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CHAPTER VI
THE BUDDHIST DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
Buddhism is famous as a soteriological doctrine. Its main aim is to seek liberation from the manifold sufferings (dukkha). The Buddha is reported to have said:
"Just as the great ocean has one taste, the taste of salt, even so, monks, this doctrine (dharma) and method (vinaya) has one taste, the taste of liberation (vimuttirasa).”1
The word dharma (Pali dhamma) as employed in Buddhist texts has manifold meanings. As Dr L.M. Joshi points out it also means the Ultimate Reality or Transcendental Truth called nirvāṇadharma. The word dharma also refers to mental and material elements or entities. It also means moral law, virtue, duty, religious practice, piety, etc. Finally it means the eternal and immanent law of cosmic order. The two fundamental meanings with which we are here concerned are: nirvana and the way to it. "In short, dharma means both the end and the means: nirvāṇadharma and margadharma."""
It goes without saying that nirvāṇadharma is the summum bonum of Buddhism and that every human being must aspire to attain this Ultimate Reality. The word nirvana is also known as vimukti (Pali vimutti) which means freedom from all passions and desires. It is also called visuddhi which means purification. Similarly the märgadharma is known as vimukti-marga "the way of emancipation" and visuddhimarga "the way of purification."
THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING
Lord Buddha is reported to have said that he teaches only two things viz; suffering (dukkha) and cessation of suffering (dukkhanirodha). He taught that this world is full of suffering, ills, calamities, punishment, jealousy, hatred, deception, illusion, etc., and encouraged
2.
1.
L. M. Joshi, "Truth: A Buddhist Perspective", The Journal of Religious Studies, vol. IV, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1972, p. 71. See Cullavagga (Nalanda edition), p. 357, Udana (Nalanda edition), V. vii, p. 125. Anguttaranikaya (Nalanda edition), vol. I.p. 37.
L.M. Joshi, "Buddhist Meditation and Mysticism" in Buddhism, (1969), p.62.
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