Buddhism

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition based primarily on the teachings of the Indian yogin Siddhartha Gautama (commonly referred to as the Buddha). Buddhism has its origins about 2,550 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama was himself enlightened.

Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family in Lumbini, now located in Nepal, in 563 BC. He was raised in luxury by an adoring father who sought to protect him from the sight and knowledge of evil. He married early and had a son while he was still a youth.

One day, according to legend, he rode forth from the palace in his chariot. By the roadside he saw an aged man, a sick man, and a corpse on a litter. Shocked by his first experience with old age, sickness, and death, the prince lost all joy in living. One night he left his sleeping wife and infant son and rode away into the forest. He denounced the world, and through all sorts of penances, even to the point of almost starving to death, he sought to gain insight into life's meanings. As he meditated in solitude under the Bo tree, which Buddhists call the tree of wisdom, he experienced a spiritual awakening, known as "the enlightenment."

Realizing that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, he explored the different teachings religions and philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. After six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life wandering through India and teaching the principles of Buddhism — called the Dhamma, or Truth — until his death at the age of 80, in about 483 BC.

Although its teachings are stark -- a common Buddhist phrase used to explain the faith is "Life is suffering" -- it is also optimistic, valuing and promoting charity, compassion, self-control, and self-knowledge. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to attain bodhi and then nirvana -- the latter literally meaning "a blowing out of suffering."

Buddhism is a philosophy or 'way of life', the Buddhist paths are simply:

1. to lead a moral life
2. to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions
3. to develop wisdom and understanding

There are several major branches of Buddhism, each with notable differences in teachings.

Influences

Although it is known that Siddhartha Gautama studied under monks of other religions, attempting to find Bodhi, awakening or enlightenment, little is known about their religions. It is believed that some elements may have been borrowed from or influenced by the Vedic religions, and later, by Daoism, Confucianism and Islam, all of which were in turn influenced in some way by Buddhism.

In turn, Buddhist teachings have spread far beyond their original borders, growing into a diverse family of religions. Buddhism does not make religious conversion or evangelism a requirement, and its pacifist nature made it non-threatening to most governments, both factors which have countributed to its international growth.

Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that is why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

See also

• Branches of Buddhism:
  • Theravada
  • Mahayana
  • Vajrayana
  • Zen Buddhism
  • Tibetan Buddhism
  • Buddhism in the United States
• Eightfold Path
• Four Noble Truths