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WHAT IS SADDHAMMA ?
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him the importance of saving his soul is the commonest answer one gets to this question.
Most religions speak of three kingdoms.
One is called the kingdom of heaven. The second is called the kingdom of earth and the third is called the kingdom of hell.
This kingdom of heaven is said to be ruled by God. The kingdom of hell is described to be a place where the supremacy of the Evil One is undisputed. The kingdom of earth is a disputed field. It is not under the dominance of the Evil One. At the same time God’s sovereignty does not extend to it. It is hoped that one day it will.
In some religions the kingdom of heaven is said to be a kingdom in which Righteousness prevails no doubt because it is directly ruled by God.
In other religions the kingdom of heaven is not on earth. It is another name for heaven. It can be reached by one who believes in God and his Prophet. When he reaches heaven all the carnal pleasures of life are placed within the reach of all those who are faithful.
All religions preach that to reach this kingdom of heaven should be the aim of man and how to reach it is the end of all.
To the question “What is the purpose of religion?” the Buddha’s answer is very different.
He did not tell people that their aim in life should be to reach some imaginary heaven. The kingdom of righteousness lies on earth and is to be reached by man by righteous conduct.
What he did was to tell people that to remove their misery each one must learn to be righteous in his conduct in relation to others and thereby make the earth the kingdom of righteousness.
It is this which distinguishes his religion from all other religions.
His religion emphasizes Panch Sila, the Ashtanga Marga and the Paramitas.
Why did the Buddha make them the basis
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