..续本文上一页rld and will proclaim the universally beneficial teachings of the Tathāgata (the Buddha) with a resounding voice.
Its circular exhibition gallery with traditional sculptures and paintings depicting important events of the Buddha”s life and teachings will, with the help of modern technology such as special lighting and audio-visual devices, remove the misconceptions that have spread about the Buddha,. Visitors will come to learn that Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha was neither a god nor an incarnation of any god nor a prophet of any god. He did not become the Buddha because of pine grace. Perfecting his paramitās (wholesome mental qualities that help to dissolve egoism and thus lead to liberation), by exerting strenuous efforts for innumerable lives, he attained supreme enlightenment in his final life and therefore, was called a sammāsambuddha (one who becomes a Buddha by his own efforts). He was not a mythological being but a completely historical person.
He was called superhuman because he attained the highest state that can be attained by a human being. Filled with infinite compassion, he kept teaching the technique of Vipassana to suffering humanity all his life for liberation from suffering, therefore he was called the All-compassionate One. Because he completely eradicated craving, aversion and ignorance, he was called Bhagavā. Because he discovered and taught the operation of the natural laws of kamma (action) and the corresponding consequences of kamma as a result of his direct experience, he was called a supreme theist. In those days in India, this was the only acceptable definition of theism.
If the true nature of the historical superhuman Buddha comes to light, the misconceptions about the Buddha in India will be removed and the importance of human effort and valour will be established in place of blind belief in pine miracles. Many historical incidents occurred during the long lifetime of Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha. However, the number of exhibition rooms in this hall will be limited. So even though it will not be possible to exhibit all of these incidents, whatever is exhibited will prove that the Buddha did not establish any religious sect. He never had any intention of converting anyone and confining them within the bounds of an organised religious sect. With infinite compassion towards all, he taught the pure Dhamma with only one objective, "bahujana hitāya bahujana sukhāya" (for the good of many, for the happiness of many) and not for the good of any one person or religious sect. Those whom he taught the Dhamma thoroughly and sent to teach to others, were sent only after he inspired them with the noble sentiments of "bahujana hitāya bahujana sukhāya lokanukampaya" (for the good of many, for the happiness of many, out of compassion for the world). Instead of establishing a religious sect, he re-established the ancient true eternal Dhamma in its pristine purity.
Like an infinitely compassionate and skilled physician, he exerted spirited efforts to remove the ugly rotting painful leprous sores on the healthy beautiful body of pure Dhamma. He made successful efforts to stop the cruel ritual of sacrificing meek innocent animals in the name of Dhamma. Uprooting the defiled system of classes and the debased institution of caste arising from it, which ignored virtue and was based on birth, he made great effort to establish the purity of Dhamma on the basis of action. Gullible people were immersed in the blind belief that purification of the mind and liberation from the cycle of existence could be attained through meaningless rituals. With infinite mettā and compassion, the Tathāgata made strong efforts to bring such deluded people to the path of Dhamma, the path of sīla (morality), samādhi (mastery of the mind) and pañ&nti…
《Why the Grand Vipassana Pagoda
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