Buddhism Religion
by Krysta CardinaleBuddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world behind Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. The first Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, founded Buddhism in 535 BC in Northern India. The Buddhism religion spread itself across Asia in two main forms, Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana. Tibetan Buddhism developed on its own based on the isolated location of Tibet. In the 19th century Modern Buddhism emerged as an international movement.
Buddhism History
The origins of Buddhism take us back to the year 600 BC to the plains of Northeast India. Here, an event occurred as momentous for Buddhists as the birth of Jesus Christ is for Christians.
About 2500 years ago, an Indian prince sat beneath the sacred tree. He had spent many lifetimes in search of the truth, and now vowed not to rise again until he had solved the mystery of existence. Immersed in deep meditation, he was to conquer all the dark forces of delusion. As Venus rose in the morning sky, he was rewarded for his age long patience. Touching the ground he called upon the earth to witness the sacred moment of his enlightenment. His name was Buddha.
He had unlocked, he said, the very meaning of life. All beings, he taught, were caught up in Samasara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Samasara could only be escaped through the spiritual fulfillment he called, Nirvana. Buddha explained that all souls climb life’s ladder to enlightenment, but achieving Nirvana takes countless life times. Enlightenment only comes when the true nature of reality is grasped. Existence is impermanence. The Buddhist philosophy is contained in 108 volumes that many followers learn by heart.
The Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism sects developed first, and followed by Tibetan Buddhism some time afterwards. Theravada Buddhism is sometimes called Southern Buddhism, and has been dominant in Southeast Asia since the 13th Century. The Northern Buddhism, or Mahayana, is found mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. It would take 1500 years for Buddhism history to evolve in Tibet. The Buddhism religion migrated from the hot dusty plains of India into the Himalayan Mountains. Once here, Tibetan Buddhism would finally take route on the roof of the world. The Tibetan plateau is one of the most remote inhospitable places on earth, an unlikely setting for a faith based on love and compassion to survive and yet it flourished.
Why? Perhaps the harshness of the setting provides a clue. Here at 18,000 feet on the vast desolate Himalayan plateau people are naturally humbled by the forces of nature. As nomads, they lead lives of change and impermanence and need only look around to sense their place in life’s larger scheme.
The Buddhist belief in impermanence and the end of all things is balanced by an equally strong belief in rebirth and renewal. A reincarnated high Lama or Rinpoche is considered an important visitor. It is the time of excitement and great honor. All day, nomads visit the Lama’s tent presenting katas, the white scarves of respect. The young and old alike come to seek his blessing. The fact that the Rinpoche is only a small child is not important. For the nomads, this boy is the heir to many lifetimes of spiritual power and wisdom.
In the 1930s and 40s, there were between 5,000 and 6,000 such Lamas in Tibet. Here in this rugged yet breathtaking landscape, the Buddhism religion notions of endlessness, the loss of ego, reincarnation, and impermanence were no longer abstract concepts; they were day-to-day realities.
The Five Precepts of Buddha
The Five Precepts that Buddha wants all followers to live by are similar to the “Ten Commandments” of the Christian religion. They are guiding rules that include
1. One should not kill. This also includes not hurting anyone.
2. Do not steal, also includes economic fraud.
3. One should never lie. This includes gossiping, criticizing, or speaking badly of someone.
4. Do not misuse sex; this includes the forbiddance of adultery and sexual harassment. For monks and nuns, celibacy must be practiced.
5. One should not consume alcohol or drugs.
Core Beliefs of the Buddhism Religion
Even though Buddhism is divided into different traditions, they all share the same fundamental beliefs. An example of one such belief would be reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that people are reborn after dying; many people go through the cycle of birth, living, death, and rebirth several times. In this religion there is a determination between reincarnation and rebirth. Reincarnation an individual can recur several times, however in rebirth the person does not necessarily return to earth instead in a different form. After many of these cycles, a person can achieve Nirvana or enlightenment by releasing themselves of desire and the self.
Another fundamental belief that has existed throughout Buddhism history would be Buddha’s “Four Noble Truths.” Buddha explains human suffering in Dukka, Saudaya, Nirodha, and Magga. Dukka describes that suffering exists and has causes such as loss, sickness, pain, and failure. Saudaya identifies that suffering has causes. It is the desire to possess things and control them. These causes include the desire for fame or importance, anger, jealous, and the craving for sensual pleasures. Nirodha explains that there is an end to suffering. This only happens when a person reaches Nirvana, complete freedom. Magga depicts the way to end suffering through following the “Eight Fold Path.”
The Eight Fold Path is broken down into three main categories consisting of a total of eight steps. Panna is the first category meaning discernment or wisdom, and includes two steps. The first is Samma ditthi, the understanding of the “Four Noble Truths.” Next is the Samma sankappa, following the right path in life. After this comes the next category, Sila, meaning morality. Sila consists of the next three steps of the Eight Fold Path. First is the Samma vaca, which is the right speech meaning no lying, gossip, criticism, or harsh words. Then is the Samma kammanta which is following the Five Precepts. And the final step of this section is Samma ajiva, the ability to support yourself without harming and one else. The final category of the Eight Fold Path is the Samadhi and contains the final three steps. Samadhi is concentration or meditation. Samma vayama is the first step of this final phase, which is the conquering of evil thoughts and the promotion of good ones. Next is Samma sati, the becoming of awareness of ones mind, body, and feelings. The final step of the Eight Fold Path is Samma Samadhi, the act of meditation to achieve a higher state of consciousness.
