Ukungafi Komphefumlo—Imvelaphi Yale Mfundiso

“Akukho nto ephathelele ubomi belemimoya ikhe yathi swii iingqondo zabantu njengemeko yabo yasemva kokufa.”—“ENCYCLOPÆDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS.”

UMPHENGULULI othile nokwangumfundisi-ntsapho oneminyaka engama-70 ubudala watyatyekwa ngesityholo sokuba ngumhedeni nokutyhefa iingqondo zeentsizana zabantwana ngeemfundiso zakhe. Nangona watsho akwamila ngca ezithethelela kwelo tyala wayebekwa lona, abachopheli betyala ababenomoya wezikhova bamfumanisa enetyala baza bamgwebela intambo. Kwiiyure nje ezingaphambi kokufa kwayo, le nkonde yomfundisi-ntsapho yachazela abafundi ababengungelene apho izinto ezininzi ibaqinisekisa ukuba umphefumlo awufi yaye ukufa akumele koyikwe.

² Le ndoda igwetyiweyo nguSocrates ngokwakhe, uphopho wesithandi sobulumko samaGrike senkulungwane yesihlanu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo.a Indedeba awayeyifundisa uPlato yazibhala ezo ziganeko kwisincoko esithi Apology nesithi Phaedo. USocrates noPlato bavunyiwe njengabokuqala ukubhedesha le mfundiso yokuba umphefumlo awufi. Kodwa imfundiso le ayizange ize nabo.

³ Njengoko siza kubona, le mbono yokungafi komphefumlo ilandwa mfamlibe phayaa. Noko ke, uSocrates noPlato bayihombisa le ngcamango baza bayiguqula yaba yintanda-bulumko, yaza ke yathandwa gqitha zizifundiswa zaloo mihla nezalandelayo.

Yasuka KuPythagoras Yaya Kuthi Ngcu Kumangcwaba OoFaro

⁴ AmaGrike awayephila ngaphambi kukaSocrates noPlato nawo ayekholelwa ukuba umphefumlo uqhubeka uphila emva kokufa. UPythagoras, umGrike oyindumasi kwezezibalo wenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, wayemi ngelokuba umphefumlo awufi yaye wawufudukela kwenye indawo. Ngaphambi kwakhe, uThales waseMileto, ekucingelwa ukuba wayeyeyona ngqangangqanga yesithandi-bulumko sokuqala somGrike, wayevakalelwa kukuba asingobantu, izilwanyana nezityalo kuphela ezinomphefumlo ongafiyo kodwa nezinto ezinjengeemagnet, ekubeni zikwazi ukutsala intsimbi. AmaGrike amandulo ayesithi imiphefumlo yabafi yayinqumla uMlambo iStyx iye kuthi tshitshilili kwilizwe elingaphantsi komhlaba ekuthiwa lilizwe lemimoya. Apho, iijaji zazigweba loo miphefumlo iye kuthothoza entolongweni enoorhec’ izulu beendonga okanye iye kuthi gcobho e-Elysium.

⁵ EIran, okanye ePersi, esempuma, kwakukho umprofeti ogama linguZoroaster owayephila kwinkulungwane yesixhenxe ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Weza nonqulo olubizwa ngokuba lolwamaZoroaster. Olu yayilunqulo lobuKhosi basePersi, olwaluligqibe lonke ihlabathi ngaphambi kokuba kukhonye iGrisi ehlabathini. Izibhalo zamaZoroaster zithi: “Umphefumlo weLungisa uya kuVuya ngonaphakade uNgafi, kodwa oweXoki uya kuthuthumba. Yaye le miThetho yabekwa nguAhura Mazda [oko kukuthi, “uthixo wobulumko”] ngegunya Lakhe.”

⁶ Le mfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yayikho kwinkonzo yaseIran engekabikho amaZoroaster. Ngokomzekelo izizwe zaseIran zamandulo zaziyibonelela imiphefumlo yabafi ngokuyinika ukudla nokuyinxibisa ukuze ingagodoli kwilizwe lemimoya.

⁷ Inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo yayingene yazinza kunqulo lwaseYiputa. AmaYiputa ayekholelwa kwelokuba umphefumlo womntu ofileyo ugwetywa nguOsiris, uthix’ omkhulu welemimoya. Ngokomzekelo, uxwebhu lomzi ekuthiwa lwalukho kwangenkulungwane ye-14 B.C.E. lunomfanekiso ka-Anubis, uthixo wabafi, eqweqwedisa umphefumlo wombhali uHunefer ewusa phambi kukaOsiris. Intliziyo yalo mbhali, emela isazela sakhe, ibekwa esikalini kuze kwelinye icala kubekwe usiba olufakwa nguthixokazi wenyaniso nokusesikweni entloko. UThoth, omnye uthixo, ubhala iziphumo zoku. Ekubeni intliziyo kaHunefer ingasindwa bububi, iba khaphukhaphu kunolu siba, yaye uHunefer uyavunyelwa angene kwindawo akuyo uOsiris aze anikwe ukungafi. Olu xwebhu lukwabonisa nesigebengakazi esimi ecaleni kwesi sikali, singxangele ukubimbiliza umfi lowo ukuba intliziyo yakhe iye yasisinda isikali. AmaYiputa ayebaqhola abafi aze ayiqwayite imizimba yoofaro kumangcwaba amahle ookumkani balapho, ekubeni ayecinga ukuba ukuze umphefumlo usinde kufuneka umzimba ugcinwe kakuhle.

⁸ Ngoko, izithethe zempucuko zamandulo, zazifana ngentw’ enye—ukungafi komphefumlo. Ngaba zaziyincance beleni linye le mfundiso?

Umnombo Wayo

⁹ Incwadi ethi The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria ithi: “Mandulo phayaa, iYiputa, iPersi neGrisi zazithiwe nqo ngempumlo lunqulo lwaseBhabhiloni.” Le ncwadi ihlabela mgama isithi: “Ngenxa yokuqhogana kwabantu baseYiputa nabaseBhabhiloni, njengokuba esitsho amacwecwe e-El-Amarna, ayemaninzi amakroba ezinokungena ngawo izithethe neemfundiso zaseBhabhiloni kunqulo lwaseYiputa. EPersi, ihlelo lamaMithra lizibhenca elubala ukuba lineempembelelo zaseBhabhiloni . . . Into yokuba iintsomi zamandulo zamaGrike nezithethe zaseGrisi zazixutywe nobuYuda ayisakhanyelwa nangabaphengululi. Ezi mfundiso zamaYuda ubukhulu becala zivela eBhabhiloni.”b

¹⁰ Kodwa ngaba imbono yaseBhabhiloni yoko kwenzekayo emva kokufa ayahlukanga kakhulu kweyamaYiputa, eyamaPersi namaGrike? Ngokomzekelo, cinga nge-Epic of Gilgamesh yaseBhabhiloni. Igorha lalapho elalisele libhonga lilele, uGilgamesh, elalingcuchalaziswa kukoyika ukufa, laphum’ iphulo lifuna into eza kulenza lingafi kodwa labuya nemband’ esikhova. Ladibana nentwazana eyayingumngcamli likuhambo lwalo yaza yalikhuthaza ukuba libuxhamle lanele obu bomi, kuba alisokuze libufumane obu bomi bungapheliyo libufunayo. Ingongoma yeli bali yeyokuba akunakuze ulibaleke ingcwaba yaye into yokuba umphefumlo awufi nguNongqawuse lowo. Ngaba oku kwakubonisa ukuba amaBhabhiloni ayengakholelwa kuBomi Basemva Kokufa?

¹¹ UNjingalwazi Morris Jastrow, Omnci., weUniversity of Pennsylvania, eUnited States, wabhala: “Abantu neenkokeli zonqulo azizange ziyicinge into yokuba [eBhabhiloni] yayisaziwa into yokuba into ekhe yaphila ingatshabalala kuphele. Ukufa [ngokokubona kwabo] yayikukudlulela nje kobunye ubomi, yaye nale yokuba babekhanyela ukungafi komphefumlo yayiqinisekisa ukuba akunakuyiphepha into yokutshintshela kobunye ubomi nto leyo eyenzeka xa ufile.” Ewe, amaBhabhiloni ayekwakholelwa kwelokuba kukho uhlobo oluthile lobomi oqhubeka ubuphila emva kokufa. Azintama koku ngokungcwaba abantu nezinto ezithile abaza kuzisebenzisa kuBomi Basemva Kokufa.

¹² Lizicacele elokuba, le mfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo ihamba iye kuthi xhaxhe ngeBhabhiloni yamandulo. Ngokutsho kweBhayibhile, incwadi ezibalule ngembali yayo echanileyo, isixeko saseBhabheli, okanye iBhabhiloni, samiswa nguNimrodi, umzukulwana kaNowa.c Emva koMkhukula wehlabathi lonke ngomhla kaNowa, kwakukho intetho nonqulo olunye kuphela. Ngokuseka eso sixeko, nokwakha inqaba apho, uNimrodi waqalisa olunye unqulo. Ingxelo yeBhayibhile ibonisa ukuba emva kokudutyadutywa kolwimi lwaseBhabheli, abakhi baloo nqaba aboyisakeleyo bachithakala baza baxoza mphini wumbi, besafumbethe unqulo lwabo. (Genesis 10:6-10; 11:4-9) Iimfundiso zonqulo lwaseBhabhiloni zasasazeka ngolo hlobo emhlabeni wonke.

¹³ Kukho ingcamango yokuba uNimrodi wafa kabuhlungu. Lizicacele elokuba njengomseki, umakhi nokumkani wokuqala wesixeko sabo saseBhabhiloni, abantu bamele ukuba babemothulel’ umnqwazi. Ekubeni uthixo uMarduk (uMerodaki) wayejongwa njengomseki weBhabhiloni, bambi abaphengeluli baye balithi thupha elokuba uMarduk umele ukuba wayenguNimrodi owenziwe isithixo. Ukuba oko kunjalo, makube ke le mfundiso yokuba umphefumlo awufi ekufeni komntu yaqalisa ngexesha lokufa kukaNimrodi. Enoba imeko yayinjani na, imbali idiza elokuba emva koNogumbe, imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yaqanduselwa eBhabheli, okanye eBhabhiloni.

¹⁴ Noko ke, le mfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yangena njani kwiinkonzo zale mihla? Icandelo elilandelayo liza kuxubusha indlela eyangena ngayo kwiinkonzo zaseMpuma.

Le Mbono Ingena Kwiinkonzo ZaseMpuma

“Bendisoloko ndicinga ukuba ukungafi komphefumlo yinyaniso eyamkelwa nguwonke wonke. Ngoko ndamangaliswa ngokwenene ndakufumanisa ukuba iinkcuba-buchopho zaseMpuma naseNtshona zakha zaxhaph’ amagwebu ziphikisa le nkolelo. Ngoku into endizibuza yona yindlela imbono yokungafi eyangena ngayo kubuHindu.”—UMFUNDI WASEYUNIVESITHI OWAKHULISWA ENGUMHINDU.

IMBONO yokuba umntu unomphefumlo ongafiyo yangena njani kubuHindu nakwezinye iinkonzo zaseMpuma? Lo mbuzo ubangel’ umdla nakwabo baseNtshona abasenokuba abaqhelananga nezinye iinkonzo, ekubeni le nkolelo ichaphazela indlela wonk’ ubani alijonga ngayo ikamva. Ekubeni imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo isamkelwa yinkoliso yeenkonzo zanamhlanje, ukwazi indlela eyaqala ngayo kunokusinceda siziqonde kakuhle izibakala size sithethe into evakalayo.

² UNinian Smart, unjingalwazi kwezonqulo kwiUniversity of Lancaster eBritani, uthi: “Elona ziko liphambili lonqulo eAsia ibiyi-Indiya. Oku akubangelwa kukuba iyi-Indiya evelise iinkonzo ezininzi—ubuHindu, ubuBhuda, ubuJain, ubuSikh, njalo njalo—kodwa kungenxa yokuba enye kwezi, ubuBhuda, baba nefuthe elikhulu kwisithethe sakhe phantse wonk’ ubani oseMpuma Asia.” Inkoliso yabantu abaneli futhe “basayijonga i-Indiya njengekhaya labo lezonqulo,” utsho njalo omnye umphengululi ongumHindu uNikhilananda. Ngoko ke, yangena njani le mfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo eIndiya nakwezinye iindawo zaseAsia?

Imfundiso YamaHindu Yokuvela Ngokutsha

³ Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, ngoxa uPythagoras nabalandeli bakhe baseGrisi babenokoza imbono yokufuduka kwemiphefumlo, neenkcuba-buchopho zamaHindu ezazihlala kummandla ogudle umlambo i-Indus neGanges eIndiya zaziyithwelel’ apha le ngcamango. Ukusasazeka ngaxeshanye kwale mfundiso “eGrisi naseIndiya kwakungeyonto eyenzeke ngebhaqo,” utsho njalo umbhali-mbali uArnold Toynbee. “Omnye umthombo emele ukuba yatsitsa kuwo [le mpembelelo],” ngokutsho kwalo kaToynbee, “yingxubevange yoonothwal’ impahlana ababesuka eYurophu naseAsia, abathi ngenkulungwane yesi-8 neyesi-7 B.C., benjenjeya ukuya ngaseIndiya, kuMzantsi-Ntshona Asia, ilizwe elibharhileyo eliguguthe unxweme olusemantla oLwandle Olumnyama, kunye nosinga-siqithi weBalkan nowaseAnatolia.” Izizwe zaseYurophu naseAsia kubonakala ukuba zafika eIndiya zigushe le mbono yokufuduswa komphefumlo.

⁴ UbuHindu babusele bukho eIndiya ngelo xesha, baqala mhla kwafika ama-Aryan malunga nowe-1500 B.C.E. Zisuka nje, ubuHindu babuyithe mpa le nkolelo yokuba umphefumlo wahlukile emzimbeni yaye umphefumlo awufi xa umntu esifa. Ngenxa yoko amaHindu ayenqula izinyanya yaye ayebekela imiphefumlo yabafi ukutya ukuze igxoth’ iphango. Kwiinkulungwane ezalandelayo xa imbono yokufuduka komphefumlo yafikelela eIndiya, iinkcuba-buchopho zamaHindu ezazisamhokamhokana nobungendawo nokubandezeleka kwabantu zimele ukuba zayithanda gqitha. Zathi zakuxuba le mbono nento ezaziyibiza ngokuba ngumthetho weKarma, umthetho wokuba nto nganye oyenzayo inomphumo wayo, ezi nkcuba-buchopho zamaHindu zazakhela imfundiso yokuvela ngokutsha efundisa ukuba izinto ezintle nezimbi umntu azenza kobu bomi uya kuvuzwa okanye ohlwaywe ngazo kubomi obulandelayo.

⁵ Kodwa kukho nenye imbono eyaphembelela imfundiso yobuHindu ngomphefumlo. IEncyclopædia of Religion and Ethics ithi: “Kubonakala ukuba xa kwakusazanyiswa lo mxube wokufuduswa komphefumlo nowe-karma, okanye ngaphambili kancinci kunoko, yayikho enye imbono . . . ethukuthukuzayo kuMntla Indiya—imbono yentanda-bulumko kaBrahman-Ātman [uBrahman omkhulu nongafiyo, ingweletshetshe].” Le mbono yaxutywa nembono yokuvela ngokutsha ukuze kuchazwe apho aza kuphelela khona amaHindu—ukubhungca kucumbelele wokufuduka komphefumlo ukuze umanyaniswe nengweletshetshe. Oku, ngokwenkolelo yamaHindu, kwenzeka ngokuthi uzabalazele ukuba nesimilo esihle nokuba nolwazi olukhethekileyo lwamaHindu.

⁶ Ngenxa yoko izilumko zamaHindu zavelisa ingcamango yokufuduswa komphefumlo kwimfundiso yokuvela ngokutsha ngokuthi ziyixube nomthetho weKarma nembono kaBrahman. UOctavio Paz, imbongi eyafumana iBhaso likaNobel neyayingunozakuzaku waseMexico eIndiya, ubhala athi: “Njengokuba ubuHindu babusasazeka, yahamba nabo ke nembono . . . ebaluleke gqitha kubuBrahman, ubuBhuda nezinye iinkonzo zaseAsia: ukufuduswa komphefumlo uze uphinde uphile ungumntu okanye isilwanyana.”

⁷ Imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yintsika yobuHindu bale mihla. Isithandi sobulumko esingumHindu uNikhilananda sithi: “Into yokuba asilogcudwana nje labantu kuphela elingazi kufa, kodwa lilungelo lakhe wonk’ ubani, yinkolelo yakhe wonke umHindu olungileyo.”

Ucumbelele Wokuzalwa Kwakhona KwamaBhuda

⁸ UbuBhuda basekwa eIndiya malunga nowama-500 B.C.E. Ngokwesithethe samaBhuda, inkosana yaseIndiya egama linguSiddhārtha Gautama, eyathi yaziwa ngokuba nguBhuda emva kokuba ikhanyiselwe, yaseka ubuBhuda. Ekubeni babuphuma kubuHindu, iimfundiso zabo zineendawo ezihamba zidibane kuzo nezobuHindu. NgokwamaBhuda, uphilela ukumana uzalwa usifa, yaye njengakubuHindu, ubomi obuphilayo buxhomekeke kwizinto obuzenza kobo ububuphila ngaphambili.

⁹ Kodwa ubuBhuda bona abutsho ukuba umntu unomphefumlo osindayo ekufeni. “[UBhuda] yena wayenembono yokuba umphefumlo womntu umana nje usithi mpebe, kodwa uhlala unomnqweno oqhubekayo,” watsho njalo uArnold Toynbee. Ukanti kwalo Bhuda wayekholelwa ekubeni nto ithile—imeko okanye amandla athile—isuka kobu bomi iye kobuya. UGqr. Walpola Rahula, umphengululi ongumBhuda, uthi:

¹⁰ “Umntu wenziwe ngokudityaniswa kwamandla omzimba nawengqondo. Le nto thina siyibiza ngokuba kukufa kukuyeka komzimba ukusebenza. Ngaba onke la mandla ayayeka ukusebenza xa umzimba ungasasebenzi? Ngokwemfundiso yobuBhuda ‘Akunjalo.’ Umxhino, amandla okuzikhethela, umnqweno, ukulangazelela ukuhlala uphila, nokuzalwa ngokuphindaphindiweyo, ngawona mandla alawula ukuphila kwethu, alawula bonke abantu, ngawo nalawula ihlabathi liphela. La ngawona mandla abalaseleyo, anefuthe elingathethekiyo ehlabathini liphela. Ngokwemfundiso yobuBhuda, la mandla akapheli nokuba umzimba awusasebenzi, oko kukuthi xa ufile; kodwa ayaqhubeka ekho kwinto ethile ephilayo, nto leyo ekwenza uphinde uphile kwakhona le nto ke siyibiza ngokuba kukuzalwa kwakhona.”

¹¹ Nantsi imbono yamaBhuda ngoBomi Basemva Kokufa: Umntu uphila ngonaphakade ngaphandle kokuba ude wafika eNirvana, wakhululeka kucumbelele wokumana ezalwa. Le Nirvana asikokuphila ngonaphakade ngolonwabo ingekuko nokuphila nengweletshetshe. Kuphela nje yimeko yokungabikho—“kwindawo ekungekho kufa kuyo” esemva kobomi obuphilayo ngoku. IWebster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary ichaza i-“Nirvana” ngokuthi “yindawo okanye imeko ongazi nto kuyo, ongeva ntlungu, okanye ongenazinkxwaleko.” Kunokufuna ukungafi, amaBhuda akhuthazwa ukuba angayinanzi loo nto kodwa azamele ukuya kufika eNirvana.

¹² Njengokuba babunwenwela kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo zaseAsia, ubuBhuda bayihombisa imfundiso yabo ukuze ivisisane neenkolelo zasekuhlaleni. Ngokomzekelo, ubuBhuda bobuMahayana, uhlobo oluxhaphake eTshayina naseJapan, bunenkolelo yokuba kukho amadindala akwelemimoya, okanye ooBhuda bangomso. La madindala axolele ukuhlala ezalwa kunokuba angene eNirvana ukuze ancede abanye ebangenisa apho. Ngaloo ndlela umntu usenokukhetha ukuqhubeka ezalwa into engapheliyo kwanaxa efikile eNirvana.

¹³ Enye into eyatshintshayo kule mfundiso neyaba nempembelelo enkulu eTshayina naseJapan yimfundiso yeLizwe eliNgcwele eliseNtshona, eladalwa nguBhuda Amitabha, okanye uAmida. Abo bakholelwa kuBhuda bazalwa okutsha kweli Lizwe liNgcwele, okanye iparadesi, apho kulula khona ukufumana ukhanyiselo lokugqibela. Ivelise ntoni ke le mfundiso? UNjingalwazi Smart, okhankanywe ekuqaleni, uthi: “Ngenxa yoko, loo paradesi ithi ndijonge, echazwe yanomtsalane kwezinye izibhalo zamaMahayana, yangena endaweni ye-nirvana njengeyona nto inqwenelwayo.”

¹⁴ AmaBhuda aseTibet wona afakela namanye amasolotya asekuhlaleni. Ngokomzekelo, incwadi yesiTibet ethetha ngabafi ichaza okwenzeka kumntu osesesithubeni nje ngaphambi kokuphinda azalwe. Abafi bamiswa phambi kokukhanya kwengweletshetshe, yaye abo boyiswayo koko kukhanya abayifumani inkululeko kodwa baphinda bazalwe. Lizicacele elokuba, iindidi ezahlukahlukeneyo zobuBhuda zinayo le mbono yokungafi.

Ukunqulwa Kwezinyanya NgamaShinto AseJapan

¹⁵ Unqulo lwabakho eJapan bungekafiki ubuBhuda ngenkulungwane yesithandathu yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Unqulo lwayo lwalungenagama, yaye lwaluneenkolelo ezikhuthaza ukuziphatha kakuhle namasiko abantu. Noko ke, kwathi kwakuvela ubuBhuda, kwafuneka kwahlulwe unqulo lwamaJapan kolwasemzini. Lavela apho ke igama elithi “Shinto,” elithetha “indlela yoothixo.”

¹⁶ Yiyiphi inkolelo amaShinto okuqala awayenayo ngoBomi Basemva Kokufa? Kwathi kwakuxhaphaka umsebenzi wokulima irayisi kwimimandla eyimigxobhozo, “ukulima emigxobhozweni kwabangela ukuba kubekho abantu abazinze ezindaweni ezithile,” itsho njalo iKodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, “yaye amasiko okulima—kamva awaba negalelo elikhulu kubuShintō—avuka ema ngenyawo.” Ukoyikwa kwemiphefumlo yabafileyo kwenza aba bantu bamandulo benza amasiko okucamagusha kuyo. Oku kwazala unqulo lwezinyanya.

¹⁷ Ngokwenkolelo yamaShinto, umphefumlo “wofileyo” useneempawu zaloo mntu kodwa udyobhekile ngenxa yokufa. Xa umntu ofelweyo esenza izithethe zokukhumbula umfi, umphefumlo uyahlanjululwa kugutyulwe yonke inkohlakalo, yaye uba noxolo uze ulunge ube yimvoco. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, umoya weso sinyanya uyanyuselwa ube kwisikhundla sikathixo osisinyanya, okanye umgcini wekhaya. Ekubeni babukho ngaxeshanye nobuBhuda, ubuShinto bamkela ezinye iimfundiso zobuBhuda, kuquka imfundiso yeparadesi. Ngaloo ndlela, sifumanisa ukuba inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo isisiseko kubuShinto.

Inkolelo Yokungafi KubuTao, Unqulo Lwezinyanya KubuConfucius

¹⁸ UbuTao beza noLao-tzu, ekuthiwa wayephila eTshayina kwinkulungwane yesithandathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Ngokwemfundiso yobuTao, usukelo ebomini kukuvisisanisa ubomi bomntu neTao—indlela yendalo. Indlela acinga ngayo umntu okholelwa kubuTao kumba wokungafi singayishwankathela sithi: UbuTao ngumgaqo olawula indalo iphela. ITao ayinasiqalo yaye ayinasiphelo. Ngokuphila ngokuvisisana neTao, umntu unokuba nenxaxheba kuyo aze aphile ngonaphakade.

¹⁹ Kwilinge labo lokuvisisana nendalo, abanquli beTao ekuhambeni kwexesha basuka bathi swii kukuphila bengaluphali nakukuziphilisa. Babeqikelela ukuba mhlawumbi ngokuphila ngokuvisisana neTao, okanye indalo, umntu angamfimfitha kubuncwane bendalo aze angaze onzakale, angaguli okanye angafi.

²⁰ Abalandeli beTao baqalisa ukulinga izinto ezinjengokucamngca, ukwenza umthambo ukuphucula indlela yokuphefumla neendidi ezithile zokutya, zinto ezo bona bathi ziza kugcina imizimba yabo ingaboli yaye bengafi. Emva koko amagqala aqalisa ukusasaza into yokuba kukho izidalwa ezingafiyo ezisemafini nezinokubonakala zize ziphinde zinyamalale xa zithanda neziphila iminyaka emininzi gqitha kwiintaba ezingcwele okanye kwiziqithi ezikwanti, zizondla ngombethe okanye ngeziqhamo zomlingo. Imbali yamaTshayina idiza ukuba ngowama-219 B.C.E., umlawuli uCh’in Shih Huang Ti wathumela udederhu lweenqanawa ezizele ngamakhwenkwe namantombazana angama-3 000 eye kukhangela isiqithi sodumo ekuthiwa yiP’eng-lai, ezihlala kuso ezi zidalwa zingafiyo, ukuze abuye nechiza elenza abantu bangafi. Ngelishwa, babuya nemband’ esikhova.

²¹ Eli phulo lokuzingela ubomi obungenasiphelo labangela abalandeli beTao bazama ukwenza umxube weepilisi zokwenza umntu angafi. Ngokwembono yabalandeli beTao, ubomi benziwa kukudibana kwe-yin neyang (emela ibhinqa nendoda). Ngaloo ndlela, ngokudibanisa ilothe (emnyama, okanye i-yin) nemekyuri (eqaqambileyo, okanye i-yang), aba babesenza lo mxube babexelisa inkqubo yendalo, yaye babecinga ukuba le mveliso yayiza kuba yipilisi eza kwenza abantu bangafi.

²² Ngenkulungwane yesixhenxe kwiXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, ubuBhuda banyebelezela kunqulo lwaseTshayina. Oko kwaphumela kumxube wobuBhuda, ukukhafula nonqulo lwezinyanya. UNjingalwazi Smart uthi: “UbuBhuda nobuTao, benza iinkolelo zobomi basemva kokufa ezazikade ziyimfitshimfitshi nje kwiTshayina yamandulo ekwakunqulwa kuyo izinyanya zatsho zanesihlahla.”

²³ UConfucius, enye inkonde yenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo eyayiyindumasi kwelaseTshayina, entanda-bulumko yayo eyaba sisiseko sobuConfucius, ayizange ingene nzulu kuBomi Basemva Kokufa. Kunoko, yabethelela ukubaluleka kokuziphatha kakuhle nokuba nesimilo. Kodwa yayingaluchasanga unqulo lwezinyanya yaye yayibek’ umnwe ngamandla ekugcinweni kwamasiko nemisitho enokuthanani nemimoya yezinyanya.

Ezinye Iinkonzo ZaseMpuma

²⁴ UbuJain basekwa eIndiya kwinkulungwane yesithandathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo. Umseki wabo, uMahāvīra, wayefundisa ukuba zonke izinto eziphilayo zinemiphefumlo ehlala naphakade yaye umphefumlo unako ukusinda kwiKarma kuphela ukuba umntu uphila ubomi obungqongqo bokuzibandeza uyolo nokuzeyisa kwizinto ezininzi nokuluphepha kwaphela ugonyamelo kuzo zonke izidalwa. Abalandeli bobuJain basazithe mpa nanamhla oku ezi nkolelo.

²⁵ Kwakhona i-Indiya ikwayindawo obazalelwa kuyo ubuSikh, unqulo olunabantu abali-19 lezigidi. Olu nqulo lwaqala ngenkulungwane ye-16 xa uGuru Nānak wagqiba kwelokuba adibanise ubuHindu nobuSilamsi bube lunqulo olunye. UbuSikh bamkela iinkolelo zamaHindu ezinjengokungafi komphefumlo, ukuvela ngokutsha neKarma.

²⁶ Licace mhlophe elokuba, le nkolelo yokuba ubomi buyaqhubeka emva kokuba umzimba ufile ingene yendela kwinkoliso yeenkonzo zaseMpuma. Noko ke, kuthekani ngeNgqobhoko, ubuYuda nobuSilamsi?

[Imibuzo YeSifundo]

 1. Kutheni ukwazi indlela eyavela neyasasazeka ngayo imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo kwiinkonzo ezahlukahlukeneyo kubangel’ umdla kuthi?

 2. Kutheni i-Indiya ibisoloko inefuthe kwezonqulo eAsia?

 3. Ngokutsho komnye umbhali-mbali, ngoobani ekusenokwenzeka ukuba yeza nabo imbono yokufuduka kwemiphefumlo eIndiya?

 4. Kwakutheni ukuze ingcamango yokufuduswa kwemiphefumlo ithandwe ziinkcuba-buchopho zamaHindu?

 5. Ngokutsho kwamaHindu, umphefumlo uphelela phi?

 6, 7. UbuHindu bale mihla bunayiphi inkolelo ngoBomi Basemva Kokufa?

 8-10. (a) UbuBhuda bubuchaza njani ubukho bomntu? (b) Omnye umphengululi ongumBhuda ukuchaza njani ukuphinda uzalwe?

11. AmaBhuda abujonga njani uBomi Basemva Kokufa?

12-14. Iintlobo ezahlukeneyo zobuBhuda ziyichaza njani le mbono yokungafi kwabantu?

15-17. (a) AmaShinto aqala njani ukunqula izinyanya? (b) Inkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo isisiseko njani kumaShinto?

18. Umntu okholelwa kwiTao unayiphi imbono ngokungafi kwabantu?

19-21. Uqikelelo lwabo bakholelwa kwiTao lubenzise ziphi izinto?

22. Imbono yobuBhuda yaba nawuphi umphumo kunqulo lwaseTshayina?

23. UConfucius wayekujonga njani ukunqula izinyanya?

24. UbuJain bufundisa ntoni ngomphefumlo?

25, 26. Ziziphi ezinye iinkolelo zamaHindu ezikhoyo kubuSikh?

[Imaphu ekwiphepha 10]

(Ukuba ufuna inkcazelo ehlahlelwe kakuhle, yiya kwimpapasho)

CENTRAL ASIA

KASHMIR

TIBET

CHINA

KOREA

JAPAN

Banaras

INDIA

Buddh Gaya

MYANMAR

THAILAND

CAMBODIA

SRI LANKA

JAVA

3^RD CENTURY B.C.E.

1^ST CENTURY B.C.E.

1^ST CENTURY C.E.

4^TH CENTURY C.E.

6^TH CENTURY C.E.

7^TH CENTURY C.E.

UbuBhuda baba nempembelelo kwiMpuma Asia iphela

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 9]

Imfundiso yokuvela ngokutsha iyintsika yobuHindu

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 11]

Ngokuphila ngokuvisisana nendalo, umntu okholelwa kwiTao uzama ukuphila ngonaphakade

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 12]

UConfucius wayengaluchasanga unqulo lwezinyanya

Ukungena Kwale Mbono KubuYuda, KwiNgqobhoko NakubuSilamsi

“Unqulo lukwayindlela yokwenza abantu balixolele elokuba ngaminazan’ ithile baza kufa, lukwenza oko ngokubathembisa ngobomi obubhetele ngaphaya kwengcwaba, ukuphinda bazalwe, okanye lubathembise ezo zinto zombini.”—GERHARD HERM, UMBHALI ONGUMJAMANI.

PHANTSE zonke iinkonzo xa zithembisa ngobomi basemva kokufa zixhomekeke kwinkolelo yokuba umntu unomphefumlo ongafiyo yaye xa umntu efile wona uzihambela indlela yawo uye kwenye indawo okanye ufudukele kwesinye isidalwa. Njengokuba sele kubonisiwe kwicandelo elandulelayo, inkolelo yokuba umntu akafi yayiyeyona nto iphambili kwiinkonzo zaseMpuma kwamhla zavela. Kodwa kuthekani ngobuYuda, iNgqobhoko nobuSilamsi? Le mfundiso yaba sisiseko njani kwezi nkonzo?

UbuYuda Basulelwa Ziingcamango ZamaGrike

² UbuYuda obu baqala ngexesha lika-Abraham kwiminyaka enokuba ngama-4 000 eyadlulayo. Izibhalo ezingcwele zesiHebhere zaqala ukubhalwa ngenkulungwane ye-16 B.C.E. zaza zagqitywa ngexesha apho uSocrates noPlato babesaqulunqa ingcamango yokungafi komphefumlo. Ngaba ezi Zibhalo zazifundisa ukuba umphefumlo awufi?

³ IEncyclopaedia Judaica iphendula ngokuthi: “Le nkolelo yokungafi komphefumlo yaqala ukuba yinto ngobunto bayo emva kwamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile . . . yaza yaba sisiseko kunqulo lwamaYuda nolwamaKristu.” Kwakhona ichaza ukuba: “Ngamaxesha okubhalwa kweBhayibhile umntu wayejongwa njengento enye epheleleyo. Ngenxa yoko umphefumlo wawungahlulwa emzimbeni.” AmaYuda amandulo ayekholelwa kuvuko lwabafi, yaye oku “kumele kungafaniswa nenkolelo . . . yokungafi komphefumlo,” itsho njalo le ntyila-lwazi.

⁴ Ngoko ke, le mfundiso yaba “sisiseko” nini kubuYuda? Imbali iza kusichazela. Ngowama-332 B.C.E., uAlesandire Omkhulu wawuxathula kanobom umhlaba waseMbindi Mpuma ewugqugqisa okweenkumbi. Ukufika kwakhe eYerusalem, amaYuda amamkela ngezandl’ ezishushu. Ngokutsho kombhali-mbali ongumYuda wenkulungwane yokuqala uFlavius Josephus, ada ambonisa isiprofeto sencwadi kaDaniyeli, esabhalwa kwiminyaka engaphezu kwama-200 ngaphambi koko, esasichaza uloyiso luka-Alesandire nowayechazwa ngokuba “ngukumkani waseGrisi.” (Daniyeli 8:5-8, 21, thelekisa iNW.) Abo bangena ezihlangwini zika-Alesandire batshila kwangeso sidanga sakhe sokuthofiyela ubuGrike ebantwini, behamba behlohla ulwimi, isithethe nentanda-bulumko yaseGrisi kuzo zonke iindawo. Kwanyanzeleka ukuba ezo zithethe—esamaGrike nesamaYuda—zibondwe mbizeni-nye.

⁵ Ekuqaleni kwenkulungwane yesithathu ngaPhambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, kwaguqulelwa iZibhalo zesiHebhere ngesiGrike, ezathi zabizwa ngokuba yiSeptuagint. Ngenxa yazo abeeNtlanga batsho baluhlonela yaye balwazi kakuhle unqulo lwamaYuda, abanye bada baguqukela kulo. AmaYuda wona, ayethe swii ziingcamango zamaGrike yaye amanye aba zizithandi zobulumko, nto leyo eyayizityulwa kwelo. Omnye wezo zithandi zobulumko zakwaYuda yaba nguPhilo wakwa-Alesandire wenkulungwane yokuqala kwiXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo.

⁶ UPhilo wayemthand’ egazini uPlato yaye wayesiwa evuka edibanisa ubuYuda nentanda-bulumko yamaGrike. Incwadi ethi Heaven—A History ithi: “Ngokuzama ukudibanisa intanda-bulumko kaPlato nesithethe seBhayibhile, uPhilo wawavulel’ indlela amaKristu [kwakunye namaYuda] acingayo awayeza kulandela emva kwakhe.” UPhilo wayenayiphi inkolelo ngomphefumlo? Le ncwadi ityatyadula ithi: “Kuye, ukufa kwakubuyisela umphefumlo kwindawo yawo, kwimeko owawukuyo ngaphambi kokuba uzalwe. Ekubeni umphefumlo ungowelemimoya, xa uphila emzimbeni womntu sukuba uze kuthi qu nje kwenye yeendawo omele uphile kuzo, ndawo leyo ongonwabanga kuyo.” Amanye amaYuda acingayo awayekholelwa kukungafi komphefumlo nguIsaac Israeli, ugqirha ongumYuda owayedumile ngenkulungwane yeshumi noMoses Mendelssohn, isithandi sobulumko esingumYuda esasiseJamani ngenkulungwane ye-18.

⁷ Enye incwadi eyazitshintsha ngamandla iingcamango zamaYuda nobomi bawo yiTalmud—ingqokelela ebhalwe phantsi yomthetho womlomo, eyayicholacholwa ngoorabhi ukususela ngenkulungwane yesibini kwiXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo ukuya kutsho kumaXesha Aphakathi. IEncyclopaedia Judaica ithi: “Oorabhi abeza neTalmud babekholelwa kwelokuba umphemfumlo uhlala uphila emva kokufa.” ITalmud ide ithethe nangabafi abathetha nabaphilayo. IEncyclopædia of Religion and Ethics ithi: “Mhlawumbi ngenxa yempembelelo kaPlato, [oorabhi] babekholelwa ekubeni imiphefumlo yakha yaphila ngaphambili.”

⁸ Kamva uncwadi lweemfihlelo zamaYuda, iCabala, lude luthi chatha ngokufundisa ukuvela ngokutsha. Xa yayithetha ngale nkolelo, iThe New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia ithi: “Le mbono kubonakala ukuba yayivela eIndiya. . . . KwiKabbalah iqala ivele kwincwadi ethi Bahir, yaye emva koko, ukususela eZohar ukusa phambili, yathathelw’ apha ngabantu abathanda iimfihlelo, yaba nefuthe elinamandla kwinkolelo yamaHasid noncwadi lwawo.” Namhlanje kwaSirayeli, ukuvela ngokutsha kwamkelwe ngokubanzi njengemfundiso yamaYuda.

⁹ Ngoko ke, imbono yokungafi komphefumlo yanyebelezela kumaYuda ngentanda-bulumko yamaGrike, yaye namhlanje loo ngcamango yamkelwe ngamahlelo awo amaninzi. Yangena njani le mfundiso kwiNgqobhoko?

INgqobhoko Yamkela Iingcamango ZikaPlato

¹⁰ UbuKristu bokwenene baqaliswa nguKristu Yesu. Ethetha ngoYesu, umakhwekhwetha womphengululi waseSpeyini wenkulungwane yama-20 uMiguel de Unamuno, wabhala oku: “Wayekholelwa kuvuko lokwenyama, ngokufanayo namaYuda, kungekhona ekungafini komphefumlo kwentanda-bulumko [yamaGrike] kaPlato. . . . Ubungqina boku bunokubonwa kuyo nayiphi na incwadi enembali echanileyo.” Waqukumbela wathi: “Ukungafi komphefumlo . . . yimfundiso yentanda-bulumko yabahedeni.”

¹¹ Yangena njani kubuKristu le ‘mfundiso yentanda-bulumko yabahedeni’? INew Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Ukususela phakathi kwinkulungwane yesibini kunyaka weNkosi amaKristu awayehlohlwe le ntanda-bulumko yamaGrike aqalisa ukusebenzisa yona xa eshumayela ukholo, ngenjongo yokuqhayisa ngobukrelekrele nokuze aguqule abahedeni abafundileyo. Eyona ntanda-bulumko yayithe ngco kubo yekaPlato.”

¹² Kwakukho nezinye izithandi zobulumko ngaphambili ezimbini ekwakuviwa ngazo kwiNgqobhoko. Esinye sazo yayinguOrigen wakwa-Alesandire (malunga nowe-185-254 C.E.), esesibini, inguAugustine waseHippo (354-430 C.E.). Ithetha ngazo iNew Catholic Encyclopedia ithi: “EMpuma nguOrigen yaye eNtshona nguSt. Augustine oweza nento yokuba umphefumlo ngumoya neembono zentanda-bulumko ngomphefumlo.” UOrigen noAugustine babeyithatha phi le ngcamango yabo ngomphefumlo?

¹³ UOrigen wayefundiswa nguClement wakwa-Alesandire, “owayengowokuqala kubaSeki beCawa ukukhwahlaza kwisithethe samaGrike ngokuphathelele umphefumlo” itsho njalo iNew Catholic Encyclopedia. Iimbono zikaPlato zimele ukuba zaziyiwexule ingqondo kaOrigen. “[UOrigen] wafakelela kwimfundiso yamaKristu bonke obo bucilocilo obungomphefumlo, awayebufunxe kuPlato,” watsho njalo umbhali ngezakwalizwi uWerner Jaeger kwincwadi ethi The Harvard Theological Review.

¹⁴ Abanye kwiNgqobhoko bamjonga uAugustine njengencutshe kwiinkcubabuchopho zamandulo. Ngaphambi kokuguqukela “kubuKristu” eneminyaka engama-33 ubudala, uAugustine wayengathi ubethw’ ephondweni yintanda-bulumko yaye waba yiNeoplatonist.a Ukuguquka kwakhe, waqhubeka ecinga njengeNeoplatonist. IThe New Encyclopædia Britannica ithi: “Engqondweni yakhe kwakunkenteza unqulo lweTestamente Entsha kunye nesithethe sikaPlato sentanda-bulumko yamaGrike.” INew Catholic Encyclopedia iyavuma ukuba imfundiso ka-Augustine “[yomphefumlo], eyathi yazinza eNtshona kwada kwangasekupheleni kwenkulungwane ye-12, yayiphuma . . . kwi-Neoplatonism.”

¹⁵ Ngenkulungwane ye-13, iimfundiso zika-Aristotle zazisiya ziduma ngokuduma eYurophu, ubukhulu becala ngenxa yeencwadi zabaphengululi bama-Arabhu zesiLatini ezazithethe zophela ngeencwadi zika-Aristotle. Omnye umphengululi ongumKatolika ogama linguThomas Aquinas wayethabatheke ngeyona ndlela ziingcamango zika-Aristotle. Ngenxa yeencwadi zika-Aquinas, iimbono zika-Aristotle zayitshintsha ngaphezu kwezikaPlato imfundiso yecawa. Noko ke, yonke le nto ayizange itshintshe nto kwimfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo.

¹⁶ UAristotle wafundisa ukuba umphefumlo yinto enye nomzimba yaye awuqhubeki uphila emva kokufa yaye ukuba umntu unento ephila ngonaphakade kuye, makube yinto engaziwayo leyo yaye ayinakuthanani nomntu. Le mbono wayenayo ngomphefumlo yayikhabana nenkolelo yecawa yokuba umphefumlo uyaphila emva kokufa. Ngoko ke, uAquinas wayiphucula le mbono ka-Aristotle ngomphefumlo, esithi kufanelwe kusetyenzisw’ amathamb’ entloko ukuze kungqinwe ukuba umphefumlo awufi. Ngaloo ndlela, inkolelo yecawa ngokungafi komphefumlo yahlala injalo ingachathwa.

¹⁷ Ebudeni benkulungwane ye-14 neye-15, ekuqaleni kweXesha Lohlaziyo, wavuka wema ngenyawo umdla kuPlato. Intsapho yakwaMedici edumileyo eItali yada yakha isikolo eFlorence isombelela le ntanda-bulumko kaPlato. Ebudeni benkulungwane ye-16 neye-17, umdla kuAristotle waphel’ emoyeni. Yaye uHlaziyo lwenkulungwane ye-16 aluzange luyitshintshe imfundiso yomphefumlo. Nangona abaHlaziyi bamaProtestanti babekhe babambana ngemfundiso yentlambululo-miphefumlo, bayamkela imbono yokohlwaywa komphefumlo okanye yokuvuzwa kwawo.

¹⁸ Ngaloo ndlela imfundiso yokungafi komphefumlo yawagqobha onke amahlelo eNgqobhoko. Ephawula oku, omnye umphengululi waseMerika, wabhala wathi: “Eneneni, kwabaninzi bohlanga lwethu unqulo, lusekelwe kukungafi komphefumlo, kungekhona kwenye into. UThixo nguye owenza umphefumlo ungafi.”

Ukungafi Komphefumlo NobuSilamsi

¹⁹ UbuSilamsi baqala mhla uMuḥammad wafumana ubizo lokuba ngumprofeti xa wayeneminyaka engama-40 ubudala. Ubukhulu becala amaSilamsi akholelwa ukuba wafumana imibono kwithuba leminyaka enokuba ngama-20 ukusa kwengama-23, ukususela ngowama-610 C.E. wada wayambath’ ingubo kaqaqaqa ngowama-632 C.E. Le mibono yakhe ibhalwe kwiKoran, incwadi engcwele yamaSilamsi. Buqala nje ubuSilamsi, ubuYuda neNgqobhoko babusele bungene zwabha kwingcamango kaPlato ngomphefumlo.

²⁰ AmaSilamsi akholelwa kwelokuba ukholo yincopho yemibono eyadluliselwa kumaKristu amandulo athembekileyo angamaHebhere. IKoran icaphula kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere nezesiGrike. Kodwa xa ifundisa ngokungafi komphefumlo, iKoran ithetha nto yimbi. IKoran ifundisa ukuba umntu unomphefumlo oqhubeka uphila emva kokufa. Kwakhona ithetha ngovuko lwabafi, ngomhla womgwebo nangendawo oza kuphumla kuyo umphefumlo ekugqibeleni—esenokuba bubomi kumyezo oyiparadesi osezulwini okanye wohlwaywe esihogweni somlilo.

²¹ AmaSilamsi akholelwa kwelokuba umphefumlo womntu ofileyo uya eBarzakh, okanye “Emkhusaneni,” “indawo okanye imeko abaya kuba kuyo abantu emva kokufa ngaphambi komGwebo.” (Surah 23:99, 100, The Holy Qur-an, umbhalo osemazantsi) Umphefumlo uyaphila apho, uze apho ufumane into ebizwa ngokuba ‘Sisohlwayo Sasengcwabeni’ ukuba umntu lowo ebengendawo okanye athiwe jize ngoyolo ukuba ebengumntu othembekileyo. Kodwa nabathembekileyo bafanele bafuman’ intwana yentuthumbo ngenxa yezono ezimbalwa abaye bazenza ngoxa bebesaphila. Ngomhla womgwebo, ngamnye kubo usajongwe kukufumana umvuzo wakhe kanaphakade, oza kumfudusa kuloo ndawo alinde kuyo.

²² Imbono yokungafi komphefumlo kubuYuda nakwiNgqobhoko yangena ngenxa kaPlato, kodwa ubuSilamsi bona bavela sele buyithe mpa. Oku akuthethi ukuba abaphengululi bama-Arabhu abazange bazame ukuxubanisa iimfundiso zamaSilamsi nezentanda-bulumko yamaGrike. Eneneni, ama-Arabhu ayethabathekile ziincwadi zika-Aristotle. Yaye oomakhwekhwetha babaphengululi bama-Arabhu, abanjengoAvicenna noAverroës, bafaka uchintsi baza bazisekela iingcamango zika-Aristotle. Noko ke, ngelinge labo lokuvisisanisa iingcamango zamaGrike neemfundiso zamaSilamsi ezingomphefumlo bavela neengcamango ezibethabethanayo. Ngokomzekelo, uAvicenna wathi umphefumlo womntu awufi. UAverroës yena wabe engavumelani naloo nto. Enokuba babenaziphi na iimbono, amaSilamsi akholelwa ukuba umphefumlo awufi.

²³ Ngoko ke, licacile elokuba ubuYuda, iNgqobhoko, namaSilamsi ngumgub’ engxow’ enye ngokufundisa ukungafi komphefumlo.