Rahula, was also critical of ritualistic Hinduism and material offerings by its worshippers. The Buddha has stressed that he should be honoured through practice-based offerings (Prathipaththi Puja) rather than through flowers, food, money and other material things.” This reminds me of a Sri Lankan Hindu scholar and savant Swami Vipulanandhar (1892-1947), who like Ven.
We cannot pay our respects to him by offering material objects for consumption.
If we think that we can venerate him now by offering food items, it reflects our low moral maturity. “The Buddha, who was the epitome of ethical conduct (Seela), mental discipline (Samadhi), and wisdom (Pragna), departed over two thousand five hundred years ago. His explanation is typical of his intellectual maturity and compassionate outlook. It is a model of what a book should be that is addressed first of all to the educated and intelligent reader.’ Authoritative and clear, logical and sober, this study is as comprehensive as it is masterly. We always shoot the messenger before reading the message. Rahula’s What the Buddha Taught fills the need as only could be done by one having a firm grasp of the vast material to be sifted.
When an unfamiliar opinion is being expressed on an issue, please listen with patience and compassion”, a quality many of us lack. Before he spells out his views on this matter, he warns the reader, “not to be upset or angry. He knew that he was stepping into a very sensitive territory of Buddhist practices. On rituals and material offerings to the Buddha in the name of worship, Professor Rahula’s ideas are exceptionally rational, if not revolutionary.
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