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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism