UNDERSTANDING GITA AND THE SUGGESTED WAY OF BUDDHA

Mahoday,

I have been trying to follow the Hindu religion, including Gita and Ramayan all my life, at least sixty years of knowledge, and have tried to find answers to all the questions being raised but have not been successful, with my limited understanding.

Now somehow I have stumbled upon DHAMMAPADA and am amazed at the accurate way that Buddha told in the minutest of details possible the path for happiness in this life and the next one too. I feel that I have found key to religion, happiness and Nirvana depending on how far I am able to follow the law and the path as told by Buddha. But even following part of it, is helping me a lot and I can see a difference in me.

But it appears to me that Buddha and his teachings were kicked out of Hinduism and he is not considered as one of the Avtar of Bhagwan Krishn or Vishnu and therefore any reference to him is a taboo for Hindus leave aside following his way, path or instructions howevermuch effective they may be. I think this may have happened because there is no ritual, etc. involved which takes away the livelihood of the priests and present day gurus, etc. who keep commenting on Gita and perhaps without going anywhere, again these are only my comments with my limited knowledge and understanding. To sum up, Buddhism is not accepted as part of Hindu religion by the Pandits and Pujaris, gurus, and Hindus at large, thus depriving Hindus from these instructions which bring instant happiness and peace.

I am giving hereunder the URL site and one or two quotes, for whatever, it is worth and if anyone care to read them and comment on them.

http://oaks.nvg.org/lg1ra5.html

Chapter 1 - The Twin-Verses
1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.

6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.

14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.

16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.

18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.

19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion (of the law), but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.