Assignement 2
Assignement 2
Assignement 2
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A parable is a fictitious or made-up story designed to teach a lesson through
comparison. When you hear the story, you can relate it to your own life. It is like an
illustration of the points in a sermon. It conveys its message of truth through analogy,
through comparison or contrast.
2. Who is Gautama Buddha and what are his influences in Buddhism? (10 pts)
Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism around (500 B.C.E). Siddhartha was
born as a prince in present-day Nepal and was so moved by the suffering in the world,
he is said to have given up a comfortable, upper-class life to follow one of poverty and
spiritual devotion. At the age of thirty-five, he famously meditated under a sacred fig tree
and vowed not to rise before he achieved enlightenment (bodhi). After this experience,
he became known as Buddha, or “enlightened one.” Followers were drawn to Buddha’s
teachings, known as “dharma,” and the practice of meditation and he later established a
monastic order."
Buddha’s teachings encourage Buddhists to lead a moral life by accepting the Four
Noble Truths: 1) life is suffering, 2) suffering arises from attachment to desires, 3)
suffering ceases when attachment to desires ceases, and 4) freedom from suffering is
possible by following the “middle way.” The concept of the “middle way” is central to
Buddhist thinking, which encourages people to live in the present and to practice
acceptance of others (Smith 1991). Buddha taught that wisdom, kindness, patience,
generosity, and compassion were important virtues. Buddhism also tends to
deemphasize the role of a godhead, instead of stressing the importance of personal
responsibility (Craig 2002). This is illustrated by five moral principles, which prohibit:
Killing living things
Taking what is not given
Sexual misconduct
Lying
Using drugs or alcohol
3. Give and explain the moral lesson of the said parable. (10 pts.)
Nearly all the world’s greatest religious teachers have been peacemakers, and the
Buddha was certainly one of these. Among the ethical precepts of his “Eightfold Path”
was “Right Action,” which included avoiding all killing.
The moral lesson of the said parable is that a life’s worth is precious and priceless.
As Dighity said, “Be not shortsighted. Be not longsighted. Not by violence is violence
ended. Violence is ended by nonviolence. “
It means that one should not be quick to refuse a gift of friendship. Never let the hatred
to last too long. Instead, one must forgive each other to stop the war, revenge or
violence is not the way to end it.
4. Why is the parable of Returning Love from Hatred important for Buddhists? (10 pts)
The parable of returning love from hatred is important to Buddhists because it is a great
lesson of the pure souled Gautama has taught –
“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time, hatred ceases by love; this is its nature.
“Let us live happily, not hating those who hate us. Among men who hate us, let us live
free from hatred.
“Let one overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good. Let him overcome the
greedy by liberality, the liar by truth.”
The destruction of life, killing, cutting, binding, stealing, lying, fraud, adultery, backbiting,
treachery, cruelty, intoxication, deceit, pride, and a bad mind and wicked deeds are
what defile a man, who can be purified neither by abstinence from fish or flesh, nor by
nakedness, tonsure, matted hair, dirt, rough garments, penances, hymns, oblations, or
sacrifices.
References
Jackson, W. (2012, March 20). Chapter 29 – Moral precepts of Gautama Buddha. The
Public's Library and Digital Archive.
https://www.ibiblio.org/britishraj/Jackson1/chapter29.html
Shepard, A. (2020, April 16). How Violence Is Ended (Asian Indian, Buddhist Fables,
Legends, Stories). http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/040.html