Below is the conclusion in the article breastled "What Is Buddhism?", the Buddhist Society of Western Australia.
------------------------------------------------------ Buddhism's relevance to the world today
Today, Buddhism continues to gain ever wider acceptance in many lands far beyond its original home. Here in Australia, many Australians through their own careful choice are adopting Buddhism's peaceful, compbuttionate and responsible ways.
The Buddhist Teaching of the Law of Kamma offers our society a just and incorruptible foundation and reason for the practice of a moral life. It is easy to see how a wider embracing of the Law of Kamma would lead any country towards a stronger, more caring and virtuous society.
The Teaching of Rebirth places this present short lifetime of ours in a broader perspective, giving more meaning to the vital events of birth and rest. The understanding of Rebirth removes so much of the tragedy and grief surrounding rest and turns one's attention to the quality of a lifetime, rather than its mere length.
very heart of the Buddhist Way. Today, meditation grows increasingly popular as the proven benefits to both mental and physical well being become more widely known. When stress is shown to be such a major cause of human suffering, the quieting practice of meditation becomes ever more valued.
Today's world is too small and vulnerable to live angry and alone, thus the need for tolerance, love and compbuttion is so very important. These qualities of mind, essential for happiness are formally developed in Buddhist meditation and then diligently put into practice in everyday life.
Forgiveness and gentle tolerance, harmlessness and peaceful compbuttion are well known trademarks of Buddhism, they are given freely and broadly to all kinds of beings, including animals of course, and also, most importantly, to oneself. There is no place for dwelling in guilt or self-hatred in Buddhism, not even a place for feeling guilty about feeling guilty!
Teachings and practices such as these are what bring about qualities of gentle kindness and unshakeable serenity, identified with the Buddhist religion for 25 centuries and sorely needed in today's world. In all its long history, no war has ever been fought in the name of Buddhism. It is this peace and this tolerance, growing out of a profound yet reasonable philosophy, which makes Buddhism so vitally relevant to today's world.
----------------------The End ------------------- PS 1: Above is one of my many postings in the series of "Engaging Buddhism to benefit all living beings, and contributing to educating Buddhists." I hope you find useful knowledge and beneficial insight from reading the above posting. To truly benefit from Buddhism, one has to practice. I hope you find happiness and wisdom from Buddhism.
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May all beings have happiness and create the causes of happiness. May they all be free from suffering and from creating the causes of suffering. May they find that noble happiness that can never be tainted by suffering. May they attain universal, impartial compbuttion, beyond worldly bias towards friends and enemies.
PS 2: I have compiled a page of useful Buddhist links to share with you. It is available at:
Sincerely,
Binh
