Theravada Buddhism on the ultimate goal of life: a critical study
Introduction About six hundred twenty-three years B.C., Siddhattha Gotama, who became the Buddha and the founder of Buddhism later on, came out of the soil of ancient India. After attaining Enlightenment he worked hard at delivering the priceless discourses till the end of his life. He went around teaching Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma to all men. These three are called Tipitaka in Buddhism. Vinaya forms the principles, laws, and disciplines for monastic life, as also for layman life. Sutta structures the guiding light for daily practice and Abhidhamma contains Buddhist philosophy and psychology. To prevent our sorrow and misery and to attain peace, happiness and tranquility, he expounded the dhamma with practical and theoretical ways. The Buddha and his Buddhism accredited all his realization, attainment and achievement to human endeavor and human intelligence. A man and only a man can become a Buddha. Every man has within himself the potential to become a Buddha, if he wills it strongly enough and endeavors it sufficiently. According to Buddhism, man's position is supreme, man is his own master, man can mould his life, and there is no higher being or power that likes in judgment over man's destiny. The Buddha said that "one is one's own refuge; who else could be the refuge?" The Buddha discovered and showed the path of liberation which is called the eightfold noble path. One who wants to be liberated must tread and walk the path oneself. It is widely accepted that the problem of the ultimate goal of life, i.e. the problem of liberation belongs to the,
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