Buddha's Teaching: What is Ultimate Truth - 05 Characteristics of The Dharma.
#dharma #buddhism #truth
We know that more than 400 years after the Buddha's Parinirvana, the Buddhist scriptures were finally recorded in writing. Before that, they existed only in oral form, passed down from one generation to the next by reciters - those who memorized the entire scriptures and were responsible for reciting them to the community. In addition to these reciters, there were also commentators, who specialized in memorizing and teaching about the Buddhist law. This transmission process relied entirely on their memory. By the 1st century BCE, the scriptures were finally written down, and in the long process of oral transmission that lasted for hundreds of years, it was inevitable that errors were recorded due to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and incorrect practices by many generations of Buddhists.

Even during the time of the Buddha's presence in this world, there were those who did not correctly understand his teachings and misinterpreted his message. The Buddha had to call these individuals to him and inquire how they had understood his words to speak of them in such a way. Misunderstandings occurred not only outside the Buddhist community but also within the Buddha's own order. Buddhism is the path of the ultimate truth, distinct from the doctrines and teachings of other faiths and religions around the world. The teachings of Buddhism do not change over time, are not altered by political, historical factors, and notably, the dharma that the Buddha preached is always noble and elevating. Based on these five characteristics, learners and practitioners can compare and contrast what they have been taught and guided to recognize what is the ultimate truth, what is relative, and what may be incorrect to avoid being misled.

Being the ultimate truth, belonging to the reality, the dharma that the Buddha realized and preached always ensures the following five characteristics:

Immediately practical: Here and now, not deferred to the future for its value.
To be realized by oneself: Through personal practice and realization, not merely believing what others say without clear understanding.
Unchanging over time: Always the truth, not dependent on the past, present, or future; meaning it is always correct, without need for correction, adjustment, or updating.
Noble and elevating: Aiding humanity in permanently liberating itself from suffering in a noble and uplifting manner, not just temporarily ending one form of suffering to encounter another.
For the wise to realize by themselves: Once spoken, realization or not is up to each individual, and only they can receive it; no one can do it for them or give it to them.
In summary, Buddhism guides its followers on the importance of maintaining the ideal of truth and the skillfulness in recognizing and practicing the authentic teachings of the Buddha, leading to a life of peace and happiness.