From the BBC World Service
Buddhism
is a vast and complex religious and philosophical
tradition which stretches back over 2,500 years.
Over the last 30 years Buddhism has seen growth
in the West as its non-dogmatic nature, rationality,
possibility of a spiritual guide, and opportunity
for personal transformation have all made it
attractive to post-modern society.
It has about 500 million adherents around the
world
'Buddha' means 'one who has woken up'. Most
people live asleep, never knowing or seeing
life as it really is. As a consequence they
suffer. A buddha is someone who awakens to the
knowledge of the world as it truly is and so
finds release from suffering.
A Buddha teaches out of sympathy and compassion
for the suffering of beings and for the benefit
and welfare of all beings.
Buddhism does not actively look for converts,
but it is thoroughly welcoming to those who do
want to convert. Buddhism can coexist with other
faiths.
Buddhism has no unique creed, no single authority,
no single sacred book
The Schools of Buddhism
There
are many schools and practices of Buddhism
The
Beginning of Buddism: Gautama
The
Buddhist tradition is founded on and inspired by
the teachings of a charismatic person who lived
c.566-486BC.
Holy
Books
There
are many collections of Buddhist teachings, usually
specific to geographical regions, that are regarded
as important. In addition to the Pali canon (above),
sutras, containing the Buddha's advanced teaching,
are treasured by Mahayana Buddhists.
Buddhism
- Useful Links
Introduction
to Buddhism
Buddhism focuses on each individual seeking to
attain enlightenment.
Key beliefs and values are contained in "The Four
Noble Truths"
Key insight: there is nothing that permanently
exists
Gods
Buddhism has no omnipotent, creator God who exists
apart from this or any other universe.
Belief in a God of that kind is not part of Buddhism
Dukkha
All existence is "dukkha"; without permanence
and therefore filled with suffering. Dukkha comes
from a search to find something permanent in a
world where nothing permanently exists
Dukkha can end in enlightenment and the state
known as nirvana, where all action and interaction
ceases. Life is a continuing process of birth
and death, but there is no soul that is reborn
in the continuing process of birth and death,
only the process of one moment giving rise to
the next.
The form in which one is reborn, animal or human,
in heaven or in hell, depends on karma-impersonal
ethical law.
One can escape from this process by attaining
nirvana or enlightenment
Nirvana
Nirvana can be reached by following the Eightfold
Path of:
Right understanding
Right thinking
Right speaking
Right acting
Right lifestyle
Right endeavouring
Right mindfulness
Right contemplation
Theravanda or Southern Buddhism
Its scriptures are preserved in Pali, an ancient
India language closely related to Sanskrit. Compared
to the following two traditions it is closer in
the doctrine and practice to ancient Buddhism existing
the early years BC in India. It's followed by 100
million in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia
and Laos.
Mahayana or Eastern
Buddhism
Its scriptures are preserved in Chinese and is very
diverse. It has co-existed with Confucianism, Taoism,
Shinto and Communism. It is found in Korea, China,
Japan and Vietnam. It is still a significant religion
for a population of 500 - 1,000 million.
Tibetan or Northern Buddhism
Its scriptures are preserved in Tibetan and although
it's outlook is broadly Mahayana it's specific orientation
is Tantric Buddhism. It is followed by 10 - 20 million
in Tibet and Mongolia and in parts of Nepal and
Himalayan India.
He was born Siddhartha Gautama, son of a local rajan,
or chieftan, in Kapikvastri on the Indian-Nepalese
border.
He was a member of a privileged and wealthy family
and lived comfortably.
Disillusioned with his life, he left home and adopted
the life of a wandering ascetic and embarked on
a spiritual quest.
Still not satisfied, as he sat in meditation under
a tree on the banks of the Nairangana in Northern
India, he had a profound experience.
Called Bodhi or 'awakening', he had a deep understanding
of the nature of suffering, its cause and a way
of stopping it.
The Lord Buddha then devoted the rest of his life
to teaching the way to cease suffering.
By his death at about the age of 80 he had a considerable
following and a well organised community.
Buddhist symbols include
Features on the main figures, history of Buddha,
major sects of Buddhism, four noble truths, eightfold
path, five precepts. Produced by Edepot.com
Birth of Prince Siddhartha; Four Noble Truth;
The Noble Eightfold Path
Non-commercial web page by a lay person. Content
based on Buddhist Studies for Secondary 3.
Small Romanised Pali - English Dictionary of
Buddhist Terms
Compiled by Watthai Net Sydney Australia
14th Dalai
Lama of Tibet
This Internet site is dedicated to creating awareness
of the life and work of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso,
the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and has been created
under the auspicies of the Office of Tibet and the
Tibetan Government-in-Exile.