[anconueys]

Hello friends,
This is only my second post, after joining the group last week. First of all, thank you very much for the warm welcome.

Was Buddha a Saviour? If not what is the reason of following him? is a common question asked by followers of other faiths. I found this explanation recently and I would like to open it for the discussion.

When Lord Buddha was residing in Savasthi, a young man regularly visited Buddha, but he couldn’t put the teaching in to practice. One day he asked a question as follows.

He said he had been coming to listen to Buddha for many years, he observed that some devotees already liberated (attained Nibbana), some attained various levels of spiritual development in their minds and some of them like himself couldn’t attain anything. People come to Buddha because Buddha was fully enlighten, wise and compassionate. The man asked “why do not use your powers to liberate others, especially who couldn’t attain any spiritual development”

Then Buddha asked the young man from which city he came from. He said he is from Rajagaha (name of a city in India), but he had been living in Savasthi (name of a city in India) for log time. The Buddha then questioned if he was familiar with the road between Savasthi and Rajagaha. Youth replied that he knew it very well and he could go blindfold. Then Buddha asked if others who don’t know the road asked, if he would help them when they did. The young man said, many had asked the question, having nothing to hide, he had given the detailed direction. Then Buddha asked ‘to whom you give detailed direction, do they all reach Rajagaha’? Man said ‘Not all of them, it was only the people who have the effort to travel the entire path who reach Rajagaha’

Then Buddha explained, situation was same with Buddha and his followers. “Because I have nothing to hide I explain the path in detail. They listen to me carefully but do not walk the path all along. At most love and compassion I can show you the path to liberation. I cannot carry any one on my shoulders, No body can. Each step you take brings you closer to your destination. But, remember you have to take the effort. He who has taken hundred steps is a hundred steps closer to the goal. The compassionate Buddhas show you the path. You have to exert yourself and walk the path”

In my opinion, this is a complete and profound explanation to the above question. No body is going to ‘save’ or ‘purify’ us. We, as human beings are responsible for all our actions and we will have to face the consequences. Lord Buddha is only a teacher and he has already explained the path in detail. Walking along the path is solely our responsibility. We should exert our effort to walk at least one foot step within this life time. Otherwise there is not point of becoming a Buddhist.
Your views are highly appreciated.

With metta.
Jayam.
Sources: www.buddhanet.net