If Buddhism were introduced to modern society as a spiritual psychotherapy, then the message of the Buddha would be correctly understood and appreciated. The danger of seeing Buddhism as religion is that it tends towards dogmatism, supernaturalism and the occult. The danger of seeing it as just another esoteric Indian philosophy is that this perception separates it from our real dayto- day lives. The Dharma is to be studied and learnt, but more important it is to be practiced in daily life, for without practice one cannot appreciate the truth, and above all it is to be realised: immediate realisation through mindfulness and intuitive knowing is its ultimate goal. Thus the Dharma is compared to a raft, which is meant for the sole purpose of getting us away from the bondage of ignorance and delusion to the shore of wisdom,peace and compassion.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 07:00:06 +0000