Dhammānuloma - In Accordance with the Dhamma

Q.1. Why did ancient men worship trees, mountain, fire, etc.? What is the right refuge? Explain with sufficient reason.

An. Verses 188 to 192. The story of Aggidatta:

           Verse 188. when threatened with danger, men go to many a refuge, to mountains and forests, to parks, and gardens, and to sacred trees.

           Verse 189. But such a refuge is not a safe, not the best refuge. One is not liberated from all evil consequences of existence (dukkha) for having come to such a refuge.

           Verse 190-192. One, who takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, sees with magga insight the Four Noble Truths, viz. Dukkha, the cause of Dukkha, the cessation of Dukkha, and the Noble Path of Eight constituents which leads to the cessation of Dukkha.

           Verse 192. This, indeed, is the safe refuge, this is the best refuge, one is liberated from the Dukkha (suffering).

 

Q.2. Describe the “daily religious Tasks” to be performed by a Buddhist. Why should we cultivate loving-kindness?

           An. Loving-kindness (Metta) is the opposite of hatred (dosa), loving-kindness is the mental factor called Adosa (non-hatred) which wishes for the welfare of other beings, contemplating, “May all beings be happy; May they be free danger.”

           In addition, Metta is generally understood as “Love” the living there are there kinds:

1.    Mutual love between husband and wife (Tanhapena)

2.    Mutual love among the members of the family (Gehassitapena)

3.    Loving-kindness, or benevolence for the welfare (Metta)

So the first two kinds of love are not Metta. They are lust, greed and craving.

           Metta is the pure form of love which can bring peace and properity to all beings.

 

Q.3. “The observance of five precepts by everyone will make a better and peaceful world.”

An: Yes I agree with this statement, because the five precepts are the bases of Buddhist Morality. The first precept is to avoid killing or harming human being (Panatipata), the second precept is to avoid stealing, the other’s property (Adinnadana). The third precept is to avoid sexual misconduct (Kamesumicchacara). The fourth is to avoid lying, slandering, speaking harshly, and talking vainly (Musavada). The fifth is to avoid alcohol and other intoxicating drugs (Surameraya).

           So everyone should willingly and diligently observe the moral precepts of panca-sila as the benefits are very great and evil consequences are terrible if one breaks thee precepts.

           Finally, if everyone observes five precepts diligently they will be eternal peace in the whole world. Thus pañca sila is regarded as the “Guardian of the World”.