By Shelton Gunaratne, LankaWeb, January 31, 2013
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- With the rapid spread of Buddhism
in the western United States, boosted by increased immigration from
Asia, Americans should consider applying Buddhist principles to solve
their everyday problems. Although Buddhism has two major sects -
Theravada and Mahayana - both agree on the crux of Buddhist philosophy
based on the Four Noble Truths (FNT), the Noble Eightfold Path (NEP),
and the associated 12-factor formula of conditioned genesis (paticca
samuppada).
Buddhist
population worldwide range from 350 million to 1 billion. The 2010
religious census estimated the Buddhist population in the U.S. at 1
million, mostly located in metropolitan areas with population greater
than a million. The census found San Jose, California, to be the most
Buddhist city in the country with approximately 1.25 percent identifying
as a Buddhist adherent.
Buddhism, in contrast to the three major Abrahamic religions, is not
interested in conversion. Buddha was an enlightened human being who
discovered the path to nirvana the state of non-existence. Adherents of
all religions can practice Buddhist principles without incurring the
wrath of the omniscient God because they have universal universality.
Here is how the FNT are relevant to our problems. First truth:
[Existence is] dukkha (“suffering” both mental and physical). Second
truth: Samudaya [the cause] of dukkha is tanha/trsna (“thirst”/greed)
conditioned by avijja (“ignorance” of the reality of self), upadana
(clinging), and a cluster of other mental, biological, and physical
factors. Third truth: Nirodha (cessation) of dukkha is possible by
following the path to nirvana. Fourth truth: Magga (the path) or the NEP
provides the way to nirvana,The original Pali terms is used in this essay because no single word in
English can capture the connotative depth of the terms that Buddha used.
Buddha concluded that no sentient being could avoid ongoing dukkha in
his/her bhavacakra (wheel of becoming), which rotates from fetus to
birth, and then experience jaramarana (sickness, old age, and death)
within the ambit of samsara (cyclic existence).
Buddha illustrated the operational dynamics of the first three noble
truths in his paticca samuppada formula. The bhavacakra of every
sentient being took a circular form because it had no beginning or end.
He did not answer questions on the First Cause or expand on the nature
of nirvana becausethey were beyond human comprehension. He gained his insights by
purifying his mind and using the techniques of bhavana (meditation) to
comprehend the causes and effects of existence.
Buddha identified a cluster of 12 mental, biological, and physical
nidanas (conditioned factors) that invariably engendered dukkha in the
samsara. He surmised that living beings should follow the NEP, also
called the Middle Path, to control their tanha
(“thirst”/greed/desire/craving), which is interconnected,
interdependent, and interactive with all other nidanas. In particular,
tanha was reinforced by the impact of the five nidanas surrounding it -
phassa (contact), vedana (feeling), upadana (clinging), and bhava
(becoming).
Bhava identifies a sentient being as a namarupa (name and form)—a
composite of panca skanda (five aggregates), where rupa stands for the
physical form, and nama for the mental/nonphysical aggregates of
feelings (18 types), perceptions (six types), mental formations (50
types), and consciousness (six types). These five interdependent
aggregates are in continuous flux (anicca). Because every existing
thing, both mental and physical, is anicca, the presumption of a
permanent soul (atta) is inaccurate. The reality of existence is
asoulity or no self (anatta). Thus, no person is the same except for the
duration of the present moment, and the addiction to think in terms of
the first person singular (I, me, my, mine) will merely prolong an
organism’s dukkha in samsara. The three marks of existence, Buddha said,
are anicca, anatta, and dukkha.
Descartes’ assertion Cogito ergo sum (“I think, therefore I am”) led
to the belief that mind and body were two independent static nidanas.
But Buddha had correctly seen more than 2100 years earlier that at one’s
death the panca skanda discarded its rupa component while the four nama
components remained intact in a state of flux until the cluster entered
a new rupa in samsara (cyclic existence) depending on its karma
(volitional actions). This is what is called punarbhava (rebirth or
re-becoming). It is different from Hinduism’s re-incarnation.
The preceding sketch of the crux of Buddhism enables us to solve our
everyday problems in ways that are alien to Western culture:
Before rushing into committing any physical or mental action (karma),
meditate on its short-and long-term consequences on every sentient
being in your environment, including your adversaries. You can reduce
your dukkha by realizing your asoulity (anatta) and impermanence
(anicca).
Train yourself to control the three roots of evil: greed and desire;
ignorance or delusion; hatred and destructive urges, which are embedded
in your five aggregates (panca skanda). Use systems thinking, applying
the principle that all elements in the system are interdependent,
interconnected, and interactive.
Follow the middle path to tone down excessive emphasis on
individualism, which breeds selfishness, self-righteousness, egotism,
arrogance, etc. The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution cannot
pass muster under Buddhist principles. Buddhism does not endorse weapons
for individual protection or use of guns for pleasure hunting.
----
Gunaratne is professor of mass communication emeritus at
MSUM. He is the author of an autobiographic trilogy. He conducts a
Buddhist discussion group in Moorhead once a month on the second
Saturday evening.
SOURSE:BUDDHIST CHANNEL
The
Hollywood actor is a firm believer in the Asian religion, which focuses
on personal spiritual development, and says it is the guiding force
that surrounds everything he does.
However,
over the decades much of what I have learned about Buddhism concerns
the ways these lofty promises have been exaggerated or unfulfilled --
perhaps partly due to my own idealization and wishful thinking. Of
course Buddhism exists in the human realm and is practiced and taught by
flawed and corruptible human beings. 
Over
150 monks from Mogok Vipassana League attended the ceremony on
protecting nationality, religion and Sassana which was held at their
headquarters in Yangon on Wednesday.
