5. The Fundamental Attitude.
Buddhists should fol-
low the path which
was prescribed by the Buddha.
For this purpose faith is indispensable, but
it is only
a preliminary requirement for one's practicing the way.
According to Buddhism faith should not be in contra-
diction to reason. The Buddha was described as one
who has reasoned according to the truth rather than
on the basis of the
authority of the Vedas or tradition.
Buddhists have accepted two standards
for the truth
of a statement: it must be in accordance with the
scriptures and must be proved true by reasoning.
Buddhism presupposes universal laws called
dharmas, which govern human existence and may be
known by reason (“dharma” means etymologically
“the
one that keeps”). Personal relations should be
brought
into harmony with the universal norms, the universal
laws
which apply to all existence, regardless of time
and space. Buddhism claims
to be the Path which is
regarded as the universal norm for all mankind,
con-
formity to the nature of the
universe. A Buddha is
simply one who has trodden this Path and can report
to others
on what he has found. Buddhism theoretically
admits the existence of many
Buddhas.
On the other hand, metaphysical speculation con-
cerning problems not related to human activities and
the
attainment of Enlightenment is discouraged—e.g.,
problems such
as whether the world is infinite or finite,
whether the soul and the body
are identical with, or
different from, each other.
