Association for Insight Meditation

The Indian Buddhist Emperor, Asoka (304 BC – 232 BC), had enscribed on stone his edicts to encourage religious harmony in his kingdom. It was his wish that religious followers should focus on the essentials, and overlook the differences between religions.

If we wish to express the essential teachings of Buddhism, we can quote the following verse from the Dhammapada.

Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ, kusalassa upasampadā.
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ, etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ. (Dhp v 183)

The not doing of any evil thing, the cultivation of wholesomeness
The purification of one's mind, this is the teaching of all the Buddhas.

These words from the Dhammapada were uttered by the Buddha in reply to a question by his personal attendant, Venerable Ānanda, and is the admonition given by all of the former Buddhas when the community assembled on the Uposatha day.

I hope that the followers of all religions could agree with these essentials principles of religion: do no evil, cultivate good, and purify your mind. We may not agree about the details, but these essential teachings are the same for all good people, whatever their religion, or even if they have no religious beliefs at all.