[ebook.pdf.nsO] [buddhism] Good Question, Good Answer - S Dhammika [www.NorthShare.tk].pdf

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Good Question, Good Answer
Good Question,
Good Answer
Ven. S. Dhammika
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E-mail: bdea@buddhanet.net
Web site: www.buddhanet.net
Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
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Ven. S. Dhammika
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Contents
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1. What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: What is Buddhism?
ANSWER: The name Buddhism comes from the word
‘ budhi ’ which means ‘to wake up’ and thus Buddhism is the
philosophy of awakening. This philosophy has its origins
in the experience of the man Siddhata Gotama, known as
the Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of 36.
Buddhism is now 2,500 years old and has about 300 million
followers world-wide. Until a hundred years ago, Buddhism
was mainly an Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining
adherents in Europe and America.
QUESTION: So Buddhism is just a philosophy?
ANSWER: The word philosophy comes from two words
‘ philo ’ which means ‘love’ and ‘ sophia ’ which means ‘wisdom’.
So philosophy is the love of wisdom or love and wisdom, both
meanings describing Buddhism perfectly. Buddhism teaches
that we should try to develop our intellectual capacity to the
fullest so that we can understand clearly. It also teaches us to
develop love and kindness so that we can be like a true friend
to all beings. Thus Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a
philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.
QUESTION: Who was the Buddha?
ANSWER: In the year 563 B . C . a baby was born into a royal
family in northern India. He grew up in wealth and luxury
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but eventually found that worldly comfort and security do
not guarantee happiness. He was deeply moved by the suffer-
ing he saw all around and resolved to ind the key to human
happiness. When he was 29 he left his wife and child and set
off to sit at the feet of the great religious teachers of the day
to learn from them. They taught him much but none really
knew the cause of human suffering or how it could be over-
come. Eventually, after six years study and meditation he had
an experience in which all ignorance fell away and he sud-
denly understood. From that day onwards he was called the
Buddha, the Awakened One. He lived for another 45 years
in which time he traveled all over northern India teaching
others what he had discovered. His compassion and patience
were legendary and he made thousands of followers. In his
eightieth year, old and sick, but still happy and at peace, he
inally died.
QUESTION: Wasn’t it irresponsible for the Buddha to
walk out on his wife and child?
ANSWER: It couldn’t have been an easy thing for the
Buddha to leave his family. He must have worried and
hesitated for a long time before inally leaving. But he had a
choice, dedicating himself to his family or dedicating himself
to the whole world. In the end, his great compassion made
him give himself to the whole world. And the whole world
still beneits from his sacriice. This was not irresponsible. It
was perhaps the most signiicant sacriice ever made.
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