Buddhist Religion

Buddhist Mystical Theology - A Conversation with Charaka and Acvagosha.

My dear children, do not blame others for your lack of success. Seek the cause of your ills in yourselves. Unless you are blinded by vanity you will discover your fault, and having discovered it you will see the way out of it. The remedy for your ills, too, lies in yourselves. Never let your mental eyes be covered by the dust of selfishness. If you heed my words and obey these injunctions you will, when you come to die, continue to live in the good Karma that you have stored up, and your souls will be immortalised according to your deeds.

Americans and others in the West have certain expectations and images that come to mind when the word Buddhist comes up. Most people have seen the Dalai Lama on the news or in magazines, and he has almost become synonymous with Buddhism in general. The truth is that by far, the majority of the world's Buddhists are not bald Asian men in orange robes. Buddhists look like you or me--just normal people who try to fit the ideas developed by Buddha into normal modern life.

Join the author as he recalls his earliest encounters with Buddhism and his subsequent awakening on the Dharma path.

Karma is the cosmic law that ensures all good deeds are rewarded, while bad deeds receive an equally deserving punishment. The concept of karma was first expressed in the ancient Hindu writings, known as the Vedas. Due to increased awareness and acceptance of eastern spiritual practices and philosophies worldwide these days, the concept of karma has become a widely accepted. It is a safe bet to say that almost the majority of us - regardless of culture, creed, and religion - do believe in some form of universal law that calls for us to act morally lest we will be faced with the repercussions. However, very few of us would take care not to violate this cosmic law.

As a profound thinker, as the most profound thinker the world has ever known, the Buddha had two ways of speaking to people. At one time he would address them in words that expressed the utmost depth of his knowledge. At other times, he would tell them simple things within the compass of their ready understanding, in words that were taken from the ordinary speech used among themselves. In both modes of speech, he spoke what was true.