadvocates the existence of superhuman deitiesor demons a part and parcel of theirfaith, but also believes in communicationwith them. The qualities of a living Godwho rewards his servants for their nobledeeds and also make them accountable fortheir immoral actions are paramount. Thesecond part of Tibetans belief.,i.e., communication with SupremeBeing, is similar to divinerevelation that any personcan receive.3) Buddha never rejected theconcept of one God, althoughhe rejected the concept ofmany gods found in Hinduism.To support their atheistic belief,faltered Buddhas refer tothe contempt shown by theBuddha to Hindu Pundits towardstheir gods. In this conversationBuddha was saying that worldlymindedBrahmans could not lead man toGod, for they knew nothing of Him. Onthe contrary, Buddha claimed to be “EnlightenedOne.” Thus, the faltered Buddhasbelieved that Buddha must have rejectedthe idea of one God in totality in spite ofhaving no proof of such rejection.4) Many Buddhists venerate the image ofthe Buddha in the manner of worship similarto worship of God found in other religions,asking him for success in personallife and dealings. This is perhaps additionalevidence that man is a worshipping animal,with God consciousness hard-wired intothe human brain.5) Arthur Lillie in his book, India in PrimitiveChristianity, writes in his seventh stupa:“Thus spake Devanampiya Piyadasi:“Wherefore from this very hour, I have causedreligious discourses to be preached, I haveappointed religious observances that mankind,having listened thereto, shall be brought to followin the right path, and give glory to God (Is’ana).” 4The usage of God in singular is of significanceimportance. From this reference it is quiteobvious that the earlier sources portray Buddhaas a dedicated believer in God (may God blesshis soul). In spite of the fact that the teachingsof Buddha came into being a few centuries afterBuddha, this above mentioned writing containsenough evidence to indicate that Buddha wasneither an atheist nor an agnostic but was indeeda believer in unity of God.6) At the end of the same chapter one ofthe followers of Buddha, Pingiya, who wasenfeebled by old age, concludes his discussionwith the following statement:“Assuredly I shall go to the immovable, theunshakeable, the likeness of which does not existanywhere. I have no doubt about this. Thus considerme to be one whose mind is so disposed.”This illustrates the hope and expectation of adisciple of Buddha that after his death he willmeet his Lord, who is described as immovable,unshakeable and without likeness. This is adescription of God in full agreement with thatfound in other religious scriptures.7) In the village of Manaskata, whichwas the center of Brahmanic religious controversyonce, Vasettha and Bharadvaga ofthe same village, while taking a walk aftertheir bath in the river, began to debate areligious doctrine. Neither of the two couldconvince the other of the correctness of theopinions of their respective gurus. Vasettha,the young Brahman, suggested that itshould be taken to the court of Buddha.This agreed upon they proceeded to presentthe issue to Buddha seeking his wise counsel.During the meeting, Bharadvaga, theyoung Brahman, remained silent andVasettha asked the questions. Before re-20 MuslimSunrise