Isahluko 6

UbuBuddha—Ukufuna Ukukhanyiselwa Ngaphandle KukaNkulunkulu

 1. (a) UbuBuddha buye bazibonakalisa kanjani emphakathini waseNtshonalanga? (b) Ziyini izimbangela zalesenzakalo saseNtshonalanga?

NAKUBA ubuBuddha babungaziwa emazweni angaphandle kweAsia ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20 leminyaka, namuhla sebuye bathatha indima yokuba inkolo esemhlabeni wonke. Eqinisweni, abantu abaningi eNtshonalanga bayamangala ukuthola ubuBuddha buchuma khona kanye endaweni ebazungezile. Okuningi kwalokhu kuye kwaba khona ngenxa yokuthutheleka kwababaleki abavela ezizweni zonke. Imiphakathi emikhulu yaseAsia iye yakha eNtshonalanga Yurophu, eNyakatho Melika, eAustralia, nakwezinye izindawo. Njengoba abantu abaningi ngokwandayo abavela kwamanye amazwe bezinza ezweni labo elisha, baletha nenkolo yabo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, abaningi babantu eNtshonalanga babhekana nobuBuddha ngokokuqala ngqá. Lokhu, kanye nokuyekelela nokuwa ngokomoya emasontweni esiko, kuye kwabangela abanye abantu ukuba babe abaphendukela enkolweni “entsha.”—2 Thimothewu 3:1, 5.

 2. Abalandeli bobuBuddha batholakala kuphi namuhla?

² Ngakho, ngokwe-1989 Britannica Book of the Year, ubuBuddha buthi bunamalungu acishe abe izigidi ezingu-300 emhlabeni wonke, kuyilapho iNtshonalanga Yurophu neNyakatho Melika ngalinye linangu-200 000, eLatin America kunangu-500 000, nangu-300 000 eSoviet Union. Nokho, abaningi babalandeli bobuBuddha basatholakala emazweni aseAsia, njengaseSri Lanka, eMyanmar (eBurma), eThailand, eJapane, eKorea, naseChina. Nokho, wayengubani uBuddha? Lenkolo yaqala kanjani? Ziyini izimfundiso nemikhuba yobuBuddha?

Inkinga Yomthombo Onokwethenjelwa

 3. Yimuphi umthombo wokwaziswa otholakalayo ngokuphila kukaBuddha?

³ “Okwaziwayo ngokuphila kukaBuddha kusekelwe ikakhulukazi ebufakazini bemibhalo egunyazwe njengengcwele, emikhulu yayo nehlanganisa izici eziningi yileyo ebhalwe ngesiPali, ulimi lwaseNdiya yasendulo,” kusho incwadi iWorld Religions—From Ancient History to the Present. Lokhu kusho ukuthi awukho umthombo wokwaziswa wesikhathi sakhe ongasitshela okuthile ngoSiddhārtha Gautama, umsunguli walenkolo, owayehlala enyakatho yeNdiya ekhulwini lesithupha leminyaka B.C.E. Yebo, lokho kunikeza inkinga. Nokho, okungathi sína kakhulu umbuzo wokuthi ‘lemibhalo egunyazwe njengengcwele’ yalotshwa nini futhi kanjani.

 4. Imfundiso okuyiyonayona kaBuddha yalondolozwa kanjani ekuqaleni?

⁴ Isiko lobuBuddha lithi ngokushesha ngemva kukaGautama, kwabizwa umkhandlu wezindela ezingu-500 ukuba zinqume ukuthi sasiyini isifundiso okuyisonasona seNkosi yawo. Ukuthi umkhandlu onjalo wabizwa ngempela kuyindaba okuphikiswana kakhulu ngayo phakathi kwezazi nezazi-mlando zamaBuddha. Nokho, iphuzu elibalulekile okufanele siliphawule liwukuthi ngisho nemibhalo yobuBuddha iyavuma ukuthi isifundiso okuyisonasona okwavunyelwana ngaso asizange sibhalwe kodwa sabanjwa ngekhanda abafundi. Ukubhalwa kwangempela kwalemibhalo engcwele kwadingeka kulinde isikhathi eside.

 5. Yabhalwa nini imibhalo yesiPali?

⁵ Ngokwezincwadi zemilando zaseSri Lanka zekhulu lesine nelesithupha leminyaka C.E., owokuqala kunayo yonke ‘walemibhalo egunyazwe njengengcwele’ yesiPali wabhalwa phakathi nokubusa kweNkosi uVattagamani Abhaya ekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka B.C.E. Okunye ukulandisa ngokuphila kukaBuddha akuzange kubhalwe kwaze kwaba mhlawumbe sekhulwini lokuqala noma ngisho lesihlanu leminyaka C.E., cishe eminyakeni eyinkulungwane ngemva kwesikhathi sakhe.

 6. Yikuphi ukugxeka okushiwoyo ngokumelene ‘nemibhalo egunyazwe njengengcwele’? (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17.)

⁶ Ngakho, kuphawula iAbingdon Dictionary of Living Religions, “‘Imilando yokuphila kwakhe’ yalotshwa kamuva kakhulu futhi igcwele izindaba eziyizinganekwane nezinsumansumane, futhi emidala kakhulu yalemibhalo egunyazwe njengengcwele, iyimikhiqizo yenqubo yesikhathi eside yokudluliselwa ngomlomo ngokusobala okwahlanganisa ukuphindaphinda okuthile nokuthasisela okuningi.” Esinye isazi saze “sagomela ngokuthi alikho negama elilodwa lemfundiso elotshiwe okungashiwo ngokuqiniseka okuphelele ukuthi lakhulunywa uGautama ngokwakhe.” Ingabe ukugxeka okunjalo kufanelekile?

Ukukhulelwa KukaBuddha Nokuzalwa Kwakhe

 7. Ngokwemibhalo yamaBuddha, unina kaBuddha wamkhulelwa kanjani?

⁷ Cabangela lezingcaphuno ezilandelayo ezivela kuyiJataka, ingxenye yombhalo ogunyazwe njengongcwele wesiPali, neBuddha-charita, umbhalo wesiSanskrit wekhulu lesibili leminyaka C.E. ngokuphila kukaBuddha. Okokuqala, ukulandisa ngendlela unina kaBuddha, iNdlovukazi uMaha-Maya, amkhulelwa ngayo ephusheni.

“Izingelosi ezine ezingababheki zafika zamthwala, yena nombhede wakhe, futhi zamusa eziNtabeni iHimalaya. . . . Khona-ke kwabe sekuza abafazi balezingelosi ezingababheki, futhi bamyisa eChibini iAnotatta, bamgeza, ukuze basuse konke ukungcola kobuntu. . . . Buqamama kwakuneSilver Hill, futhi kuyona kwakunesigodlo segolide. Lapho bandlala umbhede waphezulu bebhekise ikhanda lawo ngasempumalanga, futhi bamlalisa kuwo. Manje owayezokuba uBuddha wayesebe indlovu emhlophe enhle kakhulu . . . Wenyuka iSilver Hill, futhi . . . wazungeza umbhede kanina izikhathi ezintathu, uhlangothi lwakhe lwangakwesokudla lungasembhedeni, futhi eshaya unina ngakwesokudla, kwabonakala sengathi ungena esibelethweni sakhe. Ngakho lokho kukhulelwa kwenzeka emkhosini waphakathi nehlobo.”

 8. Yini eyabikezelwa ngokuphathelene nekusasa likaBuddha?

⁸ Lapho indlovukazi ilandisa leliphupho kumyeni wayo, inkosi, wabiza abapristi abangamaHindu abadumile abangu-64, wabapha ukudla nezambatho, wayesebacela ukuba bamchazele leliphupho. Nansi impendulo yabo:

“Ungakhathazeki, nkosi enkulu! . . . Uzoba nendodana. Futhi yona, uma iqhubeka iphila ukuphila kwasekhaya, iyoba inkosi yendawo yonke; kodwa uma ingashiya ukuphila kwasekhaya futhi izihlukanise nezwe, iyoba uBuddha, futhi igoqe amafu esono nobuwula balelizwe.”

 9. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezingavamile okuthiwa zalandela isimemezelo esiphathelene nekusasa likaBuddha?

⁹ Ngemva kwalokho, kuthiwa kwenzeka izimangaliso ezingu-32:

“Wonke amazwe ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi ngokushesha azamazama, athuthumela, futhi anyakaza. . . . Imililo yacima kuzo zonke izihogo; . . . izifo zanqamuka phakathi kwabantu; . . . zonke izinsimbi zomculo zazwakalisa imisindo yazo zingashaywa muntu; . . . amanzi aba mtoti olwandlekazi olunamandla; . . . wonke amazwe ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi aba igoda lezimbali elilodwa elikhulu nelihle ngendlela ebabazekayo.”

10. Imibhalo engcwele yobuBuddha ikuchaza kanjani ukuzalwa kukaBuddha?

¹⁰ Khona-ke kweza ukuzalwa kukaBuddha okungandile engadini yemithi kasawoti ebizwa ngokuthi iLumbini Grove. Lapho indlovukazi ifuna ukubambelela egatsheni lomuthi kasawoti omude kunayo yonke kuleyongadi, umuthi wazithoba ngokugobela phansi endaweni engayifinyelela. Yabeletha ibambelele kulelogatsha futhi imile.

“Waphuma esibelethweni sikanina njengomshumayeli ehla epulpiti, noma njengendoda yehla ngezitebhisi, elule izandla zombili nezinyawo zombili, enganindiwe yinoma yikuphi ukungcola okuvela esibelethweni sikanina. . . . ”

“Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba esezelwe, [owayezokuba uBuddha] ubeka izinyawo zombili cababa enhlabathini, uthatha amagxathu ayisikhombisa ngasenyakatho, kunompheme omhlophe awuthwele ekhanda, futhi uhlola ingxenye ngayinye yezwe, ebabaza ngamazwi angenakulinganiswa: Ngiyinkosi yalo lonke izwe, engcono kakhulu nevelele; lokhu ukuzalwa kwami kokugcina; angisoze ngiphinde ngizalwe.”

11. Yisiphi isiphetho izazi ezithile ezifinyelele kuso ngokuphathelene nokulandisa okungokwesiko ngokuphila kukaBuddha njengoba kutholakala emibhalweni engcwele?

¹¹ Kunezinye izindaba ezihlotshisiwe ngokufanayo ezimayelana nobuntwana bakhe, okuhlangenwe nakho kwakhe nezintombi ezazimthanda, ukuzulazula kwakhe, cishe nanganoma yisiphi isenzakalo ekuphileni kwakhe. Mhlawumbe, akumangalisi ukuthi izazi eziningi zikuchilizela eceleni konke lokhu kulandisa njengokuyizinganekwane nezinsumansumane. Isikhulu soMnyuziyamu waseBrithani sisikisela ngisho nokuthi ngenxa ‘yalendikimba enkulu yezinganekwane nezimangaliso, . . . ukuphila okungokomlando kukaBuddha akunakutholakala.’

12, 13. (a) Yikuphi ukulandisa okwamukelekayo ngokuphila kukaBuddha? (b) Yini eyamukelwa ngokuvamile ngokuphathelene nesikhathi uBuddha azalwa ngaso? (Qhathanisa noLuka 1:1-4.)

¹² Naphezu kwalezinganekwane, ukulandisa okwamukelekayo ngokuphila kukaBuddha kusakazeke kabanzi. Umbhalo wanamuhla, iManual of Buddhism, owanyatheliswa eColombo, eSri Lanka, unikeza lokulandisa okulandelayo okwenziwe lula.

“Ngosuku lokugcwala kwenyanga lukaMay onyakeni ka-623 B.C. kwazalwa esifundazweni saseNepal iNkosana engumSakya yaseNdiya, egama layo linguSiddhattha Gotama.a Uyise kwakuyiNkosi uSuddhodana, nonina kwakuyiNdlovukazi uMahā Māyā. Unina washona ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngemva kokuzalwa kwalomntwana futhi uMahā Pajāpati Gotamī waba unina wokutholwa.

“Lapho eneminyaka eyishumi nesithupha ubudala washada nomzala wakhe, iNkosazana enhle uYasodharā.

“Cishe iminyaka eyishumi nantathu ngemva komshado wabo ojabulisayo waphila ukuphila kokunethezeka, okugcwele injabulo, engazazi izigemegeme ezinzima zokuphila ezazenzeka ngaphandle kwamasango esigodlo.

“Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, iqiniso lakhanya kancane kancane kuye. Ngonyaka wakhe wama-29, okwaba inkathi yenguquko endleleni yakhe yokuphila, kwazalwa indodana yakhe uRāhula. Wabheka umntanakhe njengesithiyo, ngoba waqaphela ukuthi bonke abantu ngothi lwabo babhekene nokuzalwa, ukugula, nokufa. Ekuqonda ngaleyondlela ukuba kosizi sendaweni yonke, wanquma ukuthola ikhambi elinguzifo zonke lalesisifo sesintu esisendaweni yonke.

“Ngakho edela izinjabulo zakhe zasebukhosini, ngobunye ubusuku walishiya ikhaya . . . wagunda izinwele zakhe, wagqoka izembatho ezivamile zabantu abazincisha injabulo, futhi wazulazula njengomFuni Weqiniso.”

¹³ Ngokucacile lemininingwane embalwa yokuphila kwakhe iphambene kakhulu nokulandisa okuqanjiwe okutholakala ‘emibhalweni egunyazwe njengengcwele.’ Futhi ngaphandle konyaka wokuzalwa kwakhe, lemibhalo iyamukeleka kubantu abaningi.

Ukukhanyiselwa—Indlela Okwenzeka Ngayo

14. Yayiyini inkathi yenguquko ekuphileni kukaGautama?

¹⁴ Yayiyini “inkathi yenguquko endleleni yakhe yokuphila” ephawulwe ngaphambili? Kwakuyilapho, ngokokuqala ngqá ekuphileni kwakhe, ebona umuntu ogulayo, ixhegu, nomuntu ofile. Lokhu okuhlangenwe nakho kwambangela ukuba ashikashikeke efuna injongo yokuphila—Kungani abantu bezalelwa nje kuphela ukuba bahlupheke, baguge, futhi bafe? Khona-ke, kuthiwa wabona umuntu ongcwele, owayedele izwe ukuze aphishekele iqiniso. Lokhu kwashukumisela uGautama ukuba adele umkhaya wakhe, izinto ayenazo, negama lakhe lasebukhosini futhi achithe iminyaka elandelayo eyisithupha efuna impendulo kubafundisi namaguru obuHindu, kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya. Ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi waphishekela inkambo yokuzindla, ukuzila, iYoga, nokuzidela ngokweqile, nokho akazange akuthole ukuthula noma ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya.

15. UGautama ekugcineni wakufinyelela kanjani lokho okuthiwa kuwukukhanyiselwa kwakhe?

¹⁵ Ekugcineni waqaphela ukuthi inkambo yakhe eyeqile yokuzidela yayingelutho ifana nje nokuphila kokuzitika ayekuphilile ngaphambili. Manje wathatha lokho akubiza ngokuthi iNdlela Ephakathi, egwema ukweqisa ezindleleni zokuphila ayezilandela. Ephetha ngokuthi impendulo kumelwe itholakale kuye ngokwakhe, wahlala ezindla ngaphansi kwepipal, noma umuthi womkhiwane waseNdiya. Emelana nokuhlaselwa nokulingwa udeveli uMara, waqhubeka eqinile ekuzindleni kwakhe amasonto amane (abanye bathi amasonto ayisikhombisa) kwaze kwaba yilapho njengoba kushiwo edlulela khona ngalé kwakho konke ukwazi nokuqonda futhi wafinyelela ukukhanyiselwa.

16. (a) UGautama waba yini? (b) Imiphi imibono ehlukahlukene abantu abanayo ngokuphathelene noBuddha?

¹⁶ Ngalenqubo, ngokolimi lwamaBuddha, uGautama waba uBuddha—oPhaphanyisiwe, noma oKhanyiselwe. Wayefinyelele umgomo oyinhloko, iNirvana, isimo sokuthula okuphelele nokukhanyiselwa, sokukhululeka ekufiseni nasekuhluphekeni. Uye futhi waziwa ngokuthi uSakyamuni (isihlakaniphi sesizwe samaSakya), futhi ngokuvamile wayezibiza ngokuthi uTathagata (ngalokho umuntu ozele [ukufundisa]). Nokho, amahlelo ahlukahlukene obuBuddha, anemibono ehlukene ngalendaba. Amanye ambheka kuphela njengomuntu owazitholela indlela eya ekukhanyiselweni futhi wayifundisa abalandeli bakhe. Amanye ambheka njengowokugcina ochungechungeni lwawoBuddha abaye beza emhlabeni ukuba bashumayele noma bavuselele idharma (ngesiPali, Dhamma), imfundiso noma indlela kaBuddha. Nokho, abanye bambheka njengebodhisattva, umuntu oye wafinyelela ukukhanyiselwa kodwa owahlehlisa ukungena eNirvana ukuze asize abanye ekuphishekeleni kwabo ukukhanyiselwa. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ikuphi, lesenzakalo, ukuKhanyiselwa, sibaluleke kakhulu kuwo wonke amaqembu obuBuddha.

Ukukhanyiselwa—Kuyini?

17. (a) UBuddha wayishumayela kuphi futhi kobani intshumayelo yakhe yokuqala? (b) Chaza kafushane ngamaQiniso Amane Ayisisekelo.

¹⁷ Esefinyelele ukukhanyiselwa, nangemva kokunqoba ukungabaza okuthile okwakukhona ekuqaleni, uBuddha waqalisa ukufundisa iqiniso lakhe ayesanda kulithola, idharma yakhe, kwabanye. Intshumayelo yakhe yokuqala futhi cishe ebaluleke kunazo zonke yanikezwa edolobheni laseBenares, esiqiwini sezinyamazane ezinezimpondo ezimagatshagatsha, kumabhikku ayisihlanu—abafundi noma izindela. Kuyona, wafundisa ukuthi ukuze umuntu asindiswe, kumelwe agweme kokubili inkambo yokuzitika ngokwenyama naleyo yokuzincisha izinjabulo futhi alandele iNdlela Ephakathi. Khona-ke, umuntu kumelwe aqonde futhi alandele amaQiniso Amane Ayisisekelo (bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini elingaphesheya kwaleli), angafingqwa kafushane ngalendlela:

(1) Konke ukuphila kuwukuhlupheka.

(2) Ukuhlupheka kuvela ekufiseni noma ekunxaneleni.

(3) Ukuphela kokufisa kusho ukuphela kokuhlupheka.

(4) Ukuphela kokufisa kufinyelelwa ngokulandela iNdlela Enezinhlangothi Eziyisishiyagalombili, ukulawula ukuziphatha, ukucabanga, nenkolelo yakho.

18. UBuddha wathini ngomthombo wokukhanyiselwa kwakhe? (Qhathanisa noJobe 28:20, 21, 28; IHubo 111:10.)

¹⁸ Lentshumayelo ngeNdlela Ephakathi nangamaQiniso Amane Ayisisekelo ihlanganisa ingqikithi yokuKhanyiselwa futhi ibhekwa njengomongo wayo yonke imfundiso kaBuddha. (Ngokuphambene, qhathanisa noMathewu 6:25-34; 1 Thimothewu 6:17-19; Jakobe 4:1-3; 1 Johane 2:15-17.) UGautama akazange athi intshumayelo yakhe yayiphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu kodwa wazitusa yena ngokwakhe ngamazwi athi “yatholwa uTathagata.” Kuthiwa okhukhweni lwakhe lokufa, uBuddha watshela abafundi bakhe: “Funa insindiso kuphela eqinisweni; ungabheki usizo komunye ngaphandle kwakho ngokwakho.” Ngakho, ngokukaBuddha, ukukhanyiselwa akuveli kuNkulunkulu kodwa kuza ngomzamo womuntu siqu ekuthuthukiseni ukucabanga okufanele nemisebenzi emihle.

19. Kungani isigijimi sikaBuddha samukelwa ngalesosikhathi?

¹⁹ Akunzima ukubona ukuthi kungani lemfundiso yemukelwa emphakathini wamaNdiya wangalesosikhathi. Ngakolunye uhlangothi yayilahla imikhuba engokwenkolelo yokuhaha neyonakele eyayigqugquzelwa amaBrahman obuHindu, noma isigaba sabapristi, futhi ngakolunye ilahla ukuzincisha injabulo ngokweqile kwamaJain nezinye izinkolo eziyimfihlakalo. Futhi yaqeda ukwenziwa kwemihlatshelo nemikhuba enemicikilisho, izinkulungwane zezinkulungwane zonkulunkulu nonkulunkulukazi, nesimiso sokuhlukaniswa kwabantu ngezigaba esisindayo esasibusa futhi sigqilaza zonke izici zokuphila kwabantu. Kafushane, yathembisa inkululeko kuwo wonke umuntu owayezimisele ukulandela indlela kaBuddha.

UbuBuddha Busakaza Ithonya Labo

20. (a) Ayini “AmaTshe Ayigugu Amathathu” obuBuddha? (b) Wawumkhulu kangakanani umkhankaso kaBuddha wokushumayela?

²⁰ Lapho amabhikku ayisihlanu eseyamukelile imfundiso kaBuddha, aba isangha yokuqala, noma isigaba sezindela. Ngakho “AmaTshe Ayigugu Amathathu” (Triratna) obuBuddha, apheleliswa okungukuthi, uBuddha, idharma, nesangha, okwakuthiwa asiza abantu bangene endleleni eya ekukhanyiselweni. Ezilungiselele ngaleyondlela, uGautama uBuddha wahamba eshumayela nxazonke zesiGodi saseGanges. Abantu abavela kuzo zonke izigaba zomphakathi nezikhundla beza ukuzomuzwa, futhi baba abafundi bakhe. Ngesikhathi sokufa kwakhe eneminyaka engu-80 ubudala, wayesaziwa kakhulu futhi ehlonishwa. Kwabikwa ukuthi amazwi akhe okugcina kubafundi bakhe ayethi: “Ukuwohloka kuyinto engenakugwenywa kuzo zonke izinto eziyinhlanganisela. Sebenzelani insindiso yenu siqu ngenkuthalo.”

21. (a) Ubani owaba usizo ekwandisweni kobuBuddha? (b) Waba yini umphumela wemizamo yakhe?

²¹ Ekhulwini lesithathu leminyaka B.C.E., cishe eminyakeni engu-200 ngemva kokufa kukaBuddha, kwavela umlweli wobuBuddha omkhulu kunabo bonke, uMbusi uAśoka, owangenisa ingxenye enkulu yeNdiya ngaphansi kokubusa kwakhe. Edabukiswe ukubulala okucekayo neziphithiphithi ezazibangelwa ukunqoba kwakhe, wamukela ubuBuddha futhi wabunikeza ukusekelwa uMbuso. Wakha izindlu zesikhumbuzo ezingokwenkolo, wabiza imikhandlu, futhi wakhuthaza abantu ukuba baphile ngemithetho kaBuddha. UAśoka futhi wathumela izithunywa zevangeli zamaBuddha kuzo zonke izingxenye zeNdiya naseSri Lanka, eSiriya, eGibithe, naseGrisi. Ikakhulukazi ngemizamo ka-Aśoka, ubuBuddha bakhula busuka ekubeni ihlelo laseNdiya baya ekubeni inkolo esemhlabeni wonke. Ngokufanelekile, uye wabhekwa abanye njengomsunguli wesibili wobuBuddha.

22. UbuBuddha bagxiliswa kanjani kulo lonke elaseAsia?

²² Ukusuka eSri Lanka, ubuBuddha basakazekela ngasempumalanga bangena eMyanmar (eBurma), eThailand, nakwezinye izingxenye zeIndochina. Ngasenyakatho, ubuBuddha basakazekela eKashmir naseAsia ephakathi. Ukusuka kulezozindawo, futhi ekuqaleni kangangekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E., izindela zamaBuddha zahamba zidabula izintaba ezesabekayo nezingwadule zayisa inkolo yazo eChina. Ukusuka eChina, kwase kuyibanga elifushane kuphela ngobuBuddha ukuba busakazekele eKorea naseJapane. UbuBuddha bangeniswa naseTibet, umakhelwane weNdiya ongasenyakatho. Buxutshwe nezinkolelo zendawo, bavela njengobuLama, obabusa kokubili ukuphila kwalapho okungokwenkolo nokungokwezombangazwe. Ngasekhulwini lesithupha noma lesikhombisa leminyaka C.E., ubuBuddha base bugxilile kulo lonke elaseningizimu-mpumalanga Asia naseMpumalanga Ekude. Kodwa kwakwenzekani eNdiya?

23. Kwenzekani ngobuBuddha eNdiya?

²³ Nakuba ubuBuddha babusakazela ithonya labo kwamanye amazwe, babuncipha kancane kancane emuva eNdiya. Zingene shí eminakweni yamafilosofi namafilosofi ezinto ezingabonakali, izindela zaqala ukulahlekelwa ukuthintana nabalandeli bazo abaphansi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulahlekelwa ukusekelwa abasebukhosini nokwamukelwa kwemiqondo yamaHindu nemikhuba konke kwasheshisa ukuwa kobuBuddha eNdiya. Ngisho nezindawo ezingcwele zobuBuddha, njengeLumbini, lapho uGautama azalelwa khona, neBuddh Gaya, lapho ahlangabezana khona “nokukhanyiselwa,” zaba incithakalo. Ngasekhulwini le-13 leminyaka, ubuBuddha base buphele nyá eNdiya, izwe lendabuko yabo.

24, 25. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezengeziwe zobuBuddha ezabonakala ekhulwini lama-20 leminyaka?

²⁴ Phakathi nekhulu lama-20 leminyaka, ubuBuddha babhekana nolunye ushintsho lwesimo. Iziyaluyalu zezombangazwe eChina, eMongolia, eTibet, nasemazweni aseNingizimu-mpumalanga Asia, zaba igalelo elibhubhisayo kubuBuddha. Izinkulungwane zezigodlo zezindela namathempeli kwabhujiswa futhi amakhulu ezinkulungwane zezindela nezindelakazi axoshwa, aboshwa, noma abulawa ngisho nokubulawa. Noma kunjalo, ithonya lobuBuddha lisazwakala ngokunamandla ekucabangeni nasemikhubeni yabantu balamazwe.

²⁵ EYurophu naseNyakatho Melika, umqondo wobuBuddha wokufuna komuntu “iqiniso” kuye ngokwakhe ubonakala ukhanga kakhulu, futhi umkhuba wabo wokuzindla unikeza indlela yokubalekela ukuphithizela kokuphila kwaseNtshonalanga. Ngokuthakazelisayo, esethulweni sencwadi iLiving Buddhism, uTenzin Gyatso, iDalai Lama yaseTibet eyadingiswa, wabhala: “Mhlawumbe namuhla ubuBuddha bungase bube nengxenye obuyifezayo ekukhumbuzeni abantu baseNtshonalanga ngomkhakha ongokomoya wokuphila kwabo.”

Izindlela ZobuBuddha Ezihlukahlukene

26. UbuBuddha buhlukaniswe ngaziphi izindlela?

²⁶ Nakuba kungokujwayelekile ukukhuluma ngobuBuddha njengenkolo eyodwa, eqinisweni buhlukaniswe amaqembu amaningana. Ngokusekelwe ezincazelweni ezihlukahlukene ngesimo sikaBuddha nangezimfundiso zakhe, iqembu ngalinye linezimfundiso zalo, imikhuba, nemibhalo. Lamaqembu ngokuqhubekayo ahlukaniswa aba amanye amaqembu amaningana namahlelo, amaningi awo athonywa kakhulu izimpucuko zendawo namasiko.

27, 28. Ubungabuchaza kanjani ubuBuddha beTheravada? (Qhathanisa neyabaseFilipi 2:12; Johane 17:15, 16.)

²⁷ Iqembu lobuBuddha okuthiwa iTheravada (INdlela Yabadala), noma iHinayana (INdlela Encane), liyachuma eSri Lanka, eMyanmar (eBurma), eThailand, eKampuchea (eCambodia), naseLaos. Abanye balicabangela njengeqembu labasadla ngoludala. Ligcizelela ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha nokusebenzela insindiso yomuntu siqu ngokudela izwe nangokuphila ukuphila kwezindela, ukuzinikela ekuzindleni nasekutadisheni esigodlweni sezindela.

²⁸ Kuyinto evamile kwamanye alamazwe ukubona amaqembu ezinsizwa ezigundile emakhanda, ezembethe izingubo eziphuzi ngokubomvu futhi ezingazifakile izicathulo, ziphethe izitsha zazo zenkongozelo ukuze zamukele ukudla kwazo kwansuku zonke okuvela emakholweni angaphansi lawo andima yawo iwukusekela lezindela. Kungokuvamile ngamadoda ukuchitha okungenani ingxenye ethile yokuphila kwawo esesigodlweni sezindela. Umgomo oyinhloko wokuphila njengendela uwukuba iarhat, okungukuthi, umuntu ofinyelele ukuphelela ngokomoya nokukhululwa ebuhlungwini nasekuhluphekeni emijikelezweni yokuphind’ ukuzalwa. UBuddha uyibonisile indlela; kungokomuntu ngamunye ukuba ayilandele.

29. Ziyini izici zobuBuddha beMahayana? (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Thimothewu 2:3, 4; Johane 3:16.)

²⁹ Iqembu lobuBuddha okuthiwa iMahayana (iNdlela Enkudlwana) litholakala ngokuvamile eChina, eKorea, eJapane, naseVietnam. Libizwa kanjalo ngoba ligcizelela imfundiso kaBuddha yokuthi “iqiniso nendlela yensindiso kungokukawonk’-uwonke kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uhlala emhumeni, esigodlweni sezindela, noma endlini . . . Akukhona nje kuphela okwalabo abadela izwe.” Umqondo oyisisekelo weMahayana uwukuthi uthando nozwela kukaBuddha kukhulu kangangokuba akanakugodlela noma ubani insindiso. Lifundisa ukuthi njengoba isimo sikaBuddha sikuthina sonke, wonke umuntu angaba uBuddha, umuntu okhanyiselwe, noma ibodhisattva. Ukukhanyiselwa kuza ngokuba nokholo kuBuddha nozwela ngazo zonke izinto eziphilayo, hhayi ngokuzikhuza okunzima. Lokhu ngokucacile kuzikhanga kakhulu izixuku ezinomqondo ohluzekile. Nokho, ngenxa yalesimo sengqondo esinikeza inkululeko enkudlwana, kuye kwavela amaqembu nezinkolo eziningana.

30. Yimuphi umgomo ofunwa abazinikele kubuBuddha “beZwe Elihlanzekile”? (Qhathanisa noMathewu 6:7, 8; 1 AmaKhosi 18:26, 29.)

³⁰ Phakathi kwamahlelo amaningi eMahayana aye avela eChina naseJapane amaqembu obuBuddha aziwa ngokuthi eleZwe Elihlanzekile neleZen. Iqembu eliphawulwe kuqala ligxilisa inkolelo yalo ekubeni nokholo emandleni asindisayo ka-Amida Buddha, owathembisa abalandeli bakhe ukuzalwa kabusha eZweni Elihlanzekile, noma ePharadesi LaseNtshonalanga, izwe lenjabulo nokwenama elihlalwa onkulunkulu nabantu. Ukusuka lapho, kulula ukufinyelela eNirvana. Ngokuphindaphinda umthandazo othi “Ngikholelwa kuAmida Buddha,” mhlawumbe izikhathi eziyinkulungwane ngosuku, umuntu ozinikele uyazihlambulula ukuze afinyelele ukukhanyiselwa noma azuze ukuzalwa kabusha ePharadesi LaseNtshonalanga.

31. Ziyini izici zobuBuddha beZen? (Qhathanisa neyabaseFilipi 4:8.)

³¹ UbuBuddha beZen (iqembu leCh’an laseChina) bathola igama labo emkhubeni wokuzindla. Igama elithi ch’an (isiChina) nelithi zen (isiJapane) ayizindlela ezihlukile zegama lesiSanskrit elithi dhyāna, okusho “ukuzindla.” Lemfundiso ifundisa ukuthi ukutadisha, imisebenzi emihle, nemikhuba enemicikilisho akubalulekile kangako. Umuntu angazuza ukukhanyiselwa ngokumane nje acabange ngezimpicabadala ezingacabangeki njengokuthi, ‘Yimuphi umsindo oba khona lapho kushaywa ihlombe ngesandla esisodwa?’ nokuthi, ‘Sitholani lapho kungenalutho khona?’ Lesimo esiyimfihlakalo sobuBuddha beZen siye sabonakaliswa emakhonweni athuthukisiwe okuhlela izimbali, ukubhala ngesandla esihle, ukudweba ngoyinki, izinkondlo, ukulima izivande, nokunye, futhi lokhu kuye kwamukelwa ngenjabulo eNtshonalanga. Namuhla, izikhungo zokuzindla zeZen ziyatholakala emazweni amaningi aseNtshonalanga.

32. UbuBuddha baseTibet buqhutshwa kanjani?

³² Ekugcineni, kunobuBuddha baseTibet, noma ubuLama. Loluhlobo lobuBuddha ngezinye izikhathi lubizwa ngokuthi iMantrayana (iNdlela yeMantra) ngenxa yokusebenzisa kwalo okuvelele amamantra, uchungechunge lwezinhlamvu ezihlangene ezisho okuthile noma ezingasho lutho, ezilandelweni ezinde. Esikhundleni sokugcizelela inhlakanipho noma uzwela, loluhlobo lobuBuddha lugcizelela ukusetshenziswa kwemikhuba enemicikilisho, imithandazo, umlingo, nemimoya ekukhulekeleni. Imithandazo iphindaphindwa izikhathi eziyizinkulungwane ngosuku ngosizo lobuhlalu bokuthandaza namasondo okuthandaza. Imikhuba enemicikilisho eyinkimbinkimbi ingafundwa kuphela ngokufundiswa ngomlomo amalama noma abaholi bezindela, phakathi kwabo abaziwa kakhulu nguDalai Lama noPanchen Lama. Ngemva kokufa kwelama kwenziwa ukuhlwaywa komntwana okuthiwa lelama iphinde yazalwa kuye ukuze abe umholi olandelayo ongokomoya. Nokho, leligama liyasetshenziswa futhi ngokuvamile kuzo zonke izindela, lezo ngokwesilinganiso esithile, ngesinye isikhathi inani lazo elalifinyelela ingxenye yesihlanu yalo lonke inani lomphakathi waseTibet. Amalama asebenza futhi njengothisha, odokotela, abanikazi bamazwe, nabaholi bezombangazwe.

33. Ukwehlukana kobuBuddha kufana kanjani nalokho kweLobukholwa? (Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 1:10.)

³³ Lamaqembu ayinhloko obuBuddha ahlukaniswe futhi aba amaqembu amaningi, noma amahlelo. Amanye azinikele kumholi othile, njengoNichiren eJapane, owafundisa ukuthi yiLotus Sutra yamaMahayana kuphela equkethe izimfundiso eziqondile zikaBuddha, noNun Ch’in-Hai eTaiwan, onesixuku esikhulu sabalandeli. Ngenxa yalokhu, ubuBuddha abuhlukile kakhulu kweLobukholwa namasonto alo amaningi namahlelo. Eqinisweni kungokuvamile ukubona abantu abathi bangamaBuddha behileleka emikhubeni yobuTao, ubuShinto, ukukhulekela okhokho, ngisho nakuleyo yeLobukholwa.b Wonke lamahlelo obuBuddha athi asekela izinkolelo zawo nemikhuba ezimfundisweni zikaBuddha.

Amaqoma Amathathu Neminye Imibhalo YobuBuddha

34. Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule lapho sicabangela izimfundiso zobuBuddha?

³⁴ Izimfundiso okuthiwa zingezikaBuddha zazidluliselwa ngomlomo futhi zaqala ukubhalwa phansi emakhulwini eminyaka amaningi ngemva kokufa kwakhe. Ngakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zinhle kangakanani, zinikeza lokho abalandeli bakhe ezizukulwaneni zakamuva abacabanga ukuthi wakusho futhi wakwenza. Lokhu kwenziwa kube yinkimbinkimbi ngokwengeziwe yiqiniso lokuthi, ngalesosikhathi, ubuBuddha kakade base buhlakazekile baba amaqembu amaningi. Ngakho, imibhalo ehlukahlukene inikeza izinguqulo ezihlukene kakhulu zobuBuddha.

35. Imiphi imibhalo engcwele yamaBuddha yokuqala kunayo yonke?

³⁵ Imibhalo yokuqala kakhulu yobuBuddha yabhalwa ngesiPali, okuthiwa siwulimi oluhlobene nolimi lomdabu lukaBuddha, cishe ngasekhulwini lokuqala leminyaka B.C.E. Yamukelwa iqembu leTheravada njengemibhalo okuyiyonayona. Iqukethe izincwadi ezingu-31 ezihlelwe zaba amaqoqo amathathu abizwa ngokuthi iTipitaka (ngesiSanskrit, Tripitaka), okusho ukuthi “AmaQoma Amathathu,” noma “AmaQoqo Amathathu.” IVinaya Pitaka (IQoma Lokuyala) iphathelene ikakhulukazi nemithetho yezindela nezindelakazi. ISutta Pitaka (IQoma Lezinkulumo) iqukethe izintshumayelo, imifanekiso, nezaga ezanikezwa uBuddha nabafundi bakhe abaholayo. Ekugcineni, iAbhidhamma Pitaka (IQoma Lemfundiso Eyisisekelo) iqukethe ukukhulumela ngezimfundiso zamaBuddha.

36. Yisiphi isici esiphawula imibhalo yobuBuddha beMahayana?

³⁶ Ngakolunye uhlangothi, imibhalo yeqembu leMahayana ibhalwe ikakhulukazi ngesiSanskrit, isiChina, nesiTibet, futhi ingemiqulu eminingi kakhulu. Imibhalo yesiChina iyodwa iyimiqulu engaphezu kuka-5 000. Iqukethe imiqondo eminingi eyayingekho emibhalweni yokuqala, njengemilando yawoBuddha ababebaningi njengesihlabathi somfula iGanges, okuthiwa baphila iminyaka eyizigidi ezingenakubalwa, ngamunye engamele izwe lakhe lobuBuddha. Akukhona ukweqisa uma omunye umlobi ephawula ukuthi lemibhalo “iphawulwa ukwehlukahlukana, ukucabangela okweqile, abalingiswa abahlotshiswe kakhulu, nokuphindaphinda okweqile.”

37. Yiziphi izinkinga ezaphakanyiswa imibhalo yeMahayana? (Qhathanisa neyabaseFilipi 2:2, 3.)

³⁷ Nakuba kungadingekile ukuba sisho, bambalwa abantu abakwaziyo ukuqonda lezincwadi ezilukhuni. Ngenxa yalokho, lezizenzakalo zakamuva ziye zabuhlukanisa kakhulu ubuBuddha kulokho uBuddha ayehlose ukuba bube yikho ekuqaleni. NgokweVinaya Pitaka, uBuddha wayefuna ukuba izimfundiso zakhe zingaqondwa isigaba sezifundiswa kuphela kodwa nayizo zonke izinhlobo zabantu. Ukuze lokhu kufezeke, wagcizelela ukuba imiqondo yakhe ifundiswe ngolimi lwabantu abavamile, hhayi ngolimi olungcwele lobuHindu olungasakhulunywa. Ngakho, ekuphikiseni kwamaBuddha eTheravada ngokuthi lezincwadi azigunyaziwe njengezingcwele, impendulo yabalandeli beMahayana iwukuthi uGautama onguBuddha ekuqaleni wafundisa abantu abavamile nabangazi lutho, kodwa abantu abafundile nabahlakaniphile wabembulela izimfundiso ezalotshwa kamuva ezincwadini zeMahayana.

Umjikelezo WeKarma Ne“Samsara”

38. (a) Izimfundiso zobuBuddha nezobuHindu ziqhathaniseka kanjani? (b) Uyini umqondo wamaBuddha ngomphefumulo ngokombono nangokoqobo?

³⁸ Nakuba ubuBuddha bakhulula abantu kozankosi bobuHindu ngezinga elithile, imiqondo yabo eyisisekelo iseyifa lezimfundiso zobuHindu ngeKarma nesamsara. UbuBuddha, njengoba ekuqaleni bafundiswa uBuddha, buhlukile kubuHindu ngenxa yokuthi buyakuphika ukuba khona komphefumulo ongafi kodwa bukhuluma ngomuntu ‘njengenhlanganisela yamandla omzimba nawengqondo.’c Noma kunjalo, izimfundiso zabo zisagxile emiqondweni yokuthi sonke isintu siyazula sisuka kokunye ukuphila siya kokunye ngokuzalwa kabusha (isamsara) okungenakubalwa futhi sihlushwa imiphumela yezenzo zesikhathi esidlule nesamanje (iKarma). Ngisho nakuba isigijimi sabo sokukhanyiselwa nokukhululwa kulomjikelezo singase sibonakale sikhanga, abanye bayabuza: Siqine kangakanani isisekelo sabo? Kunabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi konke ukuhlupheka kuwumphumela wezenzo zomuntu zokuphila kwangaphambili? Futhi, eqinisweni, kunabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi kukhona ukuphila kwesikhathi esidlule?

39. Omunye umbhalo wamaBuddha uwuchaza kanjani umthetho weKarma?

³⁹ Enye incazelo ngomthetho weKarma ithi:

“IKamma [igama elisho iKarma ngesiPali] iwumthetho ngokwayo. Kodwa akusho ukuthi kufanele kube khona umniki-mthetho. Imithetho evamile yemvelo, njengamandla adonsela phansi, ayimdingi umniki-mthetho. Umthetho weKamma nawo awumdingi umniki-mthetho. Usebenza emkhakheni wawo siqu ngaphandle kokungenela kwenxusa elibusayo elingaphandle, nelizimele.”—A Manual of Buddhism.

40. (a) Ukuba khona kwemithetho yemvelo kubonisani? (b) IBhayibheli lithini ngomthetho wokuthi yonke into inezimbangela nemiphumela?

⁴⁰ Ingabe lokhu kuwukucabanga okunengqondo? Ingabe imithetho yemvelo ngempela ayimdingi umniki-mthetho? Isazi seziqhumane ezitshuza emkhathini uDkt. Wernher von Braun wake wathi: “Imithetho yemvelo yendawo yonke inembe kangangokuba asinabo ubunzima bokwakha umkhumbi-mkhathi ukuba undize uye enyangeni sikwazi nokubala isikhathi sokundiza kwawo ngokunemba kweqhezu lomzuzwana. Lemithetho kumelwe ukuba yamiswa othile.” IBhayibheli futhi likhuluma ngomthetho wokuthi yonke into inezimbangela nemiphumela. Liyasitshela, “UNkulunkulu akahlekwa. Ngokuba lokho akuhlwanyelayo umuntu, lokho wokuvuna.” (Galathiya 6:7) Esikhundleni sokuba lithi lomthetho awumdingi umniki-mthetho, liveza ukuthi “uNkulunkulu akahlekwa,” okubonisa ukuthi lomthetho wamiswa ukuba usebenze nguMenzi wawo, uJehova.

41. (a) Yikuphi ukuqhathanisa okungase kwenziwe phakathi komthetho weKarma nomthetho wezinkantolo? (b) Veza umehluko phakathi kweKarma nesithembiso seBhayibheli.

⁴¹ Ngaphezu kwalokho, iBhayibheli lisitshela ukuthi “inkokhelo yesono ingukufa,” nokuthi “ofileyo ukhululiwe esonweni.” Ngisho nezinkantolo zokwahlulela ziyakuqaphela ukuthi akekho okumelwe ajeze ngokuphindiwe nganoma yiliphi icala. Kungani-ke, umuntu osezikhokhele kakade izono zakhe ngokufa kumelwe azalwe kabusha ukuze nje ahlushwe kabusha imiphumela yezenzo zakhe zesikhathi esidlule? Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphandle kokwazi ukuthi yiziphi lezenzo zesikhathi esidlule umuntu ajeziselwa zona, angakwazi kanjani ukuphenduka futhi athuthuke? Ingabe lokhu kungabhekwa njengokulunga? Ingabe kuyavumelana nomusa, okuthiwa uyimfanelo kaBuddha evelele kunazo zonke? Ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli, ngemva kokuba lithe “inkokhelo yesono ingukufa,” liqhubeka lithi: “Kepha isipho somusa sikaNkulunkulu singukuphila okuphakade kuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.” Yebo, lithembisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokuqeda konke ukonakala, isono, nokufa futhi uyoletha ukukhululeka nokuphelela kuso sonke isintu.—Roma 6:7, 23; 8:21; Isaya 25:8.

42. Isazi esingumBuddha sikuchaza kanjani ukuzalwa kabusha?

⁴² Ngokuqondene nokuzalwa kabusha, nansi incazelo yesazi esingumBuddha uDkt. Walpola Rahula:

“Umuntu akalutho umane nje uyinhlanganisela yamandla omzimba nengqondo. Lokho esikubiza ngokuthi ukufa kuwukungasebenzi ngokuphelele komzimba ongokwenyama. Ingabe wonke lamandla ama dú lapho lomzimba uyeka ukusebenza? UbuBuddha buthi ‘Cha.’ Intando, amandla okuziqokela, isifiso, ukomela ukuphila, ukuqhubeka, ukuba okwengeziwe, kungamandla amakhulu ashukumisa konke ukuphila, bonke ubukhona, ashukumisa ngisho nezwe lonke. Lawa angamandla amakhulu, amandla amakhulu kunawo wonke ezweni. NgokobuBuddha, lamandla awanqamuki ngokuyeka komzimba ukusebenza, okungukufa; kodwa ayaqhubeka ezibonakalisa ngesinye isimo, eveza ukuba khona ngokwesibili okubizwa ngokuthi ukuzalwa kabusha.”

43. (a) Ngokwesayensi yezinto eziphilayo, ukwakheka kwezici zofuzo zomuntu kunqunywa kanjani? (b) Yibuphi “ubufakazi” ngezinye izikhathi obunikezwayo ukuze kusekelwe ukuzalwa kabusha? (c) Ingabe “ubufakazi” obunjalo bokuzalwa kabusha buyavumelana nokuhlangenwe nakho okuvamile?

⁴³ Ngesikhathi sokukhulelwa, umuntu uzuza njengefa amaphesenti angu-50 ezici zofuzo kumzali ngamunye. Ngakho ayikho indlela yokuba afane nothile ekuphileni kwangaphambili ngamaphesenti angu-100. Ngempela, lenqubo yokuzalwa kabusha ayinakusekelwa yinoma yisiphi isifundiso sesayensi esaziwayo. Ngokuphindaphindiwe, labo abakholelwa emfundisweni yokuzalwa kabusha bacaphuna njengobufakazi okuhlangenwe nakho kwabantu abathi bakhumbula abantu abathile, izenzakalo, nezindawo ababengazazi ngaphambili. Ingabe lokhu kunengqondo? Ukuze kuthiwe umuntu okwaziyo ukulandisa ngezinto zesikhathi esidlule kumelwe ukuba waphila kuleyonkathi, kungadingeka ukuba kuthiwe nomuntu okwaziyo ukubikezela ikusasa—futhi baningi abazisholo ukuthi benza kanjalo—kumelwe ukuba uye waphila esikhathini esizayo. Lokho, ngokusobala, akunjalo.

44. Qhathanisa imfundiso yeBhayibheli ngokuphathelene ‘nomoya’ nemfundiso yamaBuddha yokuzalwa kabusha.

⁴⁴ Eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-400 ngaphambi kukaBuddha, iBhayibheli lakhuluma ngamandla okuphila. Lichaza lokho okwenzekayo lapho umuntu efa, lithi: “Uthuli lubuyele emhlabathini, njengokuba lwalunjalo, umoya ubuyele kuNkulunkulu owawunikayo.” (UmShumayeli 12:7) Igama elithi “umoya” lihunyushwe egameni lesiHeberu elithi ruʹach, elisho amandla okuphila enza ukuba zonke izidalwa eziphilayo ziphile, abantu nezilwane. (UmShumayeli 3:18-22) Nokho, umehluko obalulekile uwukuthi iruʹach ingamandla angeyena umuntu; ayinayo intando yayo noma ayikwazi ukulondoloza ubuntu obuthile noma yiziphi ezinye zezici zomuntu oshonile. Ayidluleli komunye umuntu lapho efa kodwa ‘ibuyela kuNkulunkulu owayinikayo.’ Ngamanye amazwi, amathemba alomuntu okuphila esikhathini esizayo—ithemba lovuko—asezandleni zikaNkulunkulu ngokuphelele.—Johane 5:28, 29; IzEnzo 17:31.

INirvana—Ingabe Iwukufinyelela Okungenakufinyelelwa?

45. Uyini umqondo wamaBuddha ngeNirvana?

⁴⁵ Lokhu kusiletha emfundisweni kaBuddha ngokukhanyiselwa nangokusindiswa. Ngamazwi obuBuddha, umqondo oyisisekelo wokusindiswa uwukukhululwa emithethweni yeKarma nesamsara, kuhlanganise nokufinyelela iNirvana. Iyini iNirvana? Imibhalo yamaBuddha ithi ayinakuchazeka kodwa umuntu angamane nje ayizwe. Akulona izulu lapho umuntu eya khona ngemva kokufa kodwa iwukufinyelela lokho okungafinyelelwa abantu bonke, lapha namanje. Leligama ngokwalo kuthiwa lisho “ukucima.” Ngakho, abanye bachaza iNirvana ngokuthi ukunqamuka kwazo zonke izinkanuko nezifiso; ukuphila okungenayo imizwelo engokwenyama, njengobuhlungu, ukwesaba, ukuswela, ukuthanda, noma ukuzonda; isimo sokuthula okuphakade, ukuphumula, nokungashintshashintshi. Ngokuyisisekelo, kuthiwa kuwukunqamuka kokuphila kobuntu.

46, 47. (a) Ngokwezimfundiso zamaBuddha, uyini umthombo wensindiso? (b) Kungani umbono wamaBuddha ngomthombo wensindiso uphambene nokuhlangenwe nakho okuvamile?

⁴⁶ UBuddha wafundisa ukuthi ukukhanyiselwa nokusindiswa—ukuphelela kweNirvana—akuveli kunoma yimuphi uNkulunkulu noma amandla angaphandle, kodwa kuvela kumuntu ngokwakhe ngomzamo wakhe siqu wemisebenzi emihle nemicabango efanele. Lokhu kuphakamisa lombuzo: Ingabe into ephelele ingavela entweni engaphelele? Okuhlangenwe nakho kwethu okuvamile akusitsheli yini, njengoba kwasho umprofethi uJeremiya ongumHeberu, ukuthi “indlela yomuntu ayikuye uqobo; akukuyo indoda ukuba ihambe, iqondise izinyathelo zayo”? (Jeremiya 10:23) Uma engekho umuntu okwaziyo ukulawula ngokuphelele izenzo zakhe ngisho nasezindabeni ezilula zokuphila kwansuku zonke, ingabe kunengqondo ukucabanga ukuthi ukhona umuntu ongayifinyelela ngokwakhe insindiso yakhe yaphakade?—IHubo 146:3, 4.

⁴⁷ Njengoba nje umuntu obhajwe esihlabathini esibishayo engenakukwazi ukuzikhulula kuso ngokwakhe, ngokufanayo sonke isintu sibambeke ogibeni lwesono nokufa, futhi akakho okwaziyo ukuzikhipha kulolugibe. (Roma 5:12) Nokho, uBuddha wafundisa ukuthi insindiso ixhomeke kuphela emzamweni womuntu ngokwakhe. Isikhuthazo sakhe avalelisa ngaso abafundi bakhe sasiwukuba “bancike kubo ngokwabo futhi banganciki kunoma yiluphi usizo lwangaphandle; babambelele ngokuqinile eqinisweni njengesibani; bafune insindiso kuphela eqinisweni; bangabheki usizo lwanoma ubani ngaphandle kwabo.”

Ukukhanyiselwa Noma Ukudumazeka?

48. (a) Enye incwadi iwuchaza kanjani umphumela wemiqondo yamaBuddha eyinkimbinkimbi njengeNirvana? (b) Uye waba yini umphumela wesithakazelo samuva ezimfundisweni zobuBuddha ezindaweni ezithile?

⁴⁸ Uyini umphumela wemfundiso enjalo? Ingabe ikhuthaza amakholwa ayo ukuba akholwe futhi azinikele ngeqiniso? Incwadi ethi Living Buddhism ibika ukuthi kwamanye amazwe obuBuddha, ngisho “nezindela zizibukela phansi izimiso eziphakeme zenkolo yazo. Ukufinyelelwa kweNirvāna kucatshangelwa kabanzi njengesifiso okungenathemba lokuthi singafinyelelwa, futhi ukuzindla kwenziwa ngokwethukela. Ngaphandle kokufunda iTipitaka ngokwethukela, zizinikela ekubeni ithonya lokuhle nelokuzwana emphakathini.” Ngokufanayo, iWorld Encyclopedia (yesiJapane), lapho ikhulumela ukuvuselelwa kwesithakazelo kwamuva ezimfundisweni zobuBuddha, iyaphawula: “Lapho isifundo sobuBuddha siba esicubungulisisayo, kuyilapho siqhela khona ngokwengeziwe enjongweni yaso yokuqala—ukuqondisa abantu. Ngokwalombono, ukuthambekela kwamuva ekufundeni ubuBuddha ngokukhandleka akusho ngempela ukuvuselelwa kokholo oluphilayo. Kunalokho, kumelwe kuphawulwe ukuthi lapho inkolo iba isisulu solwazi oluyinkimbinkimbi lwezinto ezingabonakali, ukuphila kwayo okungokoqobo njengokholo kulahlekelwa amandla akho.”

49. Ngabaningi, ubuBuddha buye baba yini?

⁴⁹ Umqondo oyisisekelo wobuBuddha uwukuthi ulwazi nokuqonda kuholela ekukhanyiselweni nasekusindisweni. Kodwa izimfundiso eziyinkimbinkimbi zamaqembu obuBuddha ahlukahlukene ziye zaveza kuphela lesimo esiphawulwe ngenhla “okungenathemba lokuthi singafinyelelwa,” esingenakufinyelelwa amakholwa amaningi. Kuwo, ubuBuddha buye bancishiswa baba ukwenza okulungile nokulandela imikhuba enemicikilisho embalwa nemithetho elula. Abubhekani nemibuzo yokuphila ekhungathekisayo, enjengokuthi: Sivelaphi? Kungani silapha? Liyini ikusasa lomuntu nomhlaba?

50. Yimuphi umbuzo ofikayo engqondweni uma kucatshangelwa okuhlangenwe nakho kwamaBuddha athile aqotho? (Qhathanisa neyabaseKolose 2:8.)

⁵⁰ Amanye amaBuddha aqotho aye akubona ukudideka nokudumazeka okuvela ezimfundisweni eziyinkimbinkimbi nasemikhubeni enemicikilisho yobuBuddha esindayo njengoba buqhutshwa namuhla. Imizamo yamaqembu nezinhlangano zobuBuddha yokuthuthukisa ezenhlala-kahle kwamanye amazwe kungenzeka ukuthi iye yaletha ukukhululeka ebuhlungwini nasekuhluphekeni kwabaningi. Kodwa njengomthombo wokukhanyiselwa nokukhululwa kweqiniso kwabo bonke, ingabe ubuBuddha buye basigcwalisa isithembiso sabo?

Ingabe Ukukhanyiselwa Ngaphandle KukaNkulunkulu Kungenzeka?

51. (a) Okunye ukulandisa okufushane okulotshiwe kusitshelani ngezimfundiso zikaBuddha? (b) Ukweqiwa kwani ebalulekile okusobala ezimfundisweni zikaBuddha? (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 IziKronike 16:9; IHubo 46:1; 145:18.)

⁵¹ Ukulandisa ngokuphila kukaBuddha kulandisa ukuthi ngesinye isikhathi yena nabafundi bakhe babesehlathini. Wakha amaqabunga agcwala isandla wayesethi kubafundi bakhe: “Lokho enginifundisé khona kulingana namaqabunga asesandleni sami, lokho enginganifundisanga khona kulingana nenani lamaqabunga asehlathini.” Yebo, umqondo wawuwukuthi uBuddha wayefundise ingxenye encane kuphela yalokho ayekwazi. Nokho, kukhona okuthile okubalulekile okuye kweqiwa—uGautama onguBuddha akazange asho lutho ngoNkulunkulu; futhi akazange athi yena unguNkulunkulu. Eqinisweni, kuthiwa watshela abafundi bakhe, “Uma uNkulunkulu ekhona, akukholeki ukuthi uyazikhathalela izindaba zami zansuku zonke,” nokuthi “abekho onkulunkulu abangamsiza umuntu noma abazomsiza.”

52. (a) Uyini umbono wobuBuddha ngoNkulunkulu? (b) Yini ubuBuddha obungazange buyinake?

⁵² Ngalomqondo, indima yobuBuddha ekufuneni kwesintu uNkulunkulu weqiniso incane kakhulu. IEncyclopedia of World Faiths iphawula ukuthi “ubuBuddha bakuqala kubonakala bungazange buwucabangele umbuzo ngoNkulunkulu, futhi ngokuqinisekile abuzange bukufundise noma bukudinge ukukholelwa kuNkulunkulu.” Ekugcizeleleni kwabo ukuba umuntu ngamunye azifunele insindiso ngokwakhe, ukuphendukela emqondweni wakhe nasekuphaphameleni kwakhe izinto ukuba athole ukukhanyiselwa, ubuBuddha ngokuqinisekile buthi uNkulunkulu akaziwa, uma bungasho ukuthi uNkulunkulu akekho. (Bheka ibhokisi, ekhasini 145.) Ekuzameni kwabo ukulahla ozankosi bobuHindu bokukholelwa ezeni nasohlwini olukhungathekisayo lonkulunkulu babo basezinganekwaneni, ubuBuddha buye bajikela kolunye uhlangothi olweqisayo. Bawushaya indiva umqondo oyisisekelo ngoMuntu Ophakeme, lowo zonke izinto eziphila futhi zisebenze ngentando yakhe.—IzEnzo 17:24, 25.

53. Yini engashiwo ngokufuna ukukhanyiselwa ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu? (Qhathanisa nezAga 9:10; Jeremiya 8:9.)

⁵³ Ngenxa yalendlela yokucabanga egxiliswe kumuntu ngokwakhe neyokuzibusa, umphumela uyinkimbinkimbi yangempela yezinsumansumane, amasiko, izimfundiso eziyinkimbinkimbi, nezincazelo eziye zasungulwa amaqembu amaningi namahlelo phakathi namakhulu eminyaka. Lokho okwakuhloselwe ukuba kulethe ikhambi elilula ezinkingeni eziyinkimbinkimbi zokuphila kwaphumela esimisweni senkolo nesefilosofi esingalé kokuqonda kwabantu abaningi. Esikhundleni salokhu, umlandeli wobuBuddha ovamile ubambeke kakhulu ekukhulekeleni izithombe nemifanekiso eqoshiwe, onkulunkulu namademoni, imimoya nawokhokho, nasekwenzeni eminingi eminye imikhuba enemicikilisho nemikhuba engaphathelene nalokho uGautama onguBuddha akufundisa. Ngokucacile, ukufuna ukukhanyiselwa ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu akusebenzi.

54. Izimfundiso zabaphi abanye abantu abacabangayo abathanda inkolo baseMpumalanga ezizocatshangelwa ngokulandelayo?

⁵⁴ Cishe ngesikhathi esifanayo uGautama onguBuddha ayefuna ngaso indlela eya ekukhanyiselweni, kwenye ingxenye yezwekazi laseAsia kwakuhlala izazi zefilosofi ezimbili ezimiqondo yazo yathonya izigidi zabantu. ZazingoLao-tzu noConfucius, izazi ezimbili ezihlonishwa izizukulwane zamaChina nabanye. Zafundisani, futhi zakuthonya kanjani ukufuna kwesintu uNkulunkulu? Yilokho esizokucabangela esahlukweni esilandelayo.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 139]

Amaqiniso Amane Ayisisekelo KaBuddha

UBuddha wachaza imfundiso yakhe eyisisekelo kulokho okubizwa ngokuthi amaQiniso Amane Ayisisekelo. Lapha sicaphuna encwadini iDhammacakkappavattana Sutta (ISisekelo Sombuso Wokulunga), enguqulweni kaT. W. Rhys Davids:

▪ “Manje lokhu, nina maBhikku, kuyiqiniso eliyisisekelo ngokuphathelene nokuhlupheka. Ukuzala kuhambisana nobuhlungu, ukuwohloka kubuhlungu, ukugula kubuhlungu, ukufa kubuhlungu. Ukuhlangana nokungathandeki kubuhlungu, kubuhlungu futhi nokuhlukana nokuthandekayo; kanti noma yisiphi isifiso esinganelisiwe, naso sibuhlungu. . . .

▪ “Manje lokhu, nina maBhikku, kuyiqiniso eliyisisekelo ngokuphathelene nomsuka wokuhlupheka. Ngokuqinisekile, yilokho koma, okubangela ukuvuseleleka kokuphila, okuhambisana nenjabulo engokwenyama, ukufuna ukwaneliseka manje lapha, manje lapho—okungukuthi, ukunxanela ukwaneliswa kwezinkanuko, noma ukunxanela ukuphila, noma ukunxanela ukuphumelela. . . .

▪ “Manje lokhu, nina maBhikku, kuyiqiniso eliyisisekelo ngokuphathelene nokubhujiswa kokuhlupheka. Ngokuqinisekile, kuwukubhujiswa, izinkanuko ezingasindi kukho, kwakho kanye lokhu koma; ukubekelwa kwakho eceleni, ukuqedwa kwakho, ukukhululwa kukho ukungasafukanyelwa kwalokhu koma. . . .

▪ “Manje lokhu, nina maBhikku, kuyiqiniso eliyisisekelo ngokuqondene nendlela eholela ekubhujisweni kosizi. Ngokuqinisekile, yilendlela enhle enemizila eyisishiyagalombili; okungukuthi: imibono efanele; izifiso ezifanele; inkulumo efanele; ukuziphatha okufanele; ukuphila okufanele; umzamo ofanele; ukucabanga ngezinto ezifanele; nokuzindla okufanele.”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 145]

UbuBuddha NoNkulunkulu

“UbuBuddha bufundisa indlela eya ebuhleni nasekuhlakanipheni okuphelele ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo onobuqu obuthile; olwazini oluphakeme kakhulu ngaphandle ‘kwesambulo’; . . . ekubeni nokwenzeka kokuhlengwa ngaphandle komhlengi owazinikela ngenxa yabanye, ukusindiswa umuntu ngamunye angumsindisi wakhe siqu kukho.”—The Message of Buddhism, kaBhikkhu Subhadra, njengoba ecashunwe kwethi What Is Buddhism?

Khona-ke ingabe amaBuddha akholelwa ekutheni uNkulunkulu akekho? Incwadi ethi What Is Buddhism? eyanyatheliswa amaLungu ObuBuddha, eLondon, iyaphendula: “Uma ngegama elithi atheist nisho umuntu owenqaba umqondo wokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu ophilayo onobuqu obuthile, khona-ke siyilabobantu.” Khona-ke iyaqhubeka ithi: “Umqondo okhulayo ungawamukela ngokushesha umqondo weNdawo Yonke eqondiswa uMthetho ongaguquguquki, njengoba ungamukela umqondo woMuntu okude ongasoze wambona, ongazi ukuthi uhlalaphi, nalowo esikhathini esithile owathi ezeni wadala iNdawo Yonke egcwele inzondo, ukungalungi, ukungalingani kwamathuba, nokuhlupheka nombango okungapheli.”

Ngakho, ngokombono, ubuBuddha abusho ukuthi bukholelwa kuNkulunkulu noma uMdali. Nokho, amathempeli amaBuddha nezindlu zokukhulekela ezineziqongo eziyindilinga kuyatholakala namuhla cishe kuwo wonke amazwe lapho ubuBuddha buqhutshwa khona, futhi izithombe nemifanekiso eqoshiwe zawoBuddha namabodhisattva kuye kwaba izinto okuyiswa kuzo imithandazo, iminikelo, nokuzinikela kwamaBuddha ashisekayo. UBuddha, ongazange athi unguNkulunkulu, uye waba unkulunkulu ngazo zonke izindlela.

[Ibalazwe elisekhasini 142]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

Ngasekhulwini lesikhombisa leminyaka C.E., ubuBuddha base busakazekile ukusuka eNdiya kuya kulo lonke elasempumalanga yeAsia

INDIYA

IBenares

IBuddh Gaya

IKHULU LESI-3 B.C.E. ISRI LANKA

IKHULU LESI-4 C.E. IKOREA

IKHULU LESI-6 C.E. IJAPANE

IKHULU LESI-7 C.E. ITIBET

[Izithombe ekhasini 131]

Amathempeli obuBuddha ayahluka ngezimo emhlabeni wonke

EChengteh, enyakatho yeChina

EKofu, eJapane

EDolobheni LaseNew York, eU.S.A.

EChiang Mai, eThailand

[Isithombe ekhasini 133]

Umfanekiso oqoshiwe etsheni, iPhupho LikaMaya, ovela eGandhara, ePakistan, uveza owayezokuba uBuddha eyindlovu emhlophe ehlonishwayo engena ngasohlangothini lwesokudla lweNdlovukazi uMaya ukuze ikhulelwe

[Izithombe ekhasini 134]

Izindela nabakhulekeli bobuBuddha ethempelini eDolobheni LaseNew York

[Izithombe ekhasini 141]

Imifanekiso kaBuddha esezimweni zokunyakaza komzimba ezicatshangelwe

engena eNirvana

efundisa

ezindla

emelana nokulingwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

Udwendwe lokuhlonipha usuku lokuzalwa lukaBuddha, eTokyo, eJapane. Indlovu emhlophe engemuva ifanekisela uBuddha

[Izithombe ekhasini 150]

Amakhasi eLotus Sutra (ekhulwini le-10 leminyaka), ngesiChina, achaza amandla ebodhisattva uKuan-yin okusindisa emlilweni nasesikhukhuleni. IBodhisattva uKsitigarbha, ngakwesokudla, wayedumile eKorea ekhulwini le-14 leminyaka

[Isithombe ekhasini 155]

Umqulu wamaBuddha ovela eKyoto, eJapane ubonisa ukuhlushwa “esihogweni”

[Izithombe ekhasini 157]

Njengoba ungabona, ukusuka kwesobunxele phezulu kuya ngakwesokudla, amaBuddha namuhla akhuleka ngaphambi kwelingam, eBangkok, eThailand; phambi komfanekiso oqoshwé etsheni weZinyo likaBuddha eKandy, eSri Lanka; naphambi kwemifanekiso kaBuddha eSingapore naseNew York

[Izithombe ekhasini 158]

Owesifazane ongumBuddha uyathandaza ngaphambi kwealtare lomkhaya, nabantwana behlanganyela enkonzweni yasethempelini