Go Beyond Buddha ('Mogano Sengma Buddha' Catch-Phrase In Theravada Buddhism Of Burma)
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
8 July 2023
I fully
agree with Hats off that it's not advisable to follow Vivekananda, Avivekananda
or for that matter, any specific individual however 'exalted', 'evolved' or
'enlightened' he may appear to you. There's a beautiful catch-phrase in Theravada
Buddhism of Burma. It's, 'Mogano Sengma Buddha' (Go Beyond Buddha).
It's a very
profound statement and treatises have been written on it. An episode from the
Mahayana Discourses will help you understand this better. Once Buddha asked his
disciple Upaali, "Who'll you follow? " " You, master. Who else?
" pat came the reply from Upaali. Buddha was upset and said, "But I'm
a human and I'm flawed. Follow your conscience, intellect and prudence. Never
follow me or any individual."
"But
I'm a human and I'm flawed!" What a bold and honest confessional
statement! Aldous Huxley called it the most beautiful statement ever to have
been made by any human. It sure is. Think over it: I'm a human and am flawed.
An enlightened Buddha is saying this.
Ergo, '
Going Beyond Buddha ' is a deeply philosophical statement or an intellectual
warning. Find the Buddha deeply buried in the debris of your own self rather
than chase a Buddha or an individual you can never relate to. This statement is
not just for the followers of Buddhism. It's
meant for the entire humanity.
Whether
it's your Muhammad, Ram, Krishna, Moses, Zarathushtra, Jesus, Mahavir,
Vivekananda or Avivekananda, all these characters, so-called prophets or
enlightened masters have been humans like you and I. They're stations, not
destinations. Halting at them is to miss the bus to your destination.
Vivekananda
may have been an evolved soul but he didn't go beyond the precincts of his
Hinduism. So, he wasn't universal in the broadest sense of the word. His
understanding of the world's major religions were with respect to his Hinduism.
So was the
great Jalaluddin Rumi. He was 'enlightened' but tied to Islam till he breathed
his last. Admire them or any other 'enlightened' person/s but don't follow
anyone. Don't stop at any place or person in your sojourn of
self-enlightenment. To quote Faiz Ahmad Faiz: Muqaam 'Faiz' Koi Raah Mein
Jacha Hi Nahin/ Jo Koo-E-Yaar Se Nikle Toh Soo-E-Daar Chale (I didn't get
enamoured of any station on my way to soul-searching / Once I came out of the
alley of my beloved, I marched towards the scaffold). Why do humans need to tie
themselves to the apron-strings of all these 'masters' and messiahs? You're
expected to traverse all alone in the journey of self-evolution and revolution
without the help of anyone.
Because of
our inherent proclivity to follow some exalted teachers, gurus and masters, we
indirectly encourage the Gurudom and 'business' of spirituality to
thrive. Walk alone on the path of self-realization. Remember a famous line written
by Saadat Hasan Manto, "Ek
Insaan Ka Muqaddar Koi Doosra Insaan Nahin Likhta" (An individual's
destiny is not scripted by someone else).
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/buddha-mogano-sengma-theravada-buddhism-burma/d/130160
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