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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 15

opposed to the teaching of the most Therefore, O monks, if you, too, that the criticism has come from
compassionate and loving Buddha, are reviled, abused, scolded and anger, prejudice, frustration, fear,
who said: “He is called virtuous and insulted by others, you should neuroses, paranoia, etc. Then, of
wise who, wishing success, does on that account not entertain course, instead of getting angry
not commit crimes for the sake of annoyance, nor dejection, nor with the person who has all these
oneself, for the sake of one’s own displeasure in your hearts. And if problems, we should try to help him
children, for the sake of others, others respect, revere, honour and with loving-kindness. He deserves
for the sake of wealth, or even for venerate you, on that account you our loving-kindness and compassion
the sake of the country” Buddha’s should not entertain delight nor rather than our hate. No hate is ever
teaching stands above all notions joy nor elation in your hearts. If going to solve any problem in the
of countries, cultures, languages, others respect, revere, honour and world and it never did, for hate is
ethnic affiliations and everything venerate you, you should think: ‘It is never appeased by hatred in this
else, for he taught only the truth towards this (mind-body aggregate) world, but by love alone.
which is permanent, eternal and which was formerly comprehended,
bound by nothing in the world. that they perform such acts’”. In the teaching of the Buddha, one
finds no room for resolving any
When you embark the raft you Analytical investigation and problem through violent means. A
should check it very carefully to critical knowledge of Dhamma are Buddhist who is full of greed, hatred
verify whether it is secure and essential factors of enlightenment in and delusion and unmindful of the
properly put together, lest you may Buddhism. For if you know for sure Buddha’s real message, exercising
drown by using a defective raft. that what you practice is true you his total freedom of choice and
Similarly you should very carefully should not be alarmed by criticism. responsibility guaranteed in
learn and critically examine You rather should be glad to Buddhism, may kill someone, but he
any religion before accepting or welcome critical investigation of it can never quote any Buddhist text
rejecting it. Patient listening to so you can look at what you practice to justify and support his killing.
someone criticizing the Buddha, from different perspective. If you
Dhamma or the community of know gold as gold, for instance, We are supposed to use the Buddha
Sangha, is highly recommended in you would without any hesitation Dhamma without clinging to it, but
the teaching of the Buddha. let any well trained goldsmith test only to cross this cycle of birth and
it by cutting, burning, rubbing and death -- Samsara. He advised us to
“If for that others revile, abuse, scold hammering it, for you are certain use his teaching like a raft which is
and insult the Perfect One (Buddha), that he will not determine your gold used only to cross a body of water
on that account, O monks, the Perfect to be copper. Only if you give him a not to cling to it. It is the passionate
One will not feel annoyance, nor gilded piece of lead saying that it is clinging to what we believe, rather
dejection, nor displeasure in His gold you would have reason to fear than understanding how we should
heart. And if for that others respect, of his test. use it to guide our daily life in the
revere, honour and venerate the right direction, that arouses our
Perfect One, on that account the The Buddha advised us not to be deeply rooted hatred which may
Perfect One will not feel delight, nor alarmed by criticism, but listen force us to solve our problems
joy, nor elation in His heart. If for to criticism very carefully and through violent means. It is the
that other respect, revere, honour mindfully without getting upset passionate clinging to things that
and venerate the Perfect One, He will about what we hear and measure creates all kinds of problems. EH
think: ‘It is towards this (mind-body it by the text. After thorough
aggregate) which was formerly fully investigation, we certainly find no
comprehended, that they perform fault in the Buddha, Dhamma or
such acts. Sangha. However, we will find out