Buddham Sharanam Gacchami
Dhammam Sharanam Gacchami
Sangham Sharanam Gacchami
The Three Jewels (Triratna) illuminate the path of Buddha’s Dhamma, radiating wisdom, ethics, compassion, harmony, serenity, and boundless love.
The Buddha is not merely an individual but represents true wisdom. The Dhamma is not a religion but a philosophy of righteous thinking, and the Sangha is not just a community of people but a group of those who have freed themselves from all worldly attachments and have renounced their flaws to follow the path of morality, compassion, friendship, and peace.
These Three Jewels do not involve miracles, divine incarnations, or blessings from any higher power; rather, they guide each individual to awaken their wisdom through righteous effort and exercise their discerning intelligence in living life.
Buddhism: A Science-Based Philosophy
In the true sense, the Dhamma of Lord Buddha is based on science.
This is why he is recognise as the first scientist in the world.
Buddha emphasised the independent existence and free-thinking of humans. He believed that if a person is rational and independent in their thought process, they will seek human or natural causes behind every event.
Sometimes, the probable cause of an event may not be immediately apparent; however, an intelligent person will try to investigate its root and eventually uncover the cause. Even if an event seems to have occurred suddenly, it is always related to some previous occurrence or cause. This chain of events is known as cause and effect.
Adhamma (Unrighteousness): The Rejection of Superstition
Lord Buddha described belief in gods, fate, destiny, soul, and supreme beings as Adhamma (unrighteousness). He valued human intellect and free thought, which can only exist when the mind is free from imposed beliefs, faith, or fear. If a mind is already bound by a belief, it will not examine things critically.
For a person to truly have an independent mind, they must not be bound by religious dogma. If someone is already deeply rooted in faith and superstition, they will not critically analyze events or seek logical explanations.
This is why Buddha sought to dismantle superstitions and had three key objectives:
1. To make people rational thinkers.
2. To prepare individuals to search for the truth independently.
3. To eradicate illusions (such as destiny, gods, soul, and supreme beings) that hinder humanity’s natural tendency for inquiry, or that suppress human curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.
This principle is called Kamma-Siddhanta (the Doctrine of Karma) or Hetuvad (the Doctrine of Causality). It is the fundamental principle of Buddhism, teaching rationality and scientific thinking.
Buddhism is inseparable from rationalism; it is based on scientific reasoning and logical analysis.
Buddha’s Dhamma is inseparable from reason and logic. It is not based on blind faith but on scientific skepticism and empirical validation. Buddhism teaches that truth must be tested and experienced rather than accepted unquestioningly.
His philosophy promotes intellectual liberation and encourages individuals to seek knowledge, challenge superstitions, and understand the world through logic and rational thought. In this sense, Buddhism is not just a spiritual path but a scientific and philosophical guide to understanding reality.
Faith in God is Not Essential to Dhamma
While rejecting belief in miracles and divine worship as Adhamma, Buddha also clarified that belief in God is not an essential part of Dhamma.
In The Buddha and His Dhamma, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar documented the Tathagata’s (Buddha's) dialogue on this subject.
Buddha asked a fundamental question: Who created this world?
The common answer was, “God created it.” According to Brahminical traditions, this God is called Prajapati, Brahma, or Mahabrahma. However, there is no answer to the question of how this God came into existence. It is merely claimed that he is omnipotent, possesses moral virtues, is just and merciful.
Buddha posed another question: Has anyone seen God?
The answer was no, nobody had ever seen God. People only spoke about Him, but He remained unknown and invisible. Buddha asserted that there was no evidence that God created this world. Instead, the world evolved over time.
He concluded that a religion based on God is a speculative religion that fosters illusions.
This perspective is also reflected in Buddha’s discussion with the Brahmins Vasettha and Bharadvaja, who argued about the path to liberation. When Vasettha claimed that different Brahmins preached different paths to attaining union with Brahma, Buddha asked him whether any of these Brahmins had ever seen Brahma.
Buddha challenged them:"Among all the Brahmins who claim to know the path to Brahma, has even one of them ever seen Brahma? Has any of their teachers seen Brahma?"
The answer was no—none had ever witnessed Brahma.
Buddha then remarked:"Faith in God is like a chain of blind men, each holding onto the next, believing they are on the right path. It is like falling in love with a woman one has never seen."
For Buddha, discussing the existence of God was fruitless because true religion is not about one’s relationship with a deity but about human-to-human relationships. The goal of religion should be human well-being and happiness.
Buddha’s philosophy was rooted in rational inquiry rather than blind faith. He taught that morality, wisdom, and compassion—not belief in a divine power—should be the foundation of human life.
Why Buddha Opposed Rituals and Blind Faith
One of the key reasons why Buddha rejected faith in God was his opposition to religious rituals. According to him, rituals are nothing but a breeding ground for illusions. These illusions directly contradict Samyak Drishti (Right View), a fundamental principle of the Noble Eightfold Path.
In Buddha’s perspective, belief in God is dangerous because it leads to prayers and rituals, which in turn create a class of priests who exploit people’s fears and ignorance. He called such priests wicked-minded, as they thrive by promoting superstitions that prevent people from developing a rational and investigative mindset.
Priests, according to Buddha, were responsible for fostering superstitions and preventing the development of rational thought.
Buddha stated that truth must always be supported by evidence (Pramana), which comes in two forms:
Direct Experience (Pratyaksha) – What can be seen, observed, or verified firsthand.
Logical Inference (Anumana) – What can be deduced through reasoning.
Since neither God nor Brahma can be proven by direct experience or logical reasoning, Buddha completely rejected their existence.
God as the Root of Superstitions
Buddha believed that faith in God does not encourage inquiry; instead, it kills curiosity and discourages people from seeking truth independently. He saw this as a great danger to human progress.
Thus, his third major objective was to eradicate all illusions that suppress human curiosity and prevent the search for truth. Through multiple debates, including his conversations with Vasettha and Bharadvaja, Buddha disproved the concept of a creator God. His goal was not just to reject blind faith but to establish a foundation for rational and scientific thought.
Buddha’s Teachings Through Logical Examples
Buddha’s teachings and consolations were always based on scientific reasoning and real-world truth, not divine promises. One of the most striking examples of his practical wisdom is the story of Kisagotami.
Kisagotami was the daughter-in-law of a wealthy merchant in Shravasti. Her young son died of a snake bite while playing. Unable to accept his death, she wandered from house to house, seeking someone who could revive him. A wise elder advised her to visit Buddha.
When she approached him with her dead son, Buddha calmly listened to her plea and then gave her a task:
"Go into the town and bring me a mustard seed from a household that has never experienced death."
Believing this to be an easy request, she eagerly set out. However, as she visited each house, she realized that every family had suffered loss. No home was untouched by death. Finally, she returned to Buddha empty-handed, but with a deep understanding of life’s impermanence.
Buddha explained:"Death is an inevitable part of life. Just as seasons change, life and death are part of the natural order. If suffering from loss is inevitable, why grieve over what is universal?"
Realizing this truth, Kisagotami let go of her sorrow, performed the last rites for her son, and embraced the Dhamma.
This story highlights Buddha’s scientific approach—instead of offering divine solutions, he led Kisagotami to discover the truth herself. He did not give her false hope, nor did he claim miracles. Instead, he guided her towards wisdom through direct experience, proving that his philosophy was rooted in rationalism, not blind faith.
Buddha was neither a mystical figure nor a religious preacher. He was a realist who understood life’s truths and helped others see them through logic and reason.
Thus, whether it was debunking the concept of God in his debates with Vasettha and Bharadvaja or helping Kisagotami accept reality, Buddha’s method was always scientific, rational, and rooted in experience. This is why his teachings remain timeless and relevant even in today’s world.
The Science of Buddha: The Middle Path and Eightfold Path
While acknowledging that suffering exists in life, Buddha did not lead people toward pessimism. Instead, he identified ignorance as the root cause of suffering and taught that one could attain true happiness by overcoming this ignorance through wisdom.
To achieve this, Buddha introduced the Noble Eightfold Path (Ashtang Marg), also known as the Middle Path, which provides a practical approach to living a peaceful and fulfilling life.
This path is not forced upon anyone; instead, Buddha invited people to explore it for themselves through his famous verse:
Ehi Passiko, Opanayiko, Paccattam Veditabbo Vihññuhi
Come and see for yourself, experience and understand personally
Like scientific experiments that lead to conclusions based on evidence, Buddha’s teachings guide individuals to validate their effectiveness through personal practice.
If a child chooses the correct path, it does not necessarily mean that they understand its righteousness. To walk the right path, one must have proper knowledge of it. Buddha explained this concept to Ananda by defining a true Bhikkhu (monk): One who has mastered the knowledge of what is possible and what is impossible is a true monk.
This highlights that Right View enables a person to distinguish between right and wrong, developing their rational thinking. With this analytical approach, an individual progresses toward ethical living, which is the essence of scientific living in Buddhism.
Lord Buddha placed the utmost importance on Samyak Drishti (Right View), which is the key to a meaningful life. Lack of Right View leads to immoral actions and suffering, whereas having it fosters wisdom and ethical behavior. He taught that people must develop an investigative mindset and embrace a rational, evidence-based approach to life.
The Decline of Rational Thinking in Modern Times
In the 21st century, despite advancements in science and technology, irrational beliefs still persist. While technology has significantly impacted our lives, even highly educated individuals sometimes make foolish statements that contradict scientific reasoning.
This suggests that people have ignored or deliberately overlooked Buddha’s rational rejection of God, which he had systematically disproven through logic and empirical reasoning.
Such superstitions continue to sustain the priestly class in India, a group Buddha referred to as wicked-minded priests who mislead society. Even today, such individuals thrive, promoting blind faith over logic.
For example, Lakshmidhar Behera, the Director of IIT Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), made a bizarre claim that landslides occur because people consume meat. He even stated that he had expelled a ghost from a friend’s house.
Similarly, an IIT graduate-turned-Baba recently emerged at the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, preaching spirituality while allegedly being intoxicated. His own brother later exposed his fraudulent practices.
Additionally, Naga Sadhus and many women participate in ritualistic bathing at the Kumbh Mela, believing it cleanses their past sins. This recalls a significant lesson taught by Buddha to merchants (Shreshthis) in his time. When they told Buddha they were going for a ritual bath in the sacred rivers to wash away their sins, he handed them a neem twig and asked them to bathe it as well. After their return, Buddha asked them to chew the twig.
Despite being washed multiple times, the neem remained bitter. Buddha then explained:
"Just as bathing does not remove the bitterness of neem, it cannot cleanse one's misdeeds. True purification comes from inner transformation, moral conduct, and righteous actions."
Buddha always used logic, experiments, and reasoning to explain his principles. This scientific approach is evident even today among Buddhist scholars and rational thinkers worldwide, setting them apart from superstitious believers.
Buddha’s teachings offer a path grounded in ethics and wisdom. Those seeking true self-improvement must embrace this scientific and moral way of life. His philosophy, which stands against blind faith and superstition, remains relevant and essential for the intellectual and ethical progress of humanity.
Buddha’s Dhamma: A Scientific Way of Life
Buddha’s teachings do not demand blind faith but encourage critical inquiry and experiential understanding. By practicing the Eightfold Path, individuals can evaluate its effectiveness and experience its transformative power firsthand.
In essence, Buddha’s Dhamma is not just a philosophy but a science of living, providing a rational and structured way to achieve true peace, wisdom, and happiness.