..续本文上一页ormless realm) and hence subject to impermanence. When the devas exhaust their celestial blessed-rewards, they will degenerate and fall into the cycle of rebirth.
The significance of practising Buddha-dharma is to follow the renunciation of the Sravakas and Pratyeka-buddhas, and to follow the path of the Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas by benefiting oneself and others (performing egoistic and altruistic acts). Thus, our worldly activities do not contradict with our supra-mundane commitment. However, the following of the path of Sravakas and Pratyeka-buddhas should be expedient because our ultimate goal in practising Buddha-dharma should be the attainment of Buddhahood. We can realise this goal by practising the Bodhisattva”s path.
The Bodhisattva”s path leading to Buddhahood is closely related to cultivating the merits of the human, the heavenly and the hearer. It is a gradual way upward. It will take us a tremendously long time and require the accumulation of boundless merits. However, with this noble objective ahead of us, it helps us to uplift ourselves towards the path of performing wholesome acts progressively. It helps us to keep our aspirations up and gives us much joy on the way. Thus, at least we will not feel discouraged and allow ourselves to become degraded.
When practising Buddha-dharma we must first take refuge in the Triple Gem, namely, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Triple Gem is highest ideal in which all practitioners can take refuge. All Buddhists should rely on the Triple Gem.
The Dharma of the Triple Gem is the Absolute Truth in the universe and this mundane world and is the combined teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha, the enlightener, is one who has attained the perfect knowledge of this Truth. The Sangha or Religious Community comprises the Three-vehicles, saints and sages. Although they are not fully enlightened, they have already deeply dwelled in the Dharma and have had varying degrees of intimate experience of the Truth. Therefore, both the Buddha and the Sangha are the highest ideal model for all Buddhists.
Buddhism is different to Christianity, Confucianism and Taoism in that Christianity relies on a personified God; Confucianism, on human saints; and Taoism on Eternal Natural Laws. Taking refuge in the Triple Gem serves to unify the practitioners and Dharma so we can establish the ideal belief. Why should we respect, prostrate, praise and make offering to the Triple Gem
This is not merely a way of showing our sincerity and belief, nor is it a means to seek and cultivate blessed-rewards. In fact it is a way of showing our yearning for the perfect wisdom and noble virtue of the Buddha and the Sangha. It also expresses our longing for absolute faith in taking the refuge of genuine dharma. Therefore we can completely realise the ultimate truth of the dharma. The Chinese teachings of Confucius and Mencius have their outstanding merits in that they guide the people in their personal and social behaviours. However they cannot inspire people to strive for a brighter future. Religions in general constitute a precipitating force that urges us on towards goodness, no matter how old or stolid we are. Thus, without sincerity, faith and actions, one may not be considered a true practising Buddhist, even though one may read the sutras, study Buddhist teachings, pay homage to Buddharupas, or recite the Buddha”s name.
As true followers of the Buddha, we should place our major emphasis on the Triple Gem as a noble objective towards which we can strive. This effort, in addition to the compassionate vow of the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, will help our mind and body merge with the Triple Gem, so that day by day our blessings and wisdom will grow, and we will draw nearer and nearer to our objective of enligh…
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