Uniqueness in Buddhism หนึ่งเดียวในพุทธศาสนา
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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.
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