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BHIKKU SANGHA Buddha and future of his religion- A *THREAD* -
Ref: Volume 17/2 BAWS
There is a world’s difference between Hindu Sannyasi and Buddhist Bhikkhu. A Hindu Sanyasi has nothing to do with the world. He is dead in the world. Bhikkhu has everything to do with the world.
That being so the question arises, what was the purpose for which Buddha thought of establishing Bhikkhu Sangha? What was the necessity? for creating a separate society of Bhikkhus?
One purpose was to set up a society which would live up to the Buddhist ideas embodied in the principles of Buddhism and serve as a model to the laymen. Buddha knew that it was not possible. for a common man to realize the Buddhist ideal.
But he I also wanted the common man to know what the ideal was and also wanted there to be placed before the common man, a society of men who were bound to practise his ideals. That is why he created Bhikkhu Sangha and bound it down by the rules of Vinaya.
But there were other purposes which he had in his mind when he thought of founding Sangha. One such purpose was to create a body. of intellectuals to give the laymen true and impartial guidance. That is the reason why he prohibited Bhikkhus from owning property.
Ownership of property is one of the greatest obstacles in free thinking and application of free thought. The other purpose of Buddha was to founding the Bhikkhu Sangha was to create a society where the members of which would be free to do service to the people.
Is the Bhikkhu Sangha of today living up to these ideals ?
The answer is emphatically negative. It's neither guides the people nor does it serve them. The Bhikkhu Sangha in its present condition can therefore be of no use for the spread of Buddhism. In the first place There are too many Bhikkhus.
Of these, a very large majority are merely Sadhus and Sanyasis spending their time meditation or idleness. There is neither learning nor service. When the idea of service to suffering humanity comes to one’s mind, everyone thinks of the Ramakrishna Mission.
No one thinks of Buddhist Sangha. Who should regard service as its pious duty, the Sangha or the Mission? There can be no doubt about the answer. Yet Sangha is huge. army of idlers. We want fewer Bhikkhus and we want Bhikkhus.
highly educated, Bhikkhu Sangha must borrow some of the features of the Christian priesthood, particularly the Jesuists. Christianity has spread in Asia through service education. and medicine. This is possible because of the Christian priest.
is not merely versed in religious lore but because he is also versed in Arts and Science. This was really the ideal of the Bhikkhus of olden times. As is well known, the Universities Nalanda and Taxila were run and manned by Bhikkhus.
Evidently they must have been very learned men and knew that social service was essential for the propagation of their faith. The Bhikkhus of today must return to the old ideal. .
The Sangha as is composed cannot render this service to the laity and cannot therefore attract people to itself. Without a Mission Buddhism can hardly spread. As education requires to be given, religion requires to be propagated.
Propagation cannot be undertaken without men and money. Who can supply these? Obviously, the countries where Buddhism is a living religion. It is in these countries which must find the men and money at least in its initial stages. Will these?
There does not seem to be much enthusiasm in these countries for the spread of Buddhism. On the other hand, time seems quite propitious for the spread of Buddhism. There was a time when religion was part of one’s own inheritance.
At one time, a boy or a girl inherited the religion of his or her parents along with the property of the parent. There was no question of examining the merit and virtues of religion. Sometimes the heir asked a question, whether The property left by the parents was worth taking.
But no heir was there to question whether the religion of his or her parents were worth having. Time seems to have changed. Many People throughout the world have exhibited unprecedented piece of courage with regard to inheritance of their religion.
Many have, as a result of the influence of scientific enquiry, come to the conclusion that religion is an error, which ought to be given up. There are others who, as a result of Marxian teaching, has come to the conclusion that religion is opium.
Which induces the poor people to submit to the domination of the rich and should be discarded. Whatever are the causes, the fact remains, that people have developed an inquiring mind, in respect of religion.
And the question of whether religion is at all worth having and if so which religion is worth having, are questions which are uppermost in the minds of those Who dare to think about this subject? Time has come, what is wanted is will.
If the countries which are Buddhist can develop the will to spread Buddhism, the task of spreading Buddhism will not be difficult. They must realize that the The duty of a Buddhist is not merely to be a good Buddhist, his duty is to spread Buddhism.
They must believe that to spread Buddhism is to serve mankind.
