What
is the Way
There was once a Brahman elder with five hundred followers. He was a pompous character who despised everyone, and he had the habit of guarding his chest with an iron sheet. When asked the reason for this, he said:" I am afraid my brilliance and ability would escape."
One day, he heard that the Buddha was propagating with great success, earning support and respect from the public everywhere he went. Unable to suppress his jealousy, he went to the Vihara with his followers to challenge the Buddha:" Buddha! May I ask what is the 'Way'? What is wisdom? What is 'an elder'? What is 'proper and decent'? What is a 'Sramana'? What is a 'Bikshu'? What is the 'kindling of kindness'? What is 'having the Way'? What is 'observing the precepts'? If you can answer all of these, I shall become your follower."
Although the Buddha knew that the Brahman had come with insincere intentions, he still answered him with courtesy and gentleness:
"1. Those who work hard to learn, are righteous and pure in body and mind, and who always aspire to ultimate wisdom can be considered to be on the Buddhist 'Way'.
2. Those who possess 'wisdom' would not display their eloquence, have no fear or aversion, and are determined to follow the good.
3. One qualifies as an 'elder' not for his age but for his kindliness and thorough perception of the truth.
4. ' Proper and decent' does not refer to physical beauty but to the departure from greed, anger and delusion.
5. A 'Sramana' does not only have his head shaved, but should practise the good, refrain from the bad,extinguish his desires and resolve to propagate the Dharma.
6. One is not called a 'Bikshu' just because he begs for food. He has to maintain pure practice to open up his wisdom and demolish evil.
7. 'Kindling of kindness' means total honesty and sincerity in doing what one believes would help to attain tranquility and peace of mind.
8. To 'have the Way' is to deliver all sentient beings without discrimination.
9. 'Observing the precepts' does not involve a lot of talking. Only those who can practise what they have learnt without fail are observing the precepts."
The Brahman and his followers had their arrogance extinguished after having heard this discourse, and kept their promise of paying homage to the Buddha and becoming his followers.
[ From the Buddha's answers, we know that it is very important to act in accordance with the Dharma, and practically abide in the precepts.]
