Gautama Buddha- The Glory of World

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Man should be free to choose his own religion according to his liking and intellectual capacity. Religion should not be forced on one on the grounds of poverty, illiteracy or to arouse human emotional feelings to induce him to accept a particular religion. It is essential for one to follow the religion that would appeal to him, which would help him grow within.

The Founder of Buddhism

Buddhism is a way of moral, spiritual and intellectual training leading to complete freedom of mind. The founder of this unique religion is a great teacher who actually lived in this world. He never tried to present himself as a supernatural being but as a human being who had realized the absolute truth namely, the secret of life and the real cause of suffering and happiness. Today this teacher is not only honored by hundreds of millions of his followers but also by very cultured and intellectual man throughout the world. This great teacher was born to this world to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to save the world from its ills. This noble teacher is non other than Gautama Buddha himself.

His Teachings

Buddha's way of teaching is liberal, rational, scientific and understandable leading towards enlightenment. His message was been given to the world without any violence nor was a single drop of blood ever shed in its name. This is remarkable record in world history which could be imprinted in letters of gold. He is a religious teacher who encouraged people to think freely without depending on religious dogmas. He has introduced a religious way of life for the people to be religious even without the attachment of a religious label.

Buddha's message of peace and tolerance was welcomed by all with joy and was of eternal benefit to everyone who had the fortune to hear and practice it. He has shown the path to peace, happiness and salvation. He had sacrificed his worldly pleasures for the sake of suffering humanity to seek the truth in order to show the path of deliverance from suffering. For forty five years after his enlightenment, he had dedicated his life for enlightening misguided human beings.

His Heavenly Death

While lying on his death-bed between the two Sala trees at Kusinara the eighty-year-old Buddha seeing the flowers offered to him, addressed the Venerable Ananda thus:

'They who, Ananda, are correct in life, living according to the Dhamma-it is they who rightly honour, revere and venerate the Tathagata(the perfect one) with the worthiest homage. Therefore, Ananda, be ye correct in life, living according to the Dhamma. Thus, should you train yourself."

This encouragement of the Buddha on living according to the Dhamma shows clearly that what is of highest importance is training in mental, verbal and bodily conduct, and not the mere offering of flowers to the enlightenment ones. The emphasis is on living the right life.