Page 102 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

Buddhism is a teaching of liberation from sufferings of life. It made people
realize that ignorance of the nature of change was the cause of suffering. Buddhism teaches
people how to attain spiritual liberation through awakening of the mind from the bondage of
greed, hatred, and delusion. One who is fully accomplished in this training attains the state of
“Nirvana”. Buddhism also emphasizes on understanding the characteristics of existence which
is called the law of “Trilakkhana” as well as the “law of Karma” (the law of cause and effect).
The highest wisdom is to see that in reality, all phenomena are incomplete, impermanent and
do not constitute a fixed entity. True wisdom is not simply believing what we are told but
instead experiencing and understanding the truth and reality. To reach the state of “Nirvana”,
an individual must implement the Eightfold Path suggested by Buddha, through the Threefold
Training which includes higher virtue, higher mind, and higher wisdom.
Buddhism emphasizes the belief in ‘Karma,’ which means ‘action.’ To do a good
deed is called kusala karma and to do a bad deed is called akusala karma Actions of karma are
divided into three categories: physical, verbal and moral. To believe in the consequences of
karma is to believe that “Do good things, and good things will happen to you. Do bad things
and bad things will happen to you.” Each person has his own karma, therefore, the effect of
karma is on the individual, and cannot be shared.
The teachings of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism both share the same core
values established by the Buddha. They both accept that Nirvana is the ultimate goal, and
uphold the Four Noble Truth as basic and essential principles of Buddhism. However, their
perspective on the ultimate goal of life and the way in which it can be attained may differ.
Mahayana's teaching is based on the ideology of the Bodhisattava, the Buddha, the belief
in the Pure Land (the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattava), and the
Buddhacarita (Acts of the Buddha).
The important principles of Buddhism which are Trilakkhana (the Three Charac-
teristics of existence: Anica, Dukkha and Anatta), the Four Noble Truth, Patticcasamuppada
(Dependent Origination), the Noble Eightfold Path, and Nirvana, are all included in important
Sutras (important discourses of the Buddha) such as Dharmacakkrapravartana Sutta,
Anattalakkhana Sutta, and Kalama Sutta, etc.
Dharmacakkrapravartana Sutta is the first teaching given by the Buddha
after attaining enlightenment. The Buddha gave his teaching, or discourse, to his five former
companions, who are commonly referred to as the five ascetics. Kaundinya reached the state
of of arahathood upon hearing this, becoming the first human to comprehend the teachings. In
this sutta (or in this discourse), the Buddha addressed the fundamental concept of Buddhism
teaching, the Four Noble Truths -- the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering,
the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of path that leads to the end of suffering. This
path leading to the end of suffering is called “Majjhimapatipada” or the Middle Path.
Anattalakkhana Sutta is the discourse on the characteristic of “No-Self”. In this
Sutta, the Buddha demonstrates that nothing is fixed and permanent. Everything is subject to
change and alteration. There is no unchanging, permanent soul in living being. Impermanence
and change are thus the undeniable and uncontrollable truths of existence.

“Phra Buddha Sihing” inside the Buddhaisawan
Chapel, National Museum, Bangkok

100

100