Critics of His Doctrines. - Page 530

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CRITICS OF HIS DOCTRINES

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being pressed, beset and bound are all woes for the worldly wanton.

22.“ Woeful in the world is poverty and debt.”

23. Thus the Buddha’s conception of Dukkha is material.

(2)

Impermanence as the Cause of Gloom

1. Another ground for this accusation arises from the doctrine that everything which is compound is impermanent.

2. Nobody questions the truth of the doctrine.

3. Everything is impermanent is admitted by all.

4. The doctrine, if it is true, must be told just as truth must be told however unpleasant it may be.

5. But why draw a pessimistic conclusion?

6. If life is short it is short and one need not be gloomy about it.

7. It is just a matter of interpretation.

8. The Burmese interpretation is very much different.

9. The Burmese celebrate the event of death in a family as though it was an event of joy.

10. On the day of death the householder gives a public feast and the people remove the dead body to the graveyard dancing. Nobody minds the death for it was to come.

11. If impermanence is pessimistic it is only because permanence was assumed to be true although it was a false one.

12. Buddha’s preaching cannot, therefore, be charged as spreading gloom.

(3)

Is Buddhism Pessimistic ?

1. The Buddha’s Dhamma has been accused of creating pessimism.

2. The accusation arises from the first Aryan Truth which says that there is Dukkha (sorrow-misery) in the world.

VI