When it comes to spreading the Dharma, the Buddhist attitude can be summarized in a single Pali word: ehipassiko, which literally means “come, see”. Buddhism is not a faith tradition; it is an evidence-centric insight tradition. For that reason, the Buddha does not invite you to believe, he invites you to come and see it for yourself, and then decide what you want to do with it.
Soryu and I hope that this Buddhism for All series helps you see Buddhism for yourself. I think of my job as that of a door opener. The Dharma is like the precious treasure of a generous king who is giving everything away. This Dharma treasure is free for all to take, no strings attached, but not many people know where the door to the treasure house is. My job is to show you where the door is and to open it for you. I invite you to come see the treasure for yourself, and to take whatever you like, or nothing at all, whatever suits you. My job is not to tell you how much treasure to take, it is simply to open that door. That door to the teachings is popularly known in Buddhism as a Dharma Door.
Allow us to end the Buddhism For All series with three stories. Coming up in the next three posts.
Artwork by Colin Goh.
