BUDDHA’S PHILOSOPHY MORE RELEVANT TODAY

MaitreyeeKumar

ABSTRACT

TheteachingsofBuddhahelpusunderstandthedoctrineofkarma.The'fournobletruths'ofBuddhismstatethatallexistenceissufferingwhichisrealandalmost universal;thatthecauseofsufferingisdesiretohaveandcontrolthingsandgetattachedtothem,thatfreedomfromsufferingisnirvanalettinggoalldesires,andthat thisisattainedthroughthe'eightfoldpath'comprisingeightaspectsinwhichonemustpractiserightviews;rightintentiontofreeoneselffromattachment,ignorance, andhatefulness;rightspeechnottobehurtfulandabstainingfromlying,gossiping;rightconductoractioncausingnodistresstosomeone'sfeelings;rightlivelihood makinglivingappropriately;righteffortlivingbygoodthoughts;rightmindfulnesstoovercomeeverynegativityeffect;andrightconcentrationtoachieveahigher stateofconsciousness.LordBuddhaemphasizedfournobletruthstomankind.Hesaidthattheworldisfullofsuffering.Allsufferingshaveacause:desire,ignorance andattachmentarethecausesofsuffering.Thesufferingcouldberemovedbydestroyingitscause.Inordertoendsuffering,onemustknowtherightpath.Thisisan importantpartofLordBuddha'steachings.Buddhapreachedthattheultimategoalofone'slifeistoattainNirvana,theeternalstateofpeaceandbliss,whichisfree fromdesireandsorrow,decayordiseaseandofcoursefrombirthanddeath.Therefore,annihilationofdesireistherealproblem.

KEYWORDS:Buddha,Teachings,Suffering,Ignoranceandconsciousness.

INTRODUCTION:

GautamaBuddhaorSiddharthawasacontemporaryofMahavira,borninaroyal familyoftheSakyasatKapilavastuintheSouthernpartofpresentNepalinthe year566BC.Herenouncedtheworldattheageoftwentynine.Hemovedfrom placetoplaceinsearchoftruthforsevenyearsandthenattainedenlightenment atBodhGayaunderpipaltree.Fromthistimeonwards,hebegantobecalledthe Buddha or the enlightened one. Though his life was spent in royal splendor, it failed to attract the mind of Gautama. As traditions describe, he was deeply affectedbythesightofanoldman,asickperson,adeadbodyandanascetic.The miseryofthehumanlifeleftadeepimpactonGautama.Tofindasolutiontothe misery of mankind, he spent years as a wandering ascetic. From a sage called Alara Kalama he learned the technique of meditation and the teachings of the Upnishads.Afterattainingthesupremeknowledge,heproceededtoSarnathnear Varanasi to deliver his first sermon which is known as 'Dharma Chakra Pravartana'(settinginmotionthewheelofDharma).Asvajit,Upali,Magallana, SariputraandAnandawerethefirstfivedisciplesofBuddha.Hismessagelaid downthefoundationofbothBuddhistreligionandphilosophywhichincourseof timespreadfarand

ThecentralthemeofBuddha'sreligionistheeightsteppath(AshtangikaMarg). Thefirststepisthe'propervision'leadingtotherealizationthattheworldisfull ofsorrowscausedbydesire,greedetc.Thesecondis'rightaim'whichseeksto avoid the engagement of the senses and luxury It aims to love humanity and increasethehappinessinothers.'Rightspeech'isthethirdstep;itimpliesthepracticeoftruthfulnesspromotingmutualfriendship.'Rightaction'includesabstentionfromkilling,stealingandunselfishdeeds.'Rightlivelihood'instructsaman tolivebypureandhonestmeans.'Righteffort'meansproperwayofcontrolling one'ssensessoastopreventbadthoughts.Theseventhstepis'rightawareness'or 'rightmindfulness'whichmeansunderstandingtheideathatthebodyisimpermanent and meditation is the means for the removal of worldly evils. The last step is 'right concentration' which will lead to removal of evils generated by attachmenttothebodyandthemind.Thiswillleadtopeaceandunravelthereal truth.Anyonewhowouldfollowthenobleeightfoldpathwouldattain'nirvana' irrespectiveofhissocialorigin.

Buddhism stood between the two extremes: unrestrained individualistic selfindulgence and equally individualistic but preposterous ascetic punishment of thebody Henceit'ssteadyriseanditsname'TheMiddleWay'.ThemoraldoctrinesofBuddhaweresimple.Hebelievedthateveryindividualisthemakerof hisowndestiny WeareborntimeandagaintoreapthefruitsofourKarma'.Good deeds,leadtohigherlifetillsalvationisachievedwhileevildeedhinderourspiritual elevation. One should neither lead a life of luxury nor a life of severe ascetism. The best course to be pursued by an individual is the Middle Path (MadhyamaPratipatorTathaGrahMarg).

REVIEWOFLITERATURE:

Reviewofrelatedliteraturemakestheinvestigatorfullyawarewiththeprevious workthathasbeendone.Italsoprovidesanopportunityofgaininginsightinto themethod,measures,subjectandapproachesemployed:

Morgan,KennethW (1956)'ThePathoftheBuddha'“Buddhismisnotjustareligionofthepastoramerefaithasmanyhavethought,butitisatime-testedscientificreligionandphilosophywhich,inthecontextofthepresentworld-situation, ismorerelevanttodaythaneverbeforeforestablishingworldpeace.

Radhakrishan's,S.Forewardto.Bapat,P.V(1959),2500yearsofBuddhism,The Masteraimedatthedevelopmentofanewkindoffreeman,freefromallprejudices,intentonworkingouthisownfuturewithrelianceonone'sownself,i.e. attadipa.Buttoday,morethaneverbefore,wearesufferingfrom“anexhaustion ofspirit,anincreaseofegoism,individualandcollective,whichmakestheideal of a world society difficult to achieve”.Buddhism has an intimate association withtheconceptofpeace.Initslonghistorywehardlyfindanyevidenceofviolence,killingsorreligioushatred.“Buddhismwieldsonlyonesword,thesword ofwisdomandrecognizesonlyoneenemyi.e.ignornance”.

Ramaiah,G.Sundara,K.Ravi,RamJoga,S.D(1991)'Theconceptofpeacein Buddhist Literature' in Buddhism and Peace. Peace and integrity is the central themeofBuddhism.Itisindispensableforworldpeaceasawayofsecuringthe integralgrowthandstability Buddha'schiefmottowasthatnotonlyallmembers oftheBuddhistorderbutratherallsubjectsofstatemustachievetheethicalperfectionandmoralintegritywhichonlywillproducepeacebothwithinaswellas outsidethestate.

TeachingsofBuddha:

ThesublimepositiontheBuddhahasacquiredisbecauseoftheguidancehehas giventothehumanracethroughhispreachingswhichthoughwerearound2500 yearsold,stillholdrelevanceintoday'sworld.Herenouncedallroyalpleasures todiscoverthebasicpurposeoflife.AtrueteacherleadsbyexampleandtheBuddhaleadthewaybysettinganexample.Hisfiveprinciples,fournobletruthsand eight-foldpath–allsteerustowardsarighteouslife.Intoday'sworldwhichis highlymarredbyviolence,greed,intoleranceanddegradationofhumanvalues, histeachingsofferefficaciouswaystocombatthesemaladies.Histeachingsproposepracticalremediestothehumanpredicament.Helaiddownethicalprecepts st forafulfillinglife.Inthis21 century,wherekidsandadultsfranticallyareglued to devices and practices that digress them from the main purpose of life, Buddha's core principles of self–control, self–discipline, mindfulness and contentment serve as an antidote to cleanse our mind and body and equip us to lead a stressfullife.BeittheBuddha,Mahavir,AdiShankaraorAshokaandmanygreat gurus,theirtransformationandlivesserveasmorallessonstotoday'sgeneration. Their quest of knowledge, attempt to ignite minds, timeless propositions form the basis of a society free of prejudice and pollution – both environmental and humanminds.Educationmeansthedevelopmentofthemindwhichispossible onlywhenmindsareopenandfreeoftaint.TheBuddha'sstainlessteachingsconnectuswithourinnerselvesandpavethepathforeternalknowledgeandhappiness.

All societies, worldwide, want to be congenial, healthy and happy This state can'tbeachievedwhenmostpeoplehaveatendencytoconsidermaterialpossessionsandphysicalcomfortasmoreimportant,realisticandvaluablethanspiritualvalues.TheteachingsofBuddhahelpusunderstandthedoctrineofkarma. The'fournobletruths'ofBuddhismstatethatallexistenceissufferingwhichis

ResearchScholar,Deptt.ofPhilosophy,Dr RammanoharLohiaAvadhUniversity,Ayodhya,U.P.,India.

realandalmostuniversal;thatthecauseofsufferingisdesiretohaveandcontrol thingsandgetattachedtothem,thatfreedomfromsufferingisnirvanalettinggo alldesires,andthatthisisattainedthroughthe'eightfoldpath'comprisingeight aspects in which one must practise right views; right intention to free oneself fromattachment,ignorance,andhatefulness;rightspeechnottobehurtfuland abstainingfrom lying, gossiping; right conductor actioncausing no distress to someone'sfeelings;rightlivelihoodmakinglivingappropriately;righteffortlivingbygoodthoughts;rightmindfulnesstoovercomeeverynegativityeffect;and rightconcentrationtoachieveahigherstateofconsciousness.

LordBuddhaemphasizedfournobletruthstomankind.Hesaidthattheworldis full of suffering.All sufferings have a cause: desire, ignorance and attachment are the causes of suffering. The suffering could be removed by destroying its cause. In order to end suffering, one must know the right path.This path is the 'Eight Fold Path'.Buddhism laid emphasis on the law of 'Karma' by which the presentisdeterminedbythepastactions.Ifanindividualhascommittednosins, heisnotbornagain.ThisisanimportantpartofLordBuddha'steachings.Buddhapreachedthattheultimategoalofone'slifeistoattainNirvana,theeternal stateofpeaceandbliss,whichisfreefromdesireandsorrow,decayordisease andofcoursefrombirthanddeath. Therefore,annihilationofdesireisthereal problem.PrayersandsacrificeswillnotenddesirenorwillritualsandceremoniesasemphasizedbyVedicreligionbuthestressedonmorallifeofanindividual. The teaching of Buddha put forward a serious challenge to the existing Brahmanicalorder Buddha'sliberalanddemocraticapproachquicklyattracted thepeopleofallsections.Hisattackonthecastesystemandthesupremacyofthe Brahmanaswaswelcomedbythelowerorders.Irrespectiveofcaste,creedand sex,peoplewerewelcomedintheneworder Buddharejectedtheauthorityofthe Vedasandcondemnedanimalscarifies.Hedetestedthecomplexandmeaninglessrituals.Hestronglybelievedthatsacrificesandritualscouldneitherhelpa persontowashawayhissinsnorbenefitanysinnerbyperformingvariousritualisticpractices.ThepracticeofsocialequalityonwhichBuddhismwasbasedwas thecalloftheday Buddhaunderstoodandpreachedwhatmassesdesiredatthat time.ThusBuddhismrepresentedthespritofitsage.However,theteachingsof Buddhaisnotonlyforthe6thcenturyB.C.,butitisatimeless(akalika)teaching, surely it can be practised by the wise during 21st century as well and in many morecenturiesormillenniatocome.

The Buddha was one of those who were very conscious of the many effects of hatred. He had seen people ruining themselves as a result of hatred. Buddha believedthathatredneverceasesbyhatred.TotheBuddhatheonlywaytosolve itisthatonepartymuststop.Loving-kindness,whichisthecornerstoneofBuddhism,hasnotbeentakenbytheBuddhaasmerelyasimpleethicalprinciple.He hadanalysedtheprincipleoflovingkindnessintosublimelife.Abasicconcept taughtbytheBuddha;thefoursublimestatesofmind:LoveorLoving-kindness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Sympathetic Joy (mudita), Equanimity (upekkha)providestheanswertoallsituationsarisingfromsocialcontact.They aregreatremoversoftension,thegreatpeace-makersinsocialconflict,andthe greathealersofwoundssufferedinthestruggleofexistence.Intoday'sincreasinglycomplexandinterdependentworld,wehavetoacknowledgetheexistence of other cultures, different ethnic groups and of course other religious faiths. Whetherweknowitornot,mostofusexperiencethisdiversityonadailybasis. TheconflictsamongvariousregionssuchasSyriaconflict,ArabSpring,unrest inAfrica,etc.arethegreatestsourcesofviolenceintheworldandexistsolelyto killhumanbeings.GautamBuddha'steachingsofnon-violenceandbeliefinthe onenessofhumanity,contendingthatmanyoftheworld'sproblemsandconflicts arisebecausemanhasleftthosebasictenetsbehind.Thus,Buddha'smessageof non-violence,loveandcompassionis"extremelyrelevant"inthecurrentenvironmentofinsecurityandunrest.

TheBuddha'steachingsresonate,toasurprisingextent,withasecularoutlook. Hedidn'tbelieveinacreatorGodorinsistontheneedforasaviour Hesaidrealitywasimpermanentandinsubstantial,andsuggestedthatourfailuretolivein accordancewithitproducessuffering Thenhetaughtpracticeslikemeditation thatreshapeourmindsaccordingly Theircontinuingrelevanceisseeninthecurrent popularity of mindfulness practices. These have served centuries of BuddhistpractitionersandarenowbeingadoptedinsecularsettingsfromParliament toschoolsasanantidotetoourspeedy,stressfullives.Meditationtechniqueslike Vipassana,Yogacanhelpustoconnectwithourinnerselves.Thesetechniques areaneffectivewaytocleanseourmindandbodyandequipustofacethestress ofmodernlife.

Today in scientifically and technologically developed age, though there are many amenities, for easy living and pleasure , people are both physically and mentallynotsatisfiedanddonothaveafeelingofsecurity.Intheworldtoday, there are many multinational and multipurpose projects which are vast for the development of countries. But people are not satisfied with what they have. Thereisnocontentment.Craving,grasping,arisingandperishingarethemain featuresintheworld.ThusBuddhismhasanapplicationtodaybecauseofitstimelessrelevance,emanatingfromasetofeternalvalues.TheidealsofBuddhistphilosophy are reflected in the Constitution, especially in the stated principles of equality,fraternityandsocialjustice.

CONCLUSION:

Critiquesofmodernitysaythatmoderndevelopmentshavenothingtoofferbut

insecurityandcompetitivenessaswellastensionsandboredomassociatedwith them.Somethimesitappearstrue.TheteachingsofGautamBuddhaofferafew verysimpleandefficaciousmethodstocombatthat.Hiseternalmessageofnonviolenceandcompassioncontinuestoinspirehumanityacrosstheglobetostrive towards a more fulfilling life and a world where all people live together and shapeittogetherintoapeaceful,inclusiveandsustainableglobe.

REFERENCES:

I. Morgan,KennethW (1956)‘ThePathoftheBuddha’,MotilalBanarsidass,Varanasi, p.12.

II. Radhakrishan’s,S. ForewardtoBapat,P.V (1959.),2500yearsofBuddhism,:PublicationsDivision,Delhi,pp.14-15.

III. Ramaiah,G.Sundara,Ravi,K.Ram,S.D.Joga(1991)TheconceptofpeaceinBuddhistLiterature’inBuddhismandPeace.publishedbytheDepartmentofPhilosophy, AndhraPradeshUniversity,Viashakapatnam.pp.112-115.

IV BhikkhuBodhi(2016)‘TheBuddha’steachingsonsocialandcommunalharmony:An AnthologyofDiscoursesfromthePaliCannon,WisdomPublications:UnitedStates, P.60

V BhikkhuNanamoliandBhikkhuBodhi(1995)‘TheMiddleLengthDiscoursesofThe Buddha:ANewTranslationoftheMajjhimaNikaya’.WisdomPublications:Boston, UnitedStates,Pp.710-717.