Page 78 - Islam and Buddhism

Islam and Buddhism

For Buddhist monks and nuns, life is full of all kinds of difficulties.
They are forbidden to work or own property, obliged to feed them-
selves by going from door to door and begging among the people, with
their bowls in their hands. For this reason, Buddhist priests are even

called bhikkhus (beggars) by the people. Buddhist priests are forbidden
to marry or have any kind of family life; they may own only one robe,
which must be of poor quality yellow or red cloth.
Besides this robe, their only other possessions include a hard bed
to sleep on, a razor to shave their heads with, a needle case for their
own use, a water bottle and a bowl to beg with. They eat only one meal
a day, generally consisting of bread and rice flavored with spices, and

drink either water or rice milk. They must finish this food before noon
and are not allowed to eat anything until the next day. Other foods,
even medicines, are regarded as forbidden luxuries. A priest may eat
meat, fish or vegetables only if he is sick and then, only with the per-
mission of a higher-ranking priest. In short, Buddhist stric-
tures are a form of self-torture.
This situation is a manifestation of the
truth of the verse in the Qur'an (10: 44) that
reads, "God does not wrong people in any

way; rather it is people who wrong them-
selves." But to those who believe in Him
and submit themselves to Him, God
promises a very good life, both in this
world and the world to come. To
them belong both the blessings of
this world and those of the afterlife.

According to the Qur'an (7: 32):
Say: "Who has forbidden the fine
clothing God has produced for His ser-
vants and the good kinds of provision?"

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