What is Buddhism concerned with?
Answers
BUDDHISM: Buddhism is founded by Gautama Siddhartha. He was born in 6th century B.C. His father was Suddhodhana and his mother was Maya. He married Yashodara and gave birth to a son Rahula. Gautama was inspired through four incidents. They were:
>> Sight of an old man.
>> Sight of a sick man.
>> Sight of an ascetic
>> Sight of an old man.
Like Mahavira Gautama also left home at the age of 30 years and roamed to gain spiritual knowledge. After 12 years of his penance he got enlightened and then from onwards he is called as Buddha.
MAIN TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM: Gautama did not believe in God or opposed God. He said that the soul doesn't exist. He didn't support the caste system. He strongly opposed the ritualistic domination of Brahmins. He preached the doctrine of Non - Violence.
His Four Noble Truths:
>> The world is full of Sufferings.
>> The cause for this is desire.
>> The suffering can be removed by removing desire.
>> This can be done through eightfold path.
EIGHT FOLD PATH:
>> Right vision.
>> Right Awareness.
>> Right speech.
>> Right Action.
>> Right Livelihood.
>> Right Effort.
>> Right Aspiration
>> Right Meditation.
Main Principles: Buddha taught his main princples. They were:
>> Not to injure life.
>> Not to speak lie.
>> Not to covet property.
>> Not to steal.
>> Not to take intoxicants.
SPREAD OF BUDDHISM:
>> The personality and the teachings of Buddha attracted many rulers like Bindusara, Ashoka, Kanishka etc.
>> Ashoka sent his Dhamma mahamatras to spread Buddhism and Dhamma. He also wrote many inscriptions.
>> Buddhism rapidly spreaded to Srilanka, China, Cambodia, Laos and far south East Asian nations like Japan, Vietnam etc..
>> The bhuddist monks preached through the sanghas.
>> The literature and architecture of Buddhism attracted many people.
Answer:
Buddhism is concerned with suffering and death, and attaining Nirvana by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Noble Eightfold Path is:
1. Right Understanding: accepting the Four Noble Truths.
- The existence of suffering;
- the cause of suffering;
- the end of suffering;
- and the end of pain.
2. Right Resolve: renounce the pleasures of the body. Change your lifestyle so that you harm no living creatures and have kind thoughts for everyone.
3. Right Speech: do not gossip, lie or slander anyone.
4. Right Action: do not kill, steal or engage in an unlawful sexual act.
5. Right Occupation (Right Livelihood): avoid working at any job that could harm someone.
6. Right Effort: heroically work to eliminate evil from your life. Through your own effort develop good conduct and a clean mind.
7. Right Contemplation: make your self aware of your deeds, words and thoughts so that you can be free of desire and sorrow.
8. Right Meditation: train your mind to focus on a single object without wavering so as to develop a calm mind capable of concentration.
Following the Noble Eightfold Path requires that a person do the above eight things. Nirvana (Salvation) is through what a Buddhist does. It is through human works, what a person does with his life.