Changes

94:8.1 To become a [[Buddhist]], one merely made [[public]] profession of the [[faith]] by reciting the Refuge: "I take my refuge in the Buddha; I take my refuge in the Doctrine; I take my refuge in the Brotherhood."

94:8.1 To become a [[Buddhist]], one merely made [[public]] profession of the [[faith]] by reciting the Refuge: "I take my refuge in the Buddha; I take my refuge in the Doctrine; I take my refuge in the Brotherhood."

94:8.2 [[Buddhism]] took [[origin]] in a historic [[person]], not in a [[myth]]. [[Gautama]]'s followers called him [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasta Sasta], meaning master or teacher. While he made no [[superhuman]] claims for either himself or his teachings, his [[disciples]] early began to call him the [[enlightened]] one, the Buddha; later on, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyamuni Sakyamuni Buddha].

94:8.2 [[Buddhism]] took [[origin]] in a historic [[person]], not in a [[myth]]. [[Gautama]]'s followers called him [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasta Sasta], meaning master or teacher. While he made no [[superhuman]] claims for either himself or his teachings, his [[disciples]] early began to call him the [[enlightened]] one, the Buddha; later on, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyamuni Sakyamuni Buddha].

94:8.3 The [[original]] [[gospel]] of [[Gautama]] was based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_noble_truths four noble truths]:

94:8.3 The [[original]] [[gospel]] of [[Gautama]] was based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_noble_truths four noble truths]:

*1. ''The noble truths of suffering''.

*1. ''The noble truths of suffering''.

*4. ''The way to the destruction of suffering''.

*4. ''The way to the destruction of suffering''.

94:8.4 Closely linked to the [[doctrine]] of [[suffering]] and the [[escape]] therefrom was the philosophy of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eightfold_Path Eightfold Path]: right views, [[aspirations]], [[speech]], [[conduct]], livelihood, [[effort]], mindfulness, and [[contemplation]]. It was not Gautama's [[intention]] to attempt to destroy all [[effort]], [[desire]], and [[affection]] in the [[escape]] from [[suffering]]; rather was his teaching designed to picture to [[mortal]] man the futility of pinning all [[hope]] and [[aspirations]] entirely on [[temporal]] goals and [[material]] objectives. It was not so much that [[love]] of one's fellows should be shunned as that the true believer should also look beyond the [[associations]] of this [[material]] world to the [[realities]] of the [[eternal]] [[future]].

94:8.4 Closely linked to the [[doctrine]] of [[suffering]] and the [[escape]] therefrom was the philosophy of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eightfold_Path Eightfold Path]: right views, [[aspirations]], [[speech]], [[conduct]], livelihood, [[effort]], mindfulness, and [[contemplation]]. It was not Gautama's [[intention]] to attempt to destroy all [[effort]], [[desire]], and [[affection]] in the [[escape]] from [[suffering]]; rather was his teaching designed to picture to [[mortal]] man the futility of pinning all [[hope]] and [[aspirations]] entirely on [[temporal]] goals and [[material]] objectives. It was not so much that [[love]] of one's fellows should be shunned as that the true believer should also look beyond the [[associations]] of this [[material]] world to the [[realities]] of the [[eternal]] [[future]].

94:8.5 The [[moral]] commandments of [[Gautama]]'s preachment were five in number:

94:8.5 The [[moral]] commandments of [[Gautama]]'s preachment were five in number:

94:8.11 There were several additional or secondary commandments, whose [[observance]] was [[optional]] with believers.

94:8.11 There were several additional or secondary commandments, whose [[observance]] was [[optional]] with believers.

94:8.12 [[Siddhartha]] hardly believed in the [[immortality]] of the [[human]] [[personality]]; his [[philosophy]] only provided for a sort of [[functional]] [[continuity]]. He never clearly defined what he meant to include in the [[doctrine]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana Nirvana]. The [[fact]] that it could [[theoretically]] be experienced during [[mortal]] [[existence]] would indicate that it was not viewed as a [[state]] of complete [[annihilation]]. It implied a condition of [[supreme]] [[enlightenment]] and [[supernal]] bliss wherein all fetters binding man to the [[material]] world had been broken; there was [[freedom]] from the [[desires]] of [[mortal]] life and deliverance from all [[danger]] of ever again experiencing [[incarnation]].

94:8.12 [[Siddhartha]] hardly believed in the [[immortality]] of the [[human]] [[personality]]; his [[philosophy]] only provided for a sort of [[functional]] [[continuity]]. He never clearly defined what he meant to include in the [[doctrine]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana Nirvana]. The [[fact]] that it could [[theoretically]] be experienced during [[mortal]] [[existence]] would indicate that it was not viewed as a [[state]] of complete [[annihilation]]. It implied a condition of [[supreme]] [[enlightenment]] and [[supernal]] bliss wherein all fetters binding man to the [[material]] world had been broken; there was [[freedom]] from the [[desires]] of [[mortal]] life and deliverance from all [[danger]] of ever again experiencing [[incarnation]].

94:8.13 According to the [[original]] teachings of [[Gautama]], [[salvation]] is achieved by [[human]] [[effort]], apart from [[divine]] help; there is no place for saving [[faith]] or [[prayers]] to [[superhuman]] powers. [[Gautama]], in his attempt to minimize the [[superstitions]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_india#Early_historic_period India], endeavored to turn men away from the blatant claims of [[magical]] [[salvation]]. And in making this [[effort]], he left the door wide open for his successors to misinterpret his teaching and to proclaim that all [[human]] striving for [[attainment]] is distasteful and painful. His followers overlooked the [[fact]] that the highest [[happiness]] is linked with the [[intelligent]] and [[enthusiastic]] pursuit of worthy goals, and that such [[achievements]] constitute true [[progress]] in [[cosmic]] [[self-realization]].

94:8.13 According to the [[original]] teachings of [[Gautama]], [[salvation]] is achieved by [[human]] [[effort]], apart from [[divine]] help; there is no place for saving [[faith]] or [[prayers]] to [[superhuman]] powers. [[Gautama]], in his attempt to minimize the [[superstitions]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_india#Early_historic_period India], endeavored to turn men away from the blatant claims of [[magical]] [[salvation]]. And in making this [[effort]], he left the door wide open for his successors to misinterpret his teaching and to proclaim that all [[human]] striving for [[attainment]] is distasteful and painful. His followers overlooked the [[fact]] that the highest [[happiness]] is linked with the [[intelligent]] and [[enthusiastic]] pursuit of worthy goals, and that such [[achievements]] constitute true [[progress]] in [[cosmic]] [[self-realization]].

94:8.14 The great [[truth]] of [[Siddhartha]]'s teaching was his [[proclamation]] of a [[universe]] of absolute [[justice]]. He taught the best [[Atheism|godless]] [[philosophy]] ever [[invented]] by [[mortal]] man; it was the [[ideal]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism humanism] and most effectively removed all grounds for [[superstition]], [[magical]] [[rituals]], and [[fear]] of [[ghosts]] or [[demons]].

94:8.14 The great [[truth]] of [[Siddhartha]]'s teaching was his [[proclamation]] of a [[universe]] of absolute [[justice]]. He taught the best [[Atheism|godless]] [[philosophy]] ever [[invented]] by [[mortal]] man; it was the [[ideal]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism humanism] and most effectively removed all grounds for [[superstition]], [[magical]] [[rituals]], and [[fear]] of [[ghosts]] or [[demons]].

94:8.15 The great weakness in the [[original]] [[gospel]] of [[Buddhism]] was that it did not produce a [[religion]] of unselfish [[social]] [[service]]. The Buddhistic brotherhood was, for a long time, not a fraternity of believers but rather a [[community]] of student teachers. Gautama forbade their receiving [[money]] and thereby sought to prevent the [[growth]] of [[hierarchal]] tendencies. Gautama himself was highly [[social]]; indeed, his life was much greater than his preachment.

94:8.15 The great weakness in the [[original]] [[gospel]] of [[Buddhism]] was that it did not produce a [[religion]] of unselfish [[social]] [[service]]. The Buddhistic brotherhood was, for a long time, not a fraternity of believers but rather a [[community]] of student teachers. Gautama forbade their receiving [[money]] and thereby sought to prevent the [[growth]] of [[hierarchal]] tendencies. Gautama himself was highly [[social]]; indeed, his life was much greater than his preachment.