Beyond mere tolerance

The Buddhist viewpoint on other religions :

by Lionel Wijesiri

From its inception, the Buddhist attitude to other religions has been one of critical tolerance. But significance is that not a drop of blood has been shed throughout the ages in the propagation and dissemination of Buddhism in the many lands to which it spread. Religious wars either between the schools of Buddhism or against other religions have been unheard of.

Buddhism has also shown a remarkable degree of tolerance and adaptability in the course of its historical expansion. It may be useful to recall the famous words of Lord Acton who said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death, your right to say it”. What this means is that mere tolerance is not enough. What is needed for our society today is for everyone to believe what he or she wants to believe without any hindrances from any quarter. This goes far beyond mere tolerances. It involves a deep respect for the beliefs of others.

Acceptance

The followers of the Buddha were advised not to believe anything without considering it properly.

In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha gave the following guidelines to a group of young people: ‘Do not accept anything based upon mere reports, traditions or hearsay; Nor upon the authority of religious texts; Nor upon mere reasons and arguments; Nor upon one’s own inference; Nor upon anything which appears to be true; Nor upon one’s own speculative opinion; Nor upon another’s seeming ability; Nor upon the consideration: ‘This is our Teacher.’ ‘But, when you know for yourselves the certain things are unwholesome and bad: tending to harm yourself of others, reject them; And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good: conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as well as others, accept and follow them.’

Buddhists are advised to accept religious practices only after careful observation and analysis, and only after being certain that the method agrees with reason and is conducive to the good of one and all.

A layman faces a problem now. How can he select the right religion for him? Perhaps the Sandaka Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya seems to supply the answer to this question.

Ananda, staying at the Ghosit?rama in Kosamb?, visits the Pilakkhaguha, where the Paribbajaka Sandaka is staying with some five hundred followers. Ananda is asked to give a discourse on the Buddha’s teachings, and he speaks of describes four wrong ways (views) of religious life.

(1) When the teacher holds the view that it does not matter whether actions are good or bad;

(2) When the teacher who holds the view that no evil is done by him who acts himself or causes others to act;

(3) When the teacher holding the view that there is no cause for either depravity or purity; and, lastly,

(4) the teacher who holds, among other things, the view that men make an end of ill only when they have completed their course of transmigrations, like a ball of twine which continues rolling as long as there is string to unwind.

This is evidently with reference to the teachings of Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala and others.

Ananda then continues with the wrong views of leader of a religion. (1) When the teacher who claims to be all knowing and all seeing; (2) When the teacher whose doctrine is traditional and scriptural; (3) When the teacher is a rationalist of pure reason and criticism teaching a doctrine of his own reasoning; and, lastly, (4) When the teacher is stupid and deficient.

Ananda then describes the Buddha’s own teaching, leading up to the four Jhanas. Sandaka and his followers accept the Buddha as their teacher.

Religious labels

It should be clear from the above that the Buddhist attitude to other religions cannot be classified as one of dominance. The attitude would depend on the nature of the religion dealt with. Of course, if we discuss metaphysics and theology, there are differences among all religions. There is no way to get around the differences. It is more beneficial to look at the things that are in common. All the accepted world religions are seeking to improve the situation of humanity and to make life better by teaching people to follow ethical behaviour.

They all teach people not to become totally caught up in the material side of life, but at least to strike a balance between seeking material progress and spiritual progress.

From the Buddhist point of view, religious labels are not the most important aspects for people to be considered religious, but any person leading a respectable and harmless way of life can be regarded as religious. The methods used to introduce the teachings of the Buddha

are rational and reasonable. The Buddha made his appeal through reason and experience. The teachings were presented with clear and impressive simplicity and yet kept free from religious and national narrowness and fanaticism.

They have produced clear and sober-minded people. This method of presentation cleared doubts and removed superstitious beliefs. Thus the teachings of the Buddha enlightened the hearts and minds. The Buddhist attitude of tolerance and understanding convinced many great thinkers, philosophers, rationalists, freethinkers and even agnostics to appreciate Buddhism as a peaceful way of life devoid of fear and superstition.

Example

Often the interaction among religions is at the highest level, where the people are open and do not have prejudices. It is at lower levels that people become insecure and develop a football team mentality: “This is my football team and the other religions are opposing football teams!” With such an attitude, we compete and fight.

Nowadays, there is a growing dialogue, based on mutual respect, between Buddhist masters and leaders of other religions. It is a good sign. On one occasion the Buddha was approached by an extremely wealthy person called Upali. This man was the follower of another religion and he wanted to join the Buddha but was unsure of how to treat his former teachers. The Buddha clearly stated that he was to treat them with the same respect as before and to continue to support them even if he no longer followed them. Throughout his life the Buddha urged people to respect all religious people in spite of the differences of opinion between them`