42 – Buddhists in Thailand should banish their ignorance about the meaning of the word “titthiya” (a place for crossing a river, here used to refer to a teaching that helps one “cross over” from suffering to freedom from suffering).

(Our ancestors used the word correctly. (For example, the book Mulasasana published by the Department of Fine Arts in 1980 has this word on Pages 55, 76, and 77, etc.) They never neglected the prefix “anna” which composes the word annatitthiya, when they meant to mention doctrines other than Buddhism. Buddhism is also a titthiya, but we consider ourselves righteous and need not use the word Buddhatitthiya.)

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From “A BUDDHIST CHARTER,” translated from the Thai (กฎบัตรพุทธบริษัท) by Mongkol Dejnakarintra.

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[FOREWORD] This book, A Buddhist Charter, which consists of 136 proposed items, results from the 50th anniversary commemoration of Suan Mokkh on Visakhapuja Day of 1982. The Venerable Than Achan Buddhadasa of Suan Mokkh drafted and presented motions to the Buddhist assembly there so that they would consider them and reach a common agreement which would become a practical guideline for Buddhists in general. The assembly consisted of two committees, one scripture or theory oriented and the other proper social practice oriented. The two committees joined forces in considering and refining the motions until they reached mutual satisfaction. They then declared the motions as a Buddhist charter.

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The charter is divided into 10 groups, namely, (a) general; (b) practical principles that should be considered and put to rest; (c) different views that should be eliminated; (d) interpretation of the terms; (e) problems between religions; (f) international problems of the present world; (g) things that deserve to be understood and written down as rules; (h) culture of the present day Buddhists; (i) the ultimate dhammas that everybody should know; (j) miscellaneous problems. It can be seen that this charter covers almost all aspects; and it should be used a guide in tackling problems properly and in accordance with the Buddha-dhamma principle…