The Buddhist Catechism

Excerpt: ...in spirituality? A. The killers of father, mother, and holy Arhats; Bhikkhus who sow discord in the Sangha; those who attempt to injure the person of a Buddha; those who hold extremely nihilistic views as to the future existence; and those who are extremely sensual. 121. Q. Does Buddhism specify places or conditions of torment into which a bad man's Karma draws him on leaving this life? A. Yes. They are: Sanjīva; Kālasūtra; Sanghāta; Raurava; Mahā-Raurava Tāpa; Pratāpa; Avīchi. 222. Q. Is the torment eternal? A. Certainly not. Its duration depends on a man's Karma. 223. Q. Does Buddhism declare that non-believers in Buddha will of necessity be damned for their unbelief? A. No; by good deeds they may enjoy a limited term of happiness before being drawn into rebirth by their unexhausted tanhā. To escape rebirth, one must tread the Noble Eight-fold Path. 224. Q. What is the spiritual status of woman among Buddhists? A. According to our religion they are on a footing of perfect equality with men. "Woman," says the Buddha, in the Chullavedalla Sutta, "may attain the highest path of holiness that is open to man-Arhatship." 225. Q. What does a modern critic say about the effect of Buddhism on woman? A. That "it has done more for the happiness and enfranchisement of woman than any other creed" (Sir Lepel Griffin). 226. Q. What did the Buddha teach about caste? A. That one does not become of any caste, whether Pariah, the lowest, or Brāhmana the highest, by birth, but by deeds. "By deeds," said He, "one becomes an outcast, by deeds one becomes a Brāhmana" (See Vassala Sutta). 227. Q. Tell me a story to illustrate this? A. Ananda, passing by a well, was thirsty and asked Prakrti, a girl of the Mātanga, or Pariah, caste, to give him water. She said she was of such low caste that he would become contaminated by taking water from her hand. But Ananda replied: "I ask not for caste but for water";...