The Buddha is the Most Progressive of all the Religious Leaders

http://Buddhism.2be.net/The_Buddha_is_the_Most_Progressive_of_all_the_Religious_Leaders

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

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

The Buddha flourished more than 2500 years ago. But the Doctrine he preached is not for only one age or for one period of time. It is one restricted. It fits all time. As societies become more and more progressive, Buddhism becomes eminently suitable for that kind of progressive society.

Buddhism marches with time. The ideas and teachings of some become outdated and obsolete with the passage of time. But the Buddha has never expounded an idea that would become obsolete. Truth is always true. A word that is not true never escaped the Buddah's lips.

Buddha did not advocate that everybody should renounce. He never asked every body to become monks. Nor did he ask everybody to become male and female lay devotees. What he did was revealing Truth -explaining to others the Truth he discovered. What he did was showing the Path to Liberation - to Nibbana.

The Buddha encouraged his disciples to "Get started, go out and get egaged actively in the Buddha's Teachings." He impelled them that way. He encouraged them. He looked down upon slothfulness. He described diligence as the path to immortality.

The Buddha, even in his death-bed, advised the monks this way:

" Vaya dhamma sankhara - appamadena sampadetha （all component things disintegrate - work out your Liberation with diligence.)"

The Buddha frequently advised the moks to keep on striving without getting disillusioned. He said:

" Appamatta na miyanti - yepamatta yatha mate (Those who do not strive are like the dead. Diligent ones never die.)"

The Buddha extolled the virtues of " utthanavato" (irrepressible effort). He praised those who strove hard. Right Effort is one of the Ten Perfections necessary for a person to be a Buddha.

The Buddha looked down on lazy, effortless, sleepy and reluctant moks. He praised those monks who were progressive, fearless and courageous. Considered this way, the Buddha is a very progressive religious Teacher. The Buddha praised those who made progress.

In Parabhava Sutta (The Discourse on Decline) the Buddha indicated those who were prone to decline. He also described the causes of decline. The Buddha was a genuine, dedicated social worker who spent the greater part of is twenty-four-hour long day working. He worked solely for the service of others.

Araddha viriyo paramattha pattiya Alinacitto akusitavutti Dalhanikkamo thamkhalupapanno Eko care khagga visanakappo

(sutta Nipata - Khaggavisana Sutta)

The effort goes non-stop until they reach the place where there is no sorrowingNibbana (Gacchati anivattantam yattha gantva na socati). Viriyena dukkham acceti (through effoet suffering is overcome.) Utthana vindate dhanam (The person who is full of effort acquires wealth.) Sangame me matam seyya yance jive parajite (It is better to die in battle than living defeated.) Utthahata nisidatha ko attho supinena vo (Get up, sit up, what on earth is the use of sleeping?)"

(sutta Nipata - Uthana Sutta)

"O Monks, this way I have preached the Doctrine well. I have made it quite clear. I have revealed it. I have proclaimed it. I have purified it. When there is a Doctrine made quite clear by me, revealed by me proclaimed by me, and purified by me, the householder who has obtained ordination through devotion must make a determined effort resolving this way; 'I will not cease my effort until I achieve the goal which has to be attained through human strength, human vigour and human prowess, whether the skin, veins and bones of my body remain or whether my flesh and blood dry up.

Monks, the lethargic, slothful person engages in wrong, harmful actions. He lives miserably. Monks, the person who makes a sustained effort will free himself from wrong, harmful action. He lives happily."

He achieves the fullfilment of his great purpose. It is not possible to achieve the high state of an Arahant (Perfected One) by an individual whose confidence, effort, mindfulness and concentration are quite limited. The Highest fruit of being an Arahant can be achieved only by a person who possesses a high level of confidence, effort etc.

"Monks, this holy life - this great way of living - is like a pleasant and delicious drink. You have already met the great Teacher. Therefor, make an effort to reach a status you have not reached, to realize a form of knowledge you have not realized, and to see for yourself the Teaching you have not been able to see for yourself. This way, our monastic life will not be fruitless. It will not be empty. It will be fruitful. It will keep on growing. You must discipline ourself so that you can confidently assure yourself the that: ' If we make use of the Four-fold Requisites someone offers us, their offerings to us will bring about great results. 'Monks, those of you who expect self-profit or your own personal gain must immediately become diligent. Even those of you who serve others must also be diligent."

(Samyutta Nikaya - Abhisamya Samyutaa - Dasahala Sutta)

There are hundreds of such progressive statements in the Buddha Word. Buddhism is not a religion that makes beings pessimistic. It is not a religion that will make beings retrograde. It is not a religion that maked beings lethargic. It is not a religion that makes people shy. On the other hand, it is an extremely progressive religion. The Buddha preached a Doctrine that will make people happier and more joyous in this life than in the next.

The Buddha declared the way i which human life should be organized - how it should be adapted. He declared how people should live in society. The Buddha pointed out what is good and what is bad. He indicated what should be done and what should not be done. He indicated those with whom one should be associate, and those who should be shunned. In this manner, the Buddha provided all the advice and guidance necessary for the building of a cultured and progressive society. The Buddha demonstrated to society the path it should take. The Buddha did not have any reactionary views at all.

He attacked reactionary Brahmanic ideas quite vigorously. He gave women human rights. He always disregarded such divisions as nations, clans and castes. He extended the same kind of loving-kindness to all ( "Sabbe satta bhavanta sukhitatta" - May all beings be happy and well.) In his loving-kindness there were no grades. It was similar to all. His Teaching agrees well the progressive world. There is no other progressive society than one that is organized in terms of his Teachings. A society like that cannot be organized by the teachings of any other person. In terms of all these, the most progressive of all religious teachers is the Buddha.