IT IS..............WASTE IT 501
Today in India there is no religion without the worship of idols, Sadhu and Saint and miracle-maker. Our religion today has neither God nor morality. I have no doubt that this is a very degraded state of human mind and it is a task for the future generations to restore religion to its purer and nobler form.
In the meantime, we must take note of the facts such as they exist. We have not only gone the wrong way in the matter of religion but it has become a profession to collect money in the name of religion and waste it on purposes for which there can be no social justification. There is so much poverty and misery in the world that it is criminal to collect money in the name of religion and waste it on feeding Brahmins and other pilgrims.
The Buddha had well considered this question. In his moral code, the Buddha preached the Pancha Shila, the Ashtanga Marga and Nibbana. But in addition, he taught his followers to cultivate ten virtues—(1) प्रज्ञा (Pradnya), (2) शीला (Sheela), (3) नेखम्म (Nekhamma), (4) दान (Dana), (5) वीर्य (Veerya).
(6) खन्ति (Khanti) (7) सच्च (Sachha), (8) अधित्थान (Adhitthan),
(9) मैत्री (Maitri), and (10) उपेक्खा (Upekkha). Pradnya is wisdom, the light that removes the darkness of Avidya, Moha is Neo-science, Sheela is moral temperament, the disposition not to do evil and the disposition to be good. Nekhamma is renunciation of the pleasures of the world. Dana means the giving of one’s own possession—blood and limb, and even life-without expecting anything in return. Veerya is right endeavour which is doing with all your might whatever you have undertaken to do, with never a thought of turning back. Khanti is forbearance, not to meet hatred with hatred. Sachcha is truth ; a person must never tell a lie; what he says must be truth and nothing but truth. Adhitthan is resolute determination to reach the goal. Maitri is extending fellowfeeling to all beings, not only to one who is a friend but also to one who is a foe, not only to men but to all beings. Upekkha is detachment as distinguished from indifference, is a state of mind where there is neither like nor dislike, remaining unmoved by the results and yet engaged in the pursuit. The Buddha insisted that these virtues must be practised by every individual to the highest extent possible. That is why they, are called in the Pali literature— Paramitas.