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THE BUDDHIST DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
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16. He has absolute and infallible knowledge and insight with
regard to the past time. 17. He has absolute and infallible knowledge and insight with
regard to the future. 18. He has absolute and infallible knowledge and insight with
regard to the present (time).57 The greatness of Buddha is acknowledged by all other beings of the universe because of His deep love and great compassion (mahākarunā) for all beings. A Buddha is endowed with mahākarunā, He loves all creatures as His own children. In addition to mahākarunā a Buddha is thoroughly pure and gentle. There is not even the slightest impurity in His thought, word and speech. THE WAY TO NIRVĀŅA
Among the teachings of Buddha, the most important place is occupied by what are called Four Holy Truths. The first two truths, viz. suffering and the genesis of suffering, explain the fact of existence in the samsāra and its cause. The third and fourth Truths declare and outline the practical path of putting an end to the sufferings of the samsāra. The fourth Truth in particular prescribes the technique of attaining Nirvāņa. The Way to Nirvāṇa is called the Middle Way because it transcends the two extremes of indulgence in sense-pleasures and self mortifying austerity.
In the ancient Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist texts the way to Nirvāṇa is often described as Triple Way consisting of morality (śīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā). This Triple Way was later on worked out into an eightfold way (astāmgamārga). The eight limbs of the way are as follows:
1. Right view (samyak-drsti) 2. Right aspiration (samyak-samkalpa) 3. Right speech (samyak-vāca) 4. Right action (samyak-karman) 5. Right livelihood (samyak-ājīva) 6. Right effort (samyak-vyāyāma) 7. Right mindfulness (samyak-smrti) 8. Right concentration (samyak-samadhi)
It will be seen that the Way embodies intellectual, moral and mystical elements which constitute the essentials of the Buddhist road
57.
Ibid., p. 23.
. 23.
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