Towards Buddha-Dhamma ❖ วิถีแห่งการเข้าถึงพุทธธรรม

~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~

What is Buddha-dhamma? Before dealing with the Way to Buddha-dhamma, I would like you to know the meaning of this word. Its meanings are various, but at this time I will confine myself to the meaning which has to do with the highest blissful state of mind.

Literally, this word can be translated at the Dhamma of the Buddha. In this case it means the teaching of the Buddha, and as such, it refers to the Pariyatti-dhamma or the learning the Scripturers.

Secondly, it can be translated as the Dhamnia which leads us to attain Enlightenment, that is to say, the way which, when well practised, makes a worldling into a noble one (Ariya)-free from suffering. It is evident that it refers here to the Patipatti- dhamma, or the practice according to the Way.

Yet in a third sense, this word is translated as the nature of the Buddha or ‘Buddhahood’ or the thing which the Buddha attained, that is to say, Nana or wisdom and peace. So in this case it refers to the Patipatti-dhamma, or the attainment that follows practice. Wisdom and peace is the nature of the Buddha. Wisdom, in this case, referring to the supreme knowledge which once attained, resolves all doubts and makes for complete spiritual satisfaction, having thereafter no desire to know any more. Peace means purity plus tranquility.

The last translation, that is, the thing which the Buddha attained or found needs a detailed explanation. It is only then that we can understand it fully. If we want to explain it in a most concise way we can say that it means a state of complete freedom or that of eternal happiness. It is this meaning or sense of the word Buddha-dhamma that I am going to deal with. So when I speak of the way to ‘Buddha-dhamma’, you should bear in your mind that by Buddha-dhamma I mean here the thing which Siddhattha Gotama found or attained and so became a Buddha.

Why do we speak of the last meaning?

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Towards Buddha-Dhamma

translated from the Thai by Nagasena Bhikkhu

Second published in 2002 by Dhammadana Foundation

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