The Buddha as the Leader to Display the Highest Principles

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From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• From a chapter in the book - The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero

Legal experts and politicians in various countries have formulated and promulgated many and various laws, constitutions, regulations and ordinances. But these have not been conducive to the well-being of all the people in the world. There are not universally valid. There are some universally valid. There are some short comings in these laws and principles.

But, the Buddha, through a very long effort and after ;years of suffering, discovered the principle of the Middle Path, by research, by experimenting, and by implementing. No one has ever been able to discover such an admirable principle which will continue to be valid as long as the world exists, which will be applicable as long as human society progresses.

When he was a prince, ascetic Siddhartha enjoyed limitless luxury. When he was ascetic he endured limitless suffering. He realized fully and comprehensively the futility of both these extremes, and said in joy, "Eye arose on phenomena never known before. Wisdom arose. Knowledge arose. Insight arose." (Cakkum udapadi, panna udapadi, vijja udapadi, aloko udapadi).

The Buddha took immediate steps ato place that unique knowledge, that unparalleled light before the generality of the people in the world. In short, he was able to realize supreme. Enlightenment while being established in that principlke it was possible to realize enlightement trough the principle of the Middle Path. What is the progress or well-being that cannot be achieved through the principle of the Middle Path? The peinciple of Middle Path is the law that ensures the protection of the world. Even the plannets move in the orbit of the Middle Path. If the plannets go beyond their orbits they will get destroyed. Even our Earth rests on the principle of the Middle Path.

In everything, in every action, straying beyond limits will spell destruction. straying beyod limits will spell destruction. Our faily rice sustains our life. But if we took several plates of rice or a whole pot of rice all at once, that will bring about destruction. Drinking water sustains our life. But, if we drank several buckerfuls of water, it will be extremely harmful. Those who take intoxicating drinks excessesaively will become deranged. Even of medicine is taken in excess ait will prove harmful.

There is a limit to the work that prople should do. There is a limit within which a person should live. To exceed those limits is harmful. There is a limit to a monk's behaviour. If he beyond that it is harmful. There are limits ever officials, kings, ministers, people's representatives and prime ministers should observe.

If they go beyond those limits it will bring about destruction. There are limits to countries, to nations, to communities. If these limits are transcended their destruction will come about.

Extremism is farmful - destructive, Buddha experimented with it and rejected it as low, common, belonging to ordinary folk, ignoble conducive to misery. There are countries with extreme political power Sri Lanka is foremost among countries that have shaped their political systems over a long period of time, along the principle of Middle Path. They built tanks throughout the country, improved cultivation

and fed the people well. Vioharas, monasteries and places of worship were set up. Religious feelings were set up. Religious feelings were inculcated in the minds, of men. Thoughts of peaceful co-existence were promoted among the people. All this was achived with the inspiration of the Middle Path principle of Buddhism.

Thr Buddha advocated a balanced existence as a means of worldly welfare. What was meant byu the expression 'balanced existence' was a way of life in which the expenditure was in keeping with the income. The Buddha's principle of Middle Path was so highlyu esteemed by Emperor Asoka that, in his Rock Edict No. 3, he has proclaimed: "It is good to strike a balance between income and expenditure."

He had this written down for the benefit of the people. In consequence, the Buddhists should follow the Middle Path, and no other policy.

The only system the only principle that any individual, that any society, that any country, and nation or any community can sustain, is the principle of the Middle Path.

Those countried whichdevelop fast and those people who rise rapidly, have all collapsed quickly. We have witnessed this kind of thing. Therefore, we have to lead our lives strictly according to the principle of the Middle Path.

When an individual walks along the No;ble-Eight Path of Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Activity, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right MIndfulness and Right Concetration, his policy will automatically be that of the Middle Path. All Buddhists lives should be led in terms of this noble policy.