No 1366 of Living Life Series 1
The Buddha did say that Sri Lanka has the credit of preserving for many centuries the early original teachings of the Buddha and without the holy lineage of monks there like Ven Bellanwila Dhammaratana, the world will not be able to have such blessings.
No wonder the Buddha says that his best gift to the world is the gift of Truth. This gift is for all. There is no string or condition attached. We can continue to be who we are and to be in our respective society, community and culture.
We do not sell our self to him to accept the gift of truth. In the first place and in reality, self is an illusion and brings about delusion - makes us lose touch with the ultimate reality.
We are not nothing and at same time we are not unchanging. How can we conceive of an eternal unchanging entity - the self. We certainly are what we are and will be. But there is no unchanging self.
When we can grasp this, we are on the way to enlightenment - never mind when this will be. But when we know this, we can taste inner peace and will be on the road to even more. We will at least be saintly in a way even if we are no saints as yet - just like the late elder George Koh Beng Chiang.
The teachings and values highlighted by the Buddha were and are not new. They were there even before the historical Buddha. There were many enlightened ones and saints before him.
They were and are present in all cultures and religions. But it was the Buddha who was able to package them excellently as the Dhamma. This is his gift of Truth to all. Many must hold on to this gift dearly not only on Vesak Day but all the time.
Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know that the same truth is to be found in all religions. This he refers to as the inner truth which unfortunately many could not see clearly.
Even many Buddhists fail to grasp because they were just flowing along downstream with the additions and what have we. They obviously fail to discern the basic or essential teachings.
They too must go to the upper source for clear water - for the early and original renditions of the Dhamma. They must go to Sri Lanka and the venerable ones from Sri Lanka.
When we can grasp this, we are on the way to enlightenment - never mind when this will be. But when we know this, we can taste inner peace and will be on the road to even more. We will at least be saintly in a way even if we are no saints as yet - just like the late elder George Koh Beng Chiang.
The teachings and values highlighted by the Buddha were and are not new. They were there even before the historical Buddha. There were many enlightened ones and saints before him.
They were and are present in all cultures and religions. But it was the Buddha who was able to package them excellently as the Dhamma. This is his gift of Truth to all. Many must hold on to this gift dearly not only on Vesak Day but all the time.
Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know that the same truth is to be found in all religions. This he refers to as the inner truth which unfortunately many could not see clearly.
They too must go to the upper source for clear water - for the early and original renditions of the Dhamma. They must go to Sri Lanka and the venerable ones from Sri Lanka.
