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The Living Power of Buddhism |
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The living power of Buddhism offers each of us steps and principles that would enable us to live our daily lives. Religion and life are so much divorced that not only do people fail to consult the Dhamma –– the Doctrine of the True—in the performance of all actions, but hardly anyone believes that we can live by the power of the Dhamma as we live by food and water and air in the physical body. We take good care to procure for ourselves sleep, exercise, nourishment, for we know that without these health suffers and the body dies. But we are not taught when young, and we fail to learn when we have grown up, that the Dhamma provides nourishment for the soul. |
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Buddhism provides a code of laws and it tells us what actions to do, what to avoid, and what penalties Nature imposes on those who break those laws. But Buddhism also has a scientific code of hygiene which teaches us what keeps the mind and soul alive and healthy. It offers right "hygiene-power by which all of us can live. It also provides an "exercise-book" in which correct exercises for right effort are given. But in this Dark Age, Kaliyuga, hygiene and exercise form part of one subject and therefore Right Living and Right Striving—two of the steps on the Noble Eightfold Path—may be considered together. |
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Life is one continuous battle. Every true Buddhist is engaged in the greatest of all wars—the war against the lower nature, personified as Mara. It is claimed, and rightly so, that not a drop of blood has been shed in the name of Buddha and Buddhism. Ere he left his palace and his kingdom, Prince Siddhartha resolved to find the Light, and said: |
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My
chariot shall not roll with bloody wheels |
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© "The Theosophical Movement" (May 2002) published by Theosophy Company (India) Private Limited, Theosophy Hall, 40 New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020. Reprinted with permission. |
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