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Religion and Non-Violence
15
“On this spot, let my body lie dried up; let the flesh, bones and skin be dissolved into atoms; still, without attaining the precious bodhi (the highest spiritual enlightenment) I shall not move an inch. This is my determination."
It was at this spot that Gautama at last achieved enlightenment. He said, “There is suffering and sorrow in the world. Birth is attended with pain, growth is sorrowful and decay is painful. Illness is sorrowful and death is sorrowful. Sad it is to be joined to that which we do not like; sadder still is the separation from that which we love, and painful is the craving for that which cannot be obtained.
“The cause of suffering is lust. The surrounding world affects sensation and begets a craving thirst which clamours for immediate satisfaction. Verily, it is the thirst (or craving) causing the renewal of existence, accompanied by sensual delight seeking satisfaction, now here, now there; that is to say, the craving for the gratification of the passions, or the craving for a future life or the craving for success in the present life. The desire to live for the enjoyment of self entangles us in the net of sorrow.
"Pleasures are the bait and the result is pain.
When the flame of desire and lust is extinguished the state of nirvāna is reached.”
Thus enlightened, the Buddha wandered about in different places in India delivering his message. He told his disciples to pursue practical methods in order to arrive at the Truth, and not to be distracted with academic speculations about “the Beyond and the Ultimate.' What was most needed was the removal of ignorance, thirst, attachment etc., by the comprehension of the above four Truths. He further said, "Neither abstinence from fish or flesh, nor going naked; nor shaving the head, nor wearing matted hair, nor dressing in a
rough garment, nor covering oneself with dirt, nor sacrificing to Āgni, will cleanse a man who is not free from delusions.
"Anger, drunkenness, obstinacy, bigotry, deception, envy, self-praise, disparaging others, superciliousness and evil intentions constitute uncleanliness
".... By suffering, the emaciated devotee produces confusion and sickly thoughts in his mind. Mortification is not conducive even to worldly knowledge, how much less to a
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