III. Religious Stand: Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion that has it roots in India. Its very name derived from the word "Budhi," means, "to wake up". As a philosophy, it literally translates into love and wisdom and, as its etymology suggests, is a level of awareness that imparts people to develop love and live intellectually.

An Indian prince by the name of Siddhartha Gotama founded Buddhism. Although he lived the life of a comfortable and luxurious monarch, such material wealth did not provide him with the true happiness that he was searching for. But when such royal stature opened his eyes to the suffering of his fellowmen, he embarked on a journey in search of true happiness and enlightenment. For Siddhartha, the happiness he was looking for could only be found from within.

He left his family at the age of 29 and studied under the tutelage of religious teachers. But as his beliefs started to broaden, he was still left with hanging questions about human suffering. The answer finally came through long meditation and thought. It had brought him enlightenment. From then on, he was addressed as the Awakened One. Such realization sparked his journey to teach people. Soon after, numerous followers lived according to his philosophy and, in turn, passed on his teachings further out into society. The Awakened One finally died at the age of eighty.

From the story of the Buddha, we know that he is merely mortal. But by worshipping him, he is given respect for the teachings that he imparted to the people. Buddha gives people the motivation to work hard, live well to attain peace, and strive for perfection. This belief has established itself in many countries and has built millions of followers. From the humble beginnings of Buddhism in Asia, its philosophy has touched the lives of numerous individuals all over the world.

Buddhist abbots and leaders have done much work for society. Their influence has spanned to different facets and fields of human development. One of such is Nikkho Nirwano, who was awarded the Templeton Prize for the promotion inter-religious harmony. There was also a monk from Thailand who was blessed with the Magsaysay Award for helping drug addicts while Buddhism’s Ven Kantayapiwat was honored with the Norwegian Children’s Peace Prize for supporting homeless rural children.

Buddhism promotes affluence of the mind and spirit. Even though a number of Buddhist countries are considered economically poor, it does not mean that they have a poor quality of life. They may lack material wealth, but their mind and spirit are rich. Such philosophy is very much manifested in the way parents bring up their children. They are taught respect and well-being which in turn promote good values.

Buddhism has done and continues to do much to control poverty from spreading. The teachings of Buddha have helped the poor to maintain a clear state of mind and to be upright. They should not resort to offenses and are taught to be tactful in managing situations.

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