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Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
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History of Buddha
According to the Buddhist tradition, the historical Buddha Siddharta
Gautama was born in the plains of Lumbini, in what is now southern Nepal.
After an early life of luxury under the protection of his father,
Śuddhodana, the ruler of Kapilavastu, Siddharta entered into contact with the realities of the world and concluded that
real life was about inescapable suffering and sorrow. Siddharta renounced his meaningless life of luxury to become an ascetic.
He ultimately decided that asceticism was also meaningless, and instead chose a middle way, a path of moderation away
from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
Under a fig tree, now known as the Bohdi tree, he vowed never to leave the position until he found Truth.
At the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment. He was then known as Gautama Buddha, or simply "The Buddha", which means "the
enlightened one".
For the remaining 45 years of his life, he travelled central India, teaching his doctrine and discipline
to an extremely diverse range of people.
The Buddha's reluctance to name a successor or to formalize his doctrine led to the emergence of many movements
during the next 400 years: first the schools of Niyaka Buddhism of which only Theravada (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos)
remains today, and then the formation of Mahayana (China, Japan, Vietnam) and Vajrayana (Tibet), pan-Buddhist sects based
on the acceptance of new scriptures and the revision of older techniques.
The Four Noble Truths
1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment
to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by
practicing the Eightfold Path
Noble Eightfold Path
| Three Qualities |
Eightfold
Path |
| Wisdom
(panna) |
Right View |
| |
Right
Thought |
| Morality
(sila) |
Right
Speech |
| |
Right
Action |
| |
Right
Livelihood |
| Meditation
(samadhi) |
Right
Effort |
| |
Right
Mindfulness |
| |
Right
Contemplation |
Three Characteristics of Existence
1. Transiency (anicca)
2. Sorrow (dukkha)
3. Selflessness (anatta)
Hindrances
1. Sensuous lust
2. Aversion and ill will
3. Sloth and torpor
4. Restlessness
and worry
5. Sceptical doubt
Factors
of Enlightenment
1. Mindfulness
2. Investigation
3. Energy
4. Rapture
5. Tranquillity
6. Concentration
7. Equanimity
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Becoming a Buddhist
In order to become a Buddhist, one has to acknowledge the Four Noble
Truths and the Eight Fold Path. One does this by taking refuge in the Triple Gem of Buddhism. This can be done on your own
or with the assistance of a mentor or teacher. This should not be done casually without seriously studying.
You
will see many statues and images on the temple grounds. You will see people kneeling and paying respect. These are images
of Buddha and others that have reached enlightenment. There are no gods in Buddhism. The people worship the ideal
that Buddha reached not the idol that reminds us of it.
Buddhism is not a religion in the sense of most definiitons. There is
no god figure. Buddhism is more of a philosopy or way of living. Because of this, being a Buddhist does not prevent you from
practicing another other religion. One may be a Buddhist, a Taoist and a Confucionist at the same time. Any religion that
does not contradict the Eight Fold Path is allowed or encouraged. Since Buddhism is personal philosophy, all of this is your
choice and yours alone.
Some religions require that you adhere to its practices and no
other. This is not true of Buddhism. This gives rise to some continuation of the old Hindu practices that existed before Buddhism
or other local practices that you may observe at the temple.
Buddhism is an agnostic religion that does not discuss the existence
of a creator God. It neither affirms nor denies the existence of one creator. However, it does include beliefs in many gods.
Gods are not considered as supreme beings. They are merely another bodiless state of heavenly existence.
This a remnant of the Hindu religion that Buddha
himself practiced.
It is not necessary to worship them in order to be a Buddhist. These gods
also must practice Buddhism in order to realize ultimate Truth and achieve the ultimate state of being, the Nibbana, which
is the cessation of existence.
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