Buddhism

BuddhaIntroduction to Buddhism

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. There are 376 million followers worldwide.

Buddhists seek to reach a state of nirvana, following the path of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who went on a quest for Enlightenment around the sixth century BC.

There is no belief in a personal god. Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible. The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.

Buddhists believe that life is both endless and subject to impermanence, suffering and uncertainty. These states are called the tilakhana, or the three signs of existence. Existence is endless because individuals are reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many lives.

It is impermanent because no state, good or bad, lasts forever. Our mistaken belief that things can last is a chief cause of suffering.

The history of Buddhism is the story of one man’s spiritual journey to enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it.

Schools of Buddhism

There are numerous different schools or sects of Buddhism. The two largest are Theravada Buddhism, which is most popular in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar), and Mahayana Buddhism, which is strongest in Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.

The majority of Buddhist sects do not seek to proselytise (preach and convert), with the notable exception of Nichiren Buddhism.

All schools of Buddhism seek to aid followers on a path of enlightenment.

3 Branches (often only the first 2 are considered branches, and Vajrayana is a part of Mahayana)

  • Theraveda
    • believes Arhats to be fully enlightened beings (buddha) that are free of samsara, never to return.
  • Mahayana
    • Tibetan Buddhism (4 major schools)
      • Nyingma School
        • Dzogchen, or “Great Perfection”, is a central teaching of the Nyingma school
      • Kagyu School
      • Sakya School
      • Gelug School
        • founded by Je Tsongkhapa
        • popularized in the West by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
        • has Dalai Lamas (translated to “ocean gurus”)
          • the 5th Dalai Lama assumed control over Tibet
    • Zen Buddhism
      • places emphasis on zazen (meditation) rather than scriptures.
  • Vajrayana
    • also known as Tantric Buddhism or Secret Mantra.
Differences Between Theraveda and Mahayana
  • Theraveda – believes Arhats to be fully enlightened beings (buddha) that are free of samsara, never to return.
  • Mahayana – believes Arhats to be enlightened beings that are afraid of samsara, and therefore don’t want to return to help others for selfish reasons. They believe that becoming a bodhisattva is the goal and clearly a level above Arhats (novice bodhisattvas).

Key Facts

  • Buddhism is 2,500 years old.
  • There are currently 376 million followers worldwide.
  • Buddhism arose as a result of Siddhartha Gautama’s quest for Enlightenment in around the 6th Century BC.
  • There is no belief in a personal God. It is not centred on the relationship between humanity and God.
  • Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent.
  • Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple
  • The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom.

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