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BUDDHISM
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History : A search for light
Buddhism developed in India during the late 500 B.C's from the teaching of a prince known
as Siddhartha Gautama Buddha means 'the enlightened one'. Gautham Buddha one of the
greatest religious teachers that the world had seen.
Sidhartha found no happiness in materialistic pleasures. So he left his palace in search
of salvation "Moksh" . He lived the life of a hermit and underwent rigourous '
tapasya", but he still could not understand the meaning or reason of life and death.
One day he reached Bodh Gaya there he rested under a tree. He shut his eyes and blessed
with a divine light that made him realize the truth is within every human living.
TYPES
There are two orders in Buddhism
a. |
Hinayana
communities have a more strict daily life and members spend much time in meditation.
Hinayana Buddhism is strongest in Srilanka, Thailand and Burma. |
b. |
Mahayana
communities are more active in welfare and education. Mahayana Buddhism is strongest in
Japan, Korea, Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia and part of India. |
Teachings
For 45 years, Buddha spread his message of spiritual life. He did not believe in rituals.
He delivered his first sermon in the language of Pail on the banks of Ganges at Varanasi.
Buddha proclaimed four Noble Truths.
a. Life is sorrow |
b. Cause for
sorrow is craving. |
c. Removing the
cause of craving will end sorrow. |
d. The way that
leads to ending of sorrow is the noble eight fold path. |
The Eight Fold Path:
| a. |
Right
Knowledge means a basic and thorough understanding of the four noble truths. |
b. |
Right
Speech means one speak the truth and not indulge in gossip. |
c. |
Right
Attitude means having an unselfish and healthy attitude to life free from jealousy and
hatred. |
d. |
Right
Awareness means should look in to one self and introspect and not get lured and tempted
easily. |
e. |
Right
Action means behaving in a way that one does not hurt, harm or annoy anyone. Cheating,
stealing, lying, adultery are specifically denounced. |
f. |
Right
means of Livelihood means that one must always earn ones livelihood by honest means, no
manipulation or cheating. |
g. |
Right
Effort means one should constantly make an effort to develop good tendencies and destroy
negative inclination. |
h. |
Right
Meditation means training your mind towards concentration, which will lead to salvation. |
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