A. Gati Sampatti, Upadhi Sampatti, Kala Sampatti and Payoga Sampatti.

141. Q. Is that consistent or inconsistent with common sense and the teachings of modern science?

A. Perfectly consistent: there can be no doubt of it.

142. Q. May all men become Buddhas?

A. It is not in the nature of every man to become a Buddha; for a Buddha is developed only at long intervals of time, and seemingly, when the state of

humanity absolutely requires such a teacher to show it. the forgotten Path to NIRVanA. But every being may equally reach Nirvana, by conquering Ignorance and: gaining Wisdom.

143. Q. Does Buddhism teach that man is re-born, only upon our earth?

A. As a general rule that would be the case, until he had evolved beyond its level; but the inhabited worlds are numberless. The world upon which a person is to have his next birth, as well as the nature of the re-birth itself, is decided by the preponderance-of the individual's merit or demerit. In other words, it will be controlled by his attractions, as science would describe it; or by his Karma, as we, Buddhists, would say.

144. Q. Are there worlds more perfect and developed, and others less so than our Earth?

A. Buddhism teaches that there are whole Sakwalas or systems of worlds, of various kinds, higher: and lower, and also that the inhabitants of each world correspond in development with itself.

145. Q. Has not the Buddha summed up his whole doctrine in one gatha, or verse?

146 A. Yes.

146. Q. Repeat it.

A.

Sabba papassa akaranam
Kusalassa upasampada
Sachita pariyo dapanam--
Etam Buddhanusasanam:

"To cease from all evil actions,
To generate all that is good,
To cleanse one's mind:
This is the constant advice of the Buddhas."

147. Q. Have the first three of these lines any very striking characteristics?

A. Yes: the first line embodies the whole spirit of the Vinaya Pitaka, the second that of the Sutta, the third that of the Abhidhamma. They comprise only eight Pali words, yet, as the dewdrop reflects the stars, they sparkle with the spirit of all the Buddha Dharma.

14S. Q. Do these precepts show that Buddhism is an active or a passive religion?

A. To 'cease from sin' may be called passive, but to 'get virtue' and to 'cleanse one's own heart,' or mind, are altogether active qualities. Buddha taught

that we should not merely not be evil, but that we should be positively good.

149. Q. Who or what are the "Three Guides" [**] that a Buddhist is supposed to follow?

A. They are disclosed in the formula called the Tisarana: "I follow Buddha as my Guide: I follow the Law as my Guide: I follow the order as my Guide." These three are, in fact, the Buddha Dharma.

150. Q. What does he mean when repeating this formula?