Buddhism is a major world religion founded around 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama in India. Its core beliefs include following the teachings of Buddha to end suffering by eliminating craving and desire through the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and karma, and the goal is to achieve nirvana, a state of freedom from suffering. The three main branches are Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism, which have spread across Asia with variations shaped by local cultures.
Buddhism is a major world religion founded around 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama in India. Its core beliefs include following the teachings of Buddha to end suffering by eliminating craving and desire through the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and karma, and the goal is to achieve nirvana, a state of freedom from suffering. The three main branches are Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism, which have spread across Asia with variations shaped by local cultures.
Buddhism is a major world religion founded around 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama in India. Its core beliefs include following the teachings of Buddha to end suffering by eliminating craving and desire through the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and karma, and the goal is to achieve nirvana, a state of freedom from suffering. The three main branches are Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan Buddhism, which have spread across Asia with variations shaped by local cultures.
awakened. Simply put, the basic teachings of Buddhism Core beliefs are:first, to do no harm to any living being; second, to do good; Buddhism proclaims the dignity and worth of each living being, and third, to purify the mind from impurity. Buddhist religious respect and compassion for all life and the need for all people to practice is the formal discipline of sitting meditation and find their own path to enlightenment and to an understanding of mindfulness in everyday life. Today .7 percent of Americans the nature of life. Buddhism incorporates many different claim to be Buddhist, though the faith seems to be ever-growing. traditions, but some fundamental beliefs are shared across That growth is bringing awareness, influence and some groups. Reincarnation, or the idea that the consciousness is contentious issues. reborn when one dies, is a central tenet encompassing the concept that life is cyclical, and most people will experience Background many cycles of life, death and rebirth. Reincarnation differs from Buddhism, now a worldwide religion with an estimated rebirth in the eyes of many Buddhists, however, in that 480 million adherents, began about 2,500 years ago in Northern reincarnation represents the soul or spirit coming back to life in a India, in an area now called Nepal, and has spread in a variety of newborn body. Rebirth, on the other hand, can take many forms and incarnations around the world. The type of Buddhism different forms, and it is not assumed that the deceased will practiced varies from country to country, shaped by the culture return to earth in the same entity. After many cycles, a person of each place. While teachings and rituals differ by time and who has released their attachment to desire and self can achieve place, the concept of following the dharma the Buddhas nirvana, a state of ultimate peace,that is the goal of all beings. fundamental teachings and doctrines holds constant. Nirvana represents freedom from suffering, desire and the cycle of rebirth. The Four Noble Truths refer to the fundamental One of the five largest religions of the world, Buddhism realizations that the historical Buddha came to in meditation and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who lived in then taught to his followers: Life is suffering; the cause of India in the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. He gave up a life of suffering is craving; suffering can be eliminated by the royalty to seek truth, eventually attained enlightenment extinguishing of craving; there is a way to achieve this goal (by (nirvana), and was proclaimed the Buddha, The Awakened One. following the eight principles of conduct known as the Eightfold Buddhists do not consider Gautama a god, but a great teacher, so Path). The Eightfold Path refers to the eight practical steps taught some people call Buddhism a philosophy, not a religion. After by the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, to end craving and thus reaching enlightenment, Gautama spent the remainder of his life eliminate suffering. The steps are right understanding, right traveling Northern India and sharing his message. Buddha taught intent, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right personal enlightenment through the Four Noble Truths: Life effort,right mindfulness and right concentration. Together with includes suffering, which is caused by attachment and can be the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path constitutes the stopped by following the middle way or Eightfold Path (right foundation of Buddhist thought. view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration). He believed in karma (actions have The Buddhas Eightfold Path consists of: consequences) and cycles of death and rebirth. Panna, wisdom: Buddhism has several main branches: Right understanding of the Four Noble Truths Theravada BuddhismThe oldest form of Buddhism, Right intention; following the right path in life Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the difference between monks authority and practice and lay peoples. The Old School Sila, virtue, morality, ethical conduct: conserves the traditions and emphasizes meditation and the goal of enlightenment. It is the predominate school of Buddhism in Right speech; no criticism, lying or harsh language Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Right conduct by following the Five Precepts Lanka, Laos and Thailand. Those who attain enlightenment are Right livelihood; supporting yourself without harming equal to the Buddha, who is not regarded as a god. others
Mahayana BuddhismThe second-oldest form of Samadhi, concentration, meditation:
Buddhism (called The Great Vehicle), it offers gradations of Right effort towards privileging good thoughts over evil Buddhahood in bodhisattvasto more people instead of thoughts concentrating authority among monks. It emphasizes compassion Right mindfulness and being aware of your body and and the belief that all beings have the potential to become a mind Buddha. It is the predominate school in China, Japan, Korea and Right concentration and meditation. Vietnam. Tibetan BuddhismThe Dalai Lama is the leader of The Five Precepts: Tibetan Buddhists, who were forced into exile in India when the 1. To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings. Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. Tibetan Buddhism is based on 2. To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given. Mahayana teachings, and its followers still campaign to return to 3. To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct Tibet. 4. To undertake the training to refrain from false speech. Zen BuddhismA combination of Mahayana 5. To undertake the training to abstain from substances which Buddhism and Taoism, it has roots in China, moved into Korea cause intoxication and heedlessness. and Japan and became popular in the West. Zen teaches that everyone is a Buddha, and each person can discover that through Zen practice.
Transmission: Journal of The Awareness Field - Vol. 6 Self Liberation in Phenomenology and Dzogchen: The Path of Everyone Which Is Always Taking Place, The Path of Appearance and Awareness