What the Buddha Taught

W. Rahula

4. The Buddhist Attitude of Mind

4.1. Man's position is supreme:

4.1.1. One is one's own refuge.

4.1.2. Man has the power to liberate himself form all bondage though his own personal effort and intelligence.

4.1.3. Buddha discovered and showed the Path to Liberation, Nirvana, but we must tread the Path ourselves.

　

4.2. Freedom:

       4.2.1. The Buddha allows freedom to his disciples.

        4.2.2. Freedom is necessary for men to realize Truth.

        4.2.3. Truth is not a reward from a god or external power.

        4.2.4. Truth is your free choice. (read the quote on p. 2)

        4.2.5. Doubt is not a "sin."

        4.2.6. The root of all evil is ignorance and false view.

　

4.3. To see clearly:

4.3.1. To force oneself to believe and to accept a thing without understanding is political, and not spiritual or intellectual.

4.3.2. The spirit of tolerance and understanding has been from the beginning of the most cherished ideals of Buddhist culture and civilization.

4.3.2. Violence in any form is absolutely against the teaching of the Buddha.

　

4.4. Truth and faith:

        4.4.1. Name is not important.

       4. 4.2. Truth needs no label (e.g. charity has nothing to do with religions).

        4.4.3. Saddha means seeing, knowing, and understanding, not believe and faith.

        4.4.4. The moment you see, the question of belief disappears.

        4.4.5. The teaching of the Buddha is qualified as inviting you to “come and see.”

        4.4.6. 'The eye was born" (e.g. a line of blind men).

4.4.7. Buddha's teaching should be given up, even thought it is a good thing.