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A message for all times
By Alec Robertson
Vesak is an event of utmost significance to all Buddhists as it commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbana of the Buddha. It is also significant that the best modern ideas are found in the teachings of the Buddha.

The personality of the Buddha has a special charm to the unprejudiced mind. He is the embodiment of all that he preached. The great German scholar, Prof. Max Huller says, "Buddha was the embodiment of all the virtues He preached. During his successful and eventful ministry of 45 years He translated all His words into action, and in no place did He give vent to any human frailty, or any base passion. The Buddha's moral code is the most perfect which the world has ever known."

The Buddha's Enlightenment is significant for He reached the pinnacle of wisdom through His own effort. The Buddha alone rightly judged the intrinsic greatness of man's capacity to achieve his own salvation. Instead of degrading man by placing another being over him, the Buddha exalted him to the highest pinnacle of wisdom and love. Therefore, the teachings of the Buddha hold out hope for the peoples of the world who are enmeshed in the mire of drab materialism, by offering a path which leads to spiritual illumination and ultimate deliverance from physical and mental bondage.
Living in an age of storm and stress, of hatred and violence, never in the history of humanity has the need been greater for mankind to remember the immortal message of the Buddha. That message of over 2500 years ago enshrined in the Nobel Eightfold Path is a living one. The path enunciated by the Buddha is called the Middle Path or the way of righteousness which consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. These are also classified as virtue, concentration and wisdom which are summarized in a well-known stanza of the Dhammapada thus: "To refrain from evil, to do what is good, to purify the mind, this is the teaching of all Buddhas".

Consider the importance of the Noble Eightfold Path in the context of modern life. The first is virtue or right conduct. If we are virtuous and practice the five precepts, it would invariably lessen the pain that enshrouds the world as we would cling less to the fleeting pleasures of the world. With such a moral background one could practice concentration which is the second step of the Path to happiness. The world needs people of equanimity. The Path which promotes tranquillity and serenity of mind will amply fulfill this need. The next step is right understanding or wisdom. Clear thinking is of utmost importance in today's context. Man attempts to conquer the unfathomable depths of space, but fails to realize that there are unexplored regions within himself which need to be conquered.

When these factors - virtue, concentration and wisdom - are cultivated and developed in equal measure then we reach the zenith of perfection, peace and happiness.

The Buddha has in the most striking manner shown the practical significance of the Noble Eightfold Path in a discourse preached to his own son, Rahula, where the importance of reflection is emphasized. This sermon has particular relevance to present day society, when people act rashly and indiscreetly without giving due consideration to their thoughts, words and deeds. The discourse expounded to Rahula is briefly summarized as follows:-

'What do you think, Rahula, what is a mirror for?"

"To look at oneself, Lord."

"Even so, Rahula, we ought to look and look at ourselves before we do deeds, look and look before we speak words, look and look before we cherish thoughts. Whatever deed, Rahula, you wish to do, at this same deed you ought to look thus: 'How if this deed I wish to do, should be grievous to myself, to another, or to both ? This would be an unwholesome deed, that produces suffering, breeds suffering. 'If Rahula, in looking at this you observe; This deed I wish to do might be grievous to both; it is an unwholesome deed; then, Rahula, you certainly have to abstain from such a deed. But if you notice, Rahula, while looking at it: 'This deed I wish to do can neither be grievous to me, to another nor to both; it is a wholesome deed', producing welfare, breeding welfare; - then, Rahula, you ought to do such a deed."

"And while doing a deed, Rahula, you ought to look in the same way at this deed of yours ... This deed I am doing is neither grievous to me, nor to another, nor grievous to both, it is a wholesome deed, producing welfare, breeding welfare', then, Rahula, you ought to promote such a deed."

"And if, Rahula, you have done a deed, you ought to look in same way at this deed of yours.... 'This deed I have done is neither grievous to myself nor to another, nor to both; it is a wholesome deed, producing welfare'. Then Rahula, you ought day and night cultivate this blissful, joyous exercise in doing good."

Thus, it is evident that the teachings of the Buddha have always had a practical message to mankind and this is most emphasized in the oft quoted passage in the Buddhist texts which describes the salient qualities of His (Dhamma)

"Well proclaimed is the Dhamma by the Blessed One, to be seen for oneself, immediately effective, inviting all to 'come and see', worthy to be achieved, to be realized by the wise, each for himself."

The writer is a former President of the Servants of the Buddha.

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