Why Buddhism? - Why Theravada? - Theravada, Mahayana, Hinayana: Three Essays

This is an audiobook of Bodhi Leaves No.53 by M. O’C. Walshe, 'Why Buddhism?, Why Theravada?, Theravada, Mahayana, Hinayana: Three Essays' found in the Pariyatti Edition of Collected Bodhi Leaves Vol. II.


Excerpt from Theravada, Mahayana, Hinayana by Maurice Walshe


'Let us return to “Basic Buddhism.” The third section of the Path consists of three steps: right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. That some effort is needed is surely obvious, though some “Zenful” characters in the West have been heard to deny it. They should try just one week in a Zen monastery! Right mindfulness has been declared by the Buddha to be the “one and only way” to liberation. It is the way of vipassanā—insight-wisdom. And how else could wisdom be gained but by “mindfulness and clear awareness”? Right concentration includes various things, among them the four Brahmavihāras: the development of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. So by practising these two steps of the Path we can develop the “twin pillars” of the Mahayana: wisdom and compassion. Perhaps it scarcely matters whether we set out to become an Arahant or a Bodhisattva. But suppose a Bodhisattva, by practising too much mindfulness, became an Arahant by mistake… That would be terrible. Or would it?'