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The American Heritage Dictionary defines buddhism as "the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with
suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct,
wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth; The religion represented by the many groups, especially
numerous in Asia, that profess varying forms of this doctrine and that venerate Buddha."
And Webster's Dictionary gives the following definition for buddhism: "The religion based upon the doctrine originally
taught by the Hindoo sage Gautama Siddartha, surnamed Buddha, ``the awakened or enlightened,'' in the sixth century b. c.,
and adopted as a religion by the greater part of the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Asia and the Indian Islands. Buddha's
teaching is believed to have been atheistic; yet it was characterized by elevated humanity and morality. It presents release
from existence (a beatific enfranchisement, Nirv[^a]na) as the greatest good. Buddhists believe in transmigration of souls
through all phases and forms of life. Their number was estimated in 1881 at 470,000,000."
Buddhism really isn't so much a religion as it is a philosophy. It began over 500 years before Christ with a
man named Siddhartha Gotama, who became known as the Buddha. The Buddha started his life as a prince who was to inherit a
great kingdom but left his home, wife, and child to search for enlightenmentat the age 0f 29, which he achieved at the age
of 35. Over 2,500 years later, this once Asian philosophy has spread throughout the world.
The purpose of Buddhism is for man to look within himself for answers instead of leaving everything in the hands
of a god or goddess. They do not worship the Buddha. He was a great man, but he was not, and never claimed to be, a god. Buddha
was a teacher who taught that enlightenment is an individual journey to Nirvana, which is beinfg freed from being born over
and over again into suffering and staying in "complete bliss," and that this journey can be reached by following the Eight-Fold
Path, which includes understanding the Four Noble Truths.
The Eight-Fold Path consists of the following steps:
Right Understanding
Right Thoughts
Right Speech
Right
Actions
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration.
The Four Noble Truths are:
1. Life is suffering.
2. All suffering is caused by craving.
3. Suffering
can be overcome and happiness attained.
4. The Eight-Fold Path leads to overcoming suffering.
The easiest way to explain the Buddhist belief in karma would be that suffering results from this life and past
life greed, hatred, and ignorance, which returns as suffering in your next incarnation.
Oh, and of course, as with anything we humans partake, there are different types of Buddhism, including Theravada
Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism. The different types are really just
the way different cultures have adopted the philosophy. Many of them will happily worship in the same temples.
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