Source:Dharma Haven
Buddhism, a rapidly growing world religion originiating in and typically associated with the Far East, is a religion that is commonly misunderstood by most westerners. While it is mainstream and emersed in the culture of Eastern countries, it is often regarded as exotic and too progressive in Europe and the Americas.
Buddhism originated from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha was born around 566 B.C. in modern day Nepal. He lived a luxurious life until the age of 29, when he encountered what is known as the Four Passing Signs: a crippled man, a sick man, a decaying corpse, and a wandering holy man. These caused him to realize that old age, sickness and death come to everyone, and he decided to give up his safe, secure, and luxurious life to become a holy man and search for the solutions to the problems of old age, sickness and death. After years of practicing the traditional methods of mortification (it was thought that by enduring pain and suffering that the sould would become truly free), Siddhartha began to reconsider his path. One day, after remembering a childhood incident in which he had fallen into a naturally focused, concentrated, and peaceful state, he began to meditate and eventually acheived a state of Enlightment, and he became a Buddha. "Buddha" is an ancient Indian word meaning "one who has awakened."
A core Buddhist teaching is that all life is marked by three things: impermanence, suffering, and egolessness. These characteristics are known as the Three Marks of Existence. The belief of impermanence is that nothing in life is permanent; all things are changing. We have no control over the world around us and it does not happen in accordance with our own wants and needs. Buddhists believe that impermanence is characteristic of all things except nirvana, which is unchanging and eternal. Because things change, they can lead to suffering. All people experience suffering in their everyday lives, and there is nothing they can do to avoid it. Perhaps Buddha explained it the best when he said: "Whatever is impermanent is subject to change, and whatever is subject to change is subject to suffering." Finally, Buddhism emphasizes egolessness, or literally, "no self." Buddha rejected the traditional beliefs that the Self is permanent, teaching not permanence but changeability.
Buddha taught that the only way to calm the perpetual emotional craving experienced by all humans is to live by the Four Noble Truths: 1)All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering, 2) there is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire rooted in ignorance, 3)here is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana, and 4) there is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Eightfold Path. In order for his followers to further investigate and test the Four Noble Truths, Buhhda recomended that they incorporate the Eightfold Path into their lives. The Eightfold Path is: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
The Eightfold Path in depth:
1. Right Understanding - To see and understand things as they really are; to grasp the impermanence and imperfection of the natural world
2. Right Thought - Commitment to ethical and mental self improvement
3. Right Speech - To abstain from dishonest, slanderous, harmful or worthless speech; Buddha spoke strongly against speaking falsely.
4. Right Action - To abstain from harming any beings, stealing, or sexual misconduct.
5. Right Livelihood - The belief that wealth should be gained legally and peacefully.
6. Right Effort - Using the body and mind's energy to achieve moral and just actions.
7. Right Mindfulness - The ability to see things as they really are; clear perception of reality
8. Right Concentration - Concentration on wholesome thoughts and actions
For a more in-depth explanation of the Eightfold Path, click here.
Buddhist monks and laypeople alike use a set of "wishes" known as the Five Precepts to helpt further themselves towards nirvana. These precepts should be said with "I will try..." before them to communicate the fact that these are wishes, as opposed to the commandment-style rules of Western religions. They are: 1) To refrain from harming living creatures (killing), 2) to refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing), 3) to refrain from sexual misconduct, 4) to refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat), and 5)to refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.
Key Terms in Buddhism
Dharma- The principles by which one can achieve Enlightenment: law doctrine, and truth
Nirvana - The culmination of lifetimes of pursuing spiritual liberation; an eternal, unchanging state of peace, comfort, and happiness.
Other Key Terms:
Siddhartha Gautama, Three Marks of Existence, Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Five Precepts
A Buddhist monastery in the mountains of Nepal
Source:Photo Archive of Mark Horrell
