Basic teaching of Buddhism:
Buddhism
has many large movements including the Theravada and the Mahayana,
which have great differences between them. A common feature
of all Buddhist is the quest for true happiness and peace for
all beings.
Buddhism
as well as being about cultivating personal spiritual development
is about concern for others (compassion). The Dalai Lama stated
that Buddhism could be summed up in three words “ Always Think
Compassion”. Buddhism also unlike many religions teaches no
soul (anatta) or self. All beings are merely a series of mental
and physical states.
A core
belief and practice to which all Buddhists adhere to are the
Five Moral Precepts, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold
Path.
Five Moral Precepts:
- Abstain from killing.
- Taking what has not
been given.
- Sexual misconduct.
- False speech
- Intoxicants that cloud
the mind.
Buddhists
believe that undertaking a moral, compassionate and non-materialistic
lifestyle will bring contentment in this life and a better rebirth
next time.
The Four Noble Truths:
Buddha
rejected the Hindu beliefs in the Veda scriptures, in the Brahmin
authority and the caste system and in the idea of an individual
and world soul.
- Existence is unhappiness
(dukkha) Birth is suffering, decay is suffering, illness is
suffering, death is suffering.
- That unhappiness is
caused by selfish desire or craving (tanha). Being kept away
from objects we love is suffering. Not to obtain what we desire
is suffering.
- That desire can be
destroyed. As if there is no craving then there is no suffering.
- That it can be destroyed
by followed the “noble eightfold path”.
Eight fold path:
- Right views
- Right dress
- Right speech – plain
and truthful
- Right conduct – including
abstinence not only from immorality but also from taking life
whether human or animal.
- Right livelihood –
harming no one.
- Right effort – always
pressing on.
- Right awareness – of
the past, the present and the future.
- Contemplation or meditation.
The
more someone acquires merit by following these rules the sooner
that Nirvana is attained. (If ignorance and selfishness can
be totally eliminated and replaced by wisdom and compassion,
an alternative state of being can be reached. This is commonly
known has nirvana, an indescribable state of peace, where the
forces of Karma no longer work.