Uniqueness in Buddhism หนึ่งเดียวในพุทธศาสนา

                         by Suthep Chaviwan/Feb. 24. 22

 The illustrating diagram shows Elders SONA and Uttara, the first two Buddhist missionaries to Thailand or known as Suvarnabhumi (around the third century)

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Before Buddha left the world of endless suffering at Kushinagar, Malla Republic (according to the Buddhist tradition) he told his disciple to let the Dharma and the discipline that "I have taught you to be your teacher. "All individual things pass away, strive on, untiringly".

 

Buddha's farewell saying is what he had prepared to leave the earth forever and he would never be reborn, never die again, and he understands the nature of suffering.

 

Buddha had attained enlightenment, he shared what he had learned, and left a path for others to follow, and before he would enter Nirvana, he said that "I am old, worn-out like a dilapidated cart held together with thin straps."

After he had entered Nirvana, his disciples had strived to bring his teachings to preach, not only in India but all over the world.

 

Today, Buddhism had divided into three main denominations; Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. However, all of them are attached to Buddha Teachings.

 

If Buddha (Buddhism) is compared with a Bodhi Tree, the three denominations are like his branches and roots attached to the Bodhi tree. Some 80 sub-branches of Buddhism, such as Zen Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism are also with the main Bodhi tree.

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We can compare this with Christianity which has three main branches, Catholic, Protestant, and Greek Orthodox, and over 500 sub-denominations in Christianity. However, all of them are with Jesus Christ.

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Buddhism is introduced to Thailand, known at the ancient time as Suvarnabhumi at least three times before it is well-established.

 

The first introduction was made by two Indian Buddhist monks, Elders SONA and Uttara (around the third century) but not firmly established.

 

The second time was by King Anuruddha of Burma in 1057 A.D. (Mainly in North Thailand) while the third introduction was made by Hahasami Sangkharaja of Sri Lanka, in the 12th Century in the Sukhothai period. We call this time the Buddhism of the Langkawong Line.

At present, there are over 30,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand with over 300,000 monks are living.

Suthep Chaviwan/Feb. 24. 22