Part Five
A Religion For Real Human Progress
第五篇
宗教与人类的进展
Chapter 13 Nature, Value And Choice Of Religious Beliefs
第十三章 自然.价值观和宗教信仰
Man and Religion
人类与宗教
Man is the only living being in this world who has discovered religion and performs worship and prayer.
人类是自然界中，唯一有宗教信仰的生物。
Man developed religion in order to satisfy his desire to understand the life within him and the world outside him. The earliest religions had animistic origins, and they arose out of man's fear of the unknown and his desire to placate the forces which he thought inhabited inanimate objects. Over time these religions underwent changes, being shaped by the geographical, historical, socio-economic, political and intellectual environment existing at that time.
人类建立宗教信仰，为了满足自己对生命内在和外在的了解和欲望。由于人类对自然现象的恐惧，崇敬自然现象，赋予自然现象拟人化的表征，从而产生了最原始的宗教。这些原始宗教，受到时间、地理、历史、环境、经济、政治、文化的影响，不断的在演变。
Many of these religions have become organized and are flourishing to this day, backed by a strong following of devotees. Many people are drawn to organized religions because of the pomp and ceremony, while there are some who prefer to practice their own personal religion, inwardly venerating their religious teachers and applying moral principles in their daily life. Because of the importance of practice, every religion claims to be a way of life, not merely a faith. In view of their various origins and paths of development which religions undergo, it is hardly surprising that the religions of man should differ in their approach, the understanding and interpretation of their followers, their goal and how it can be achieved, and their concept of reward and punishment for deeds performed.
很多原始宗教，因为组织健全和信徒们大力的支持，至今不但存在，还在继续的发展。很多人被宗教仪式和典礼所吸引，但是，某些人选择了自己的信仰，在生活中实践道德性的修持。因为强调道德性的重要，每一个宗教都宣称他们的教义不止是信仰，还是生活的道路。各种宗教所了解的范围和所阐述的道理都不一样，它们的宗旨和如何实现目标的方法也不一样，它们对人类行为的赏、罚概念也不一致。
In terms of approach, religious practices may be based on faith, fear, rationality or harmlessness: Faith forms the basis of many religious practises which were developed to overcome man's fear and to meet his needs. A religion of miraculous or mystical powers exploits that fear which arises from ignorance and makes promises of material gain based on greed. A religion of devotion is based on emotion and the fear of the supernatural which, it is so believed, can be appeased through rites and rituals. A religion of faith is based on the desire for gaining confidence in the face of the uncertainty of human life and destiny.
这是因为各种宗教的缘起、背景和经历都不一样的缘故。某些人可能是因为信心、恐惧、理智或仁慈的理由而信仰宗教。很多宗教以满足信徒的欲望和恐惧，来争取信徒。有些以奇迹或神秘的力量来迷惑那些贪婪和无知的信徒，并许诺信徒将获得物质的报酬。有些以迷信的概念，通过法事和仪轨来误导那些畏惧于超自然力量的信徒。有些信仰是树立人们的信心去面对生命的无常和对命运的恐惧。
Some religious practices grew as a result of the development of man's knowledge, experience and wisdom. The rational approach to religion had been adopted in this case, incorporating the principles of human value and natural or universal laws. It is based on humanism and concentrates on the cultivation of humane qualities. A religion of cause and effect or kamma is based on the principle of self-help and assumes that the individual alone is responsible for his own happiness and suffering as well as salvation. A religion of wisdom is based on the application of reason and seeks to understand life and the reality of worldly conditions through analytical knowledge.
有些宗教的发展，是基于人类的学识、经验和智慧。理智的宗教信仰，融入自然法和人类的价值观，建立在仁慈、善良的品质上。一个以「因果」为基础的宗教，强调一个人必须对自己的善与恶业负责，接受自己所造成的幸福或苦难。一个智慧型的宗教，建立在以智慧分析和了解生命的本质以及宇宙的真理上。
Harmlessness and goodwill are common elements found in religion. A religion of peace is based on the principle of causing no harm to oneself as well as others, and its followers are to cultivate a harmonious, liberal and peaceful life. A religion of goodwill or loving-kindness is based on the sacrifice and service for the welfare and happiness of others.
仁慈和善心是两大宗教品质。宗教能带来和平是因为不伤害和善待一切众生，同时，也为信徒缔造一个和谐、自由和宁静的生活。宗教的善心或慈悲心是建立在牺牲、服务、以及为众生谋求福利。
Religions differ according to the understanding capacity of their followers and the interpretation which religious authorities give to the religious doctrines and practices. In some religions, codes, while in others they only provide advice on the need and the way to follow these codes. Every religion will offer reasons to explain the existing human problems and inequalities and the way to remedy the situation. By way of explanation, some religions claim that man has to face these problems because he is on trial in this world. When such an explanation is given, another may ask, 'For what purpose? How can a man be judged on the basis of just one life when human beings generally differ in their experiences of physical, intellectual, social, economic and environmental factors and conditions?'
宗教的差别就在于信徒的了解和宗教导师如何解释教义和修行。在某些宗教里，宗教导师拥有很大的权力制定一切律法，而某些宗教只为信徒指引一条道德和正确的道路。所有的宗教都为人类的不平等和种种问题给予不同的答案和弥补的方法。某些宗教认为人类面对种种的问题，是因为他有罪。当这种论调提出时，有人不禁要问：「人类的物质、思想、社会背景、经济、环境及经历都有所不同，又怎能在人类短短的一生中来判断一个人是否有罪呢？」
Every religion has its own concept of what is regarded to be the goal of spiritual life. For some religions, eternal life in heaven or paradise with the Lord is the final goal. For some the ultimate aim in life is the union of universal consciousness, because it is believed that life is a unit of consciousness and it must return to the same original consciousness. Some religions believe that the ending of suffering or repeated birth and death is the final goal. For others, even heavenly bliss or union with Brahma (creator) is secondary to the uncertainty of existence, no matter, whatever form it takes. And there are even some who believe that the present life itself is more than enough to experience the aim of life.
每一个宗教都有一套对自己心灵目标的不同观念。有些宗教认为在天堂过永恒的生活是他们的最终目的。有些人认为生命是意识的一部份，必须回归到原始的意识。有些宗教相信，断灭苦和生死轮回是终极目标。有些却认为天堂的快乐，和「神」的境界是次要的，因为，他们认为不管在什么情况下生命都是无常。有些人却相信目前的生活已足够让他们体验人生的目标了。
To attain the desired goal, every religion offers a method. Some religions ask their followers to surrender to God or depend on God for everything. Others call for stringent asceticism as the means of purging oneself of all evil through self mortification. Some others recommend the performance of animal sacrifices and many kinds of rites and rituals as well as the recital of mantras for their purification to gain the final goal. There is yet another which upholds diverse methods and devotions, intellectual realization of truth, and concentration of the mind through meditation.
Each religion has a different concept of punishment for evil deeds. According to some religions, man is doomed forever by God for his transgressions in this one life. Some others say that action and reaction(cause and effect)operate due to natural laws and the effect of a deed will only be experienced for a certain period. Some religions maintain that this life is only one of so many, and a person will always have chance to reform himself in stages until he finally evolves to attain the goal of Supreme Bliss.
每个宗教都有他们一套达到目标的方法。有些宗教要信徒归顺于「神」并依赖它。有些通过苦行来清除自己的罪孽。有些以牺牲动物的生命来祭祀，及持咒来净化自己。有些宗教采取比较广泛的修行方法，透过禅定来觉悟真理。每一个宗教都有自己一套不同的赏善、罚恶的观念。有些宗教认为人类一生下来就在犯罪，必须接受惩罚。有些相信因果是一种自然法，果报会在某些时候现前。有些宗教认为这一生是无数生之一，一个人有很多机会在不同阶段改善自己，最后得到最高的快乐。
Given such a wide variety of approaches, interpretations and goals of different religions adopted by mankind, it is useful for people not to hold dogmatic views about their religion but to be open to and tolerant of other religious views.
每个不同的宗教都有不同宗旨和教义，我们不要执着于自己所信仰的宗教，对其他宗教要有容忍的精神。
The Buddha said: 'One must not accept my teachings from reverence, but first try them as gold is tried by fire.'
佛陀说：「不要因为崇敬而相信我的教诲，必须像熔炼黄金一样，通过试验后才相信我。」
After emphasizing the importance of maintaining an open mind towards religious doctrines, it is useful to remember that a religion should be practised for the welfare , freedom and happiness of all living beings. That is, religious principles should be used positively to improve the quality of life of all beings. Yet today, humankind is corrupted and has gone astray from basic religious principles. Immoral and evil practices have become common among many people, and religious-minded people experience difficulties trying to maintain certain religious principles in modern life. At the same time, the standard of basic religious principles is also lowered to pander to the demands of polluted and selfish minds. Man should not violate universal moral codes to suit his own greed or indulgence; rather man should try to adjust himself according to these codes taught by religion. Religious precepts have been introduced by enlightened religious teachers who have realized the noble way of life which leads to peace and happiness. Those who violate these precepts transgress the universal laws, which, according to Buddhism will bring bad effects through the working of moral causation.
This does not mean, on the other hand, that a person should slavishly follow what is found in his religion, regardless of its applicability to modern times. Religious laws and precepts should enable people to lead a meaningful life, and are not to be used to bind them to archaic practices and superstitious rituals and beliefs. A person who upholds the basic religious principles should give credit to human intelligence and live respectably with human dignity. There must be some changes in our religious activities to correspond to our education and the nature of our changing society, without at the same time sacrificing the noble universal principles. But it is recognized that making changes to any religious practices is always difficult because many conservative people are opposed to changes, even if they are for the better. Such conservative views are like a stagnant pool of water, while fresh ideas are like the waterfall where the water is constantly being renewed and is, therefore, usable.
对各种宗教教义要有开放的思想，宗教的修持是为了自由、幸福和利乐一切众生。宗教的宗旨就为了要提升一切众生的本质。今天人类因为贪婪而远离宗教的基本宗旨。不道德和邪恶的行为，充斥了整个现代社会，有些宗教信仰者，对维持正常的宗教行为感到越来越困难了。同时，某些宗教也降低了自己的基本原则，来迎合那些污秽和自私的人群。人类不应该侵犯道德标准来符合自己的贪婪和放纵，而是持守道德规范来改进自己。宗教的道德规范是由宗教导师所制定的，因为他们觉悟到神圣的宗教生活是达到清净和快乐的唯一途径。那些不道德行为的人，触犯了宇宙的法则(因果法)，这会给他们带来恶的果报。
Distortion of Religion
宗教的曲解：
Despite the value of religion in moral upliftment, it is also true to say that religion is a fertile soil for the development of superstitions and devotional hypocrisy, wrapped under the cloak of religiosity. Many people use religion to escape from the realities of life and put on the garb of religion and religious symbols. They may even pray very often in places of worship, yet they are not sincerely religious minded and have not understood what religion stands for. When a religion has been debased by ignorance, greed for power and selfishness, people quickly point an accusing finger and say that religion is irrational. But 'Religion'(the ritualistic external practice of any teaching)must be distinguished from the teaching itself. Before one criticizes, one must study the original teachings of the founder and see it there is anything intrinsically wrong with it.
虽然宗教有它一定的道德价值。但是宗教也是一块肥沃的土地，滋长了迷信和虚妄的崇拜，这些迷信与虚妄都潜藏在宗教的外衣下。很多人以宗教来逃避现实生活，很多人虽然热心的在从事宗教活动，可是他们并非出自虔诚的心或真正了解宗教的意义。在贪婪、无知、权力和自私心的作用下，很多宗教被摧毁，这时，人们开始指责这宗教是不正信、非理性的宗教。一个宗教在受他人指责之前，就必须提升自己，学习和发扬创始者的教义，并找出其中错误的成份。
Religion advise people to do good and be good, but they are not interested in acting thus. Instead they prefer to cling to the other practices which have no real religious values. Had they tried to culture their minds by eradicating jealousy, pride, cruelty and selfishness, at least they would have found the correct way to practise a religion. Unfortunately, they develop jealousy, pride, cruelty and selfishness instead of eradicating them. Many people pretend to be religious, but commit the greatest atrocities in the name of religion. They fight, discriminate and create unrest for the sake of religion, losing sight of its lofty purpose. From the increase in the performance of various so-called religious activities, we may get the impression that religion is progressing, but the opposite is really the case since very little mental purity and understanding are actually being practised.
宗教奉劝人们向上、向善，但是人们对这点似乎不感兴趣，反而去从事一些没有宗教价值的活动，如果他们肯尝试去修心养性，纠正了不良的心识，如：嫉妒、骄傲、残忍和自私等，至少他们会找到正确的人生道路，不幸的是，他们不仅不重视这些不良心识，反而被这些不良心识所缠绕。很多人披宗教的外衣，以宗教的名誉做尽了伤天害理的事，他们为了自己的目的而起纷争、扰乱宗教，失去了宗教的崇高目标。从某些表面现象看来，这些宗教好像在进步，实际刚好相反，因为，他们很少去净化自己和真正的去了解宗教的意义。
Practising a religion is nothing than the development of one's inner awareness, goodwill and understanding. Problems would have to be faced squarely by relying on one's spiritual strength. Running away from one's problems in the name of spiritualism is not courageous, much less to be regarded as spiritual. Under today's chaotic conditions, men and women are rapidly sliding downhill to their own destruction. They irony is that they imagine they are progressing towards a glorious civilization that is yet to be realized.
其实，宗教的修持就是心灵的发展、仁慈和对教义清楚的了解。我们必须依靠自己心灵的力量来面对问题，以宗教修行来逃避问题，是一种懦夫的行为。在今天混乱的局势里，人类在自我毁灭。很讽刺的是，他们还以为他们朝向辉煌的文明冲刺、前进。
In the midst of this confusion, imaginary and plastic religious concepts are propagated to create more temptation and confusion in man's mind. Religion is being misused for personal gain and power. Certain immoral practices, such as free sex, have been encouraged by some irresponsible religious groups to introduce their religion among youths. By arousing lustful feelings, these groups hope to seduce boys and girls into following their religion. Today religion has degenerated into a cheap commodity in the religious market giving scant regard to moral values and what they stand for. Some missionaries claim that the practice of morals, ethics and precepts are not important as long as a person has faith and prays to God, which is believed to be sufficient to grant him salvation. Having witnessed how some religious authorities have misled and blindfolded their followers in Europe, Karl Marx made a caustic remark: 'Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the feelings of a heartless world, just as it is the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.'
这种混乱、想像和虚妄的宗教概念，混淆和迷惑了我们的思维，宗教被个人的私欲和利益滥用了。某些宗教向信徒们，尤其是年青人，推荐那些不道德的行为，如：性自由等，来吸引他们的支持。这种低贱的道德意识充斥宗教范围，导致宗教腐化，漠视于道德以及道德的意义。有些传教士认为对「神」的崇拜能获得拯救，道德与戒条不是重要的因素。在欧洲很多信徒被宗教所误导，卡尔.迈克指出：「宗教是被压迫众生的叹息。是无情世界的感受，有如失去灵魂的躯体。它是人类的鸦片。」
Man needs a religion not for the reason of giving him a dream for his next life or providing him with some dogmatic ideas to follow, in such a way that he surrenders his human intelligence and becomes a nuisance to his fellow beings. A religion should be a reliable and reasonable method for people to live 'here and now' as cultured, understanding beings, while setting a good example for others to follow. Many religions turn man's thoughts away from himself towards a supreme being, but Buddhism directs man's search for peace inward to the potentialities that lie hidden within himself. 'Dhamma'(meaning, to hold on)is not something a person searches outside himself, because in the final analysis, man is Dhammaand Dhammais man. Therefore, true religion, which is Dhamma,is not something outside us that we acquire, but the cultivation and realization of wisdom, compassion and purity that we develop within ourselves.
人类需要宗教，并不是为了要圆成未来的美梦，或为自己提供某些依怙，这种做法等于自我投降，将成为他人讥笑的对象。一个宗教必须以合理和确实的方法，让人类在现实中活得更有意义，同时也给他人做一个好榜样。很多宗教鼓励人类追求外在的力量，佛教却鼓励人们向自己的内心寻求潜藏的宁静──「法」。「法」的真相是：人既是法，法既是人。因此，「法」必须透过内心的修持和觉悟于智慧、慈悲和纯净来获得，除了修持外，没有其他途径能够获得这神圣和伟大的「法」。
Which is the Proper Religion?
正信的宗教
If any religion has the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, then it can be regarded as a proper religion.
具备四圣谛、八圣道的宗教，就是真正的宗教。
It is a very difficult for a man to find out why there are so many different religions, and which religion is the true one. Followers of every religion are trying to show the superiority of their religion. Diversity has created some uniformity, but in matters of religion, men took upon each other with jealousy, hatred and disdain. The most respected religious practices in one religion are deemed ridiculous to others. To introduce their divine and peaceful messages some people have to resorted to weapons and wars. Have they polluted the good name of religion? It seems that certain religions are responsible for dividing instead of uniting mankind.
To find a true and proper religion, we must weigh with an unbiased mind what exactly is a false religion. False religion or philosophies include: materialism which denies survival after death; amoralism which denies good and evil; any religion which asserts that man is miraculously saved or doomed; theistic evolution which holds that everything is preordained and everyone is destined to attain eventual salvation through mere faith.
Buddhism is free from unsatisfactory and uncertain foundations. Buddhism is realistic and verifiable. Its Truths have been verified by the Buddha, verified by His disciples, and always remain open to be verified by anyone who wishes to do so. And today, the Teachings of the Buddha, are being verified by the most severe methods of scientific investigation.
一个人在众多的宗教当中，要找一个真正的宗教是不容易的。每一个宗教的信徒，都认为他们所信仰的宗教是最卓越的。在五花八门的宗教里，共同的一项事实就是彼此轻视、嫉妒和诬蔑，每一个宗教都讥笑其他宗教的教义和修持方法。为什么有些宗教要用武力去宣扬它们的「神」，以及它们那「和平」的福音。它们是否亵渎了宗教的神圣性？从这点看来，某些宗教要为人类由合而分负起大部份责任。要找到一个真正的宗教，必须以不偏不倚的心来观察，什么是虚妄和不实际的宗教或宗教理论，包括：唯物主义，它否定了死后的存在，反道德主义，它否定了善与恶。大多数的宗教都宣扬人被奇迹般的拯救或毁灭。而有些有神论者，则认为每一件事都是宿命的，每一个人注定在最后得救。佛教并没有这些令人不满意或不正确的基础，佛教是现实主义者，一切理论都能被证实，它的真理已被佛陀和他的弟子们证实。佛教的真理不止被证实，而且还是敞开的，如今，仍然有很多人想要去证实它。佛陀所宣扬和教导的真理，今天已经获得严谨的科学家们所证实。
The Buddha advises that any form of religion is proper if it contains the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This clearly shows that the Buddha did not want to form a particular religion. What He wanted was to reveal the Ultimate Truth of our life and the world. Although the Buddha expounded the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path, this method is not the property of Buddhists alone. This is universal Truth.
佛陀说：「任何形式的宗教，只要包含了四圣谛和八圣道，就是真正的宗教。」这论点明白的表示，佛教不需要有特别的组织，佛教所示现的就是我们的生活和宇宙最究竟的真理。佛陀所宣说的四圣谛和八圣道，不仅属于所有的佛教徒，也是属于整个世界的真理。
Most people find it necessary to put forth arguments to 'prove' the validity of the religion that they are following. Some claim that their religion is the oldest and therefore contains the truth. Others claim that their religion is the latest or newest and therefore contains the truth. Some claim that their religion has the most followers and therefore contains the truth. Yet none of these arguments are valid to establish the truth of a religion. One can judge the value of a religion by using only common sense and understanding.
Some religious traditions require man to be subservient to a greater power than himself, a power which controls his creation, his actions and his final deliverance. The Buddha did not accept such powers. Rather, He assigned to man that very power by asserting that each man is his own creator, responsible for his own salvation. That is why it is said that 'There is none so godless as the Buddha and yet none so godlike'. The religion of the Buddhists gives man a great sense of dignity; at the same time it also gives him great responsibility. A Buddhist cannot put the blame on an external power when evil befalls him. But he can face misfortune with equanimity because he knows that he has the power to extricate himself from all misery.
One of the reason why Buddhism appeals to intellectuals and those with a good education, is that the Buddha expressly discouraged His followers from accepting anything they heard(even if it came from Himself)without first testing its validity. The teachings of the Buddha have remained and survived precisely because many intellectuals have challenged every aspect of the teachings and have concluded that the Buddha had always spoken the undeniable Truth. While other religionists are trying to 'reassess' their founder's teachings in the light of modern knowledge about the Universe, the Buddha's teaching are being verified by scientists.
大多数人对宗教都有先「证实」后信仰的心理。有些人则认为他们所信仰的宗教是最古老，所以也最「真」。有些人则声称，他们所信仰的宗教是最「新」的，所以也最「真」。某些宗教拥有很多信徒，因此他们认为他们的宗教最「真」。然而，这些所谓「真」的宗教，都是没有确实依据的宗教。一个人可以用普通常识来判断或理解一个宗教的价值。有些传统的宗教，鼓吹信徒能通过对它的信仰而获得超然的力量，这种超然的力量控制了信徒的创造力、行动和最后的命运。佛陀并不接受这种观点。佛陀认为超然的力量唯有通过个人的自我拯救才能获得。因此，佛陀说：「这世界没有『神』，佛陀也不是『神』。」佛教给予信徒们充足的知识来分辨这一切，同时也给予他们很大的信心。一个佛教徒，当受到邪恶的干扰时，不能依靠外在的力量。佛教徒以平常心来面对不幸，因为，他知道他拥有面对一切的力量。
佛教拥有许多知识份子和受过良好教育的信徒，这是因为他们毫无疑问的接受佛陀那超然的教义。知识份子之所以信奉佛教，是因为佛法意义深长、切实，许多知识份子追求的是有挑战性的学识，佛陀那不可否认的真理，迎合了他们。某些宗教想以现代有关宇宙的知识，「重新评估」他们的「祖师」，而佛陀的教义已被证实是具备科学性的。
Moral and Spiritual Development
道德与心灵的发展
Without a spiritual background man has no moral responsibility: man without moral responsibility poses a danger to society.
缺少了心灵的支柱，就没有道德的责任，缺少了道德，社会就危险了。
Buddhism has been an admirable lighthouse for guiding many a devotee to the salvation of eternal bliss. Buddhism is especially needed in the world today which is riddled with racial, economic and ideological misunderstandings. These misunderstandings can never be effectively cleared until the spirit of benevolent tolerance is extended towards others. This spirit can be best cultivated under the guidance of Buddhism which inculcates an ethical moral co-operation for universal good.
佛教是一座令人羡慕的灯塔，因为它引导信徒迈向永恒、幸福和解脱的大道。佛教在今天，显得特别需要，因为，今天的世界困惑于种族、国际、社群、经济以及意识形态的种种错误观念。这些错误的观念永远无法真正有效的解除，除非能以容忍和慈悲的精神去对待他人。而慈悲和容忍的精神却可以在佛教的指引下得到充分的培养和发展，同时也为人类提供了理性和道德的合作典范。
We know that it is easy to learn vice without a master, whereas virtue requires a tutor. There is a very great need for the teaching of virtue by precepts and examples.
我们知道，当一个人没有老师的指导时很容易学坏。道德需要通过理念和实际例子来教导，道德教育是迫切需要的事。
Without a spiritual background, man has no moral responsibility; man without moral responsibility poses danger to society.
缺少了心灵的支柱，就没有道德的责任，缺少了道德，社会就危险了。
In the Buddha's Teaching, it is said that the spiritual development of man is more important than the development of material welfare. History has taught us that we cannot expect to gain both worldly happiness and everlasting Happiness at the same time.
The lives of most people are generally regulated by spiritual values and moral principles which only religion can effectively provide. The governmental interference in the lives of people is made comparatively unnecessary if men and women can be made to realize the value of devotion and can practise the ideals of truth, justice and service.
Virtue is necessary to attain salvation, but virtue alone is not enough. Virtue must be combined with wisdom. Virtue and wisdom are like the pair of wings of a bird. Wisdom can also be compared to the eyes of a man; virtue, to his feet. Virtue can be likened to a vehicle that brings man up to the gate of salvation. But wisdom is the actually key that opens the gate. Virtue is a part of the technique of skillful and noble living. Without any ethical discipline, there cannot be a purification of the defilements of sentient existence.
Buddhism is not mere mumbo-jumbo, a myth told to entertain the human mind or to satisfy the human emotion, but a liberal and noble method for those who sincerely want to understand and experience the reality of life.
佛陀认为心灵资源的开发，比物质资源的开发来得更重要。历史的事实告诉我们，不能企望世俗的幸福与永恒的幸福同时获得。大多数人的一般正常生活基于心灵与道德价值观。心灵与道德的价值，唯有宗教才能有效的提供。如果人们能了解这些价值，同时去实践那公平、奉献和仁爱的真理，那么就不需要社会法制或政府的律法来干预人类的生活了。高尚的道德，是获得解脱的必要因素。但是，只有道德是不足够的，道德必须与智慧相结合。就好像鸟类的双翼，智慧好比人类的双眼，道德则是我们的双脚。道德如车轮，可以运送我们到解脱之门，而打开这扇大门的钥匙就是──智慧。道德是精湛、专门和高尚生活的一部份，缺少道德修养，就无法使心灵的污点获得净化。
佛教不是盲目崇拜的宗教，不以神话来满足或应酬人类的情绪，佛教以自由和神圣的方式，来引导虔诚的信徒去了解和体验真正的人生。
