Buddhism
Buddhism is very popular now a days. More because of the parts and techniques preached in this. Some scientists have found it advanced and beyond modern psychology. However, many have benefited from practices like meditation (whether zen or vipassana) or the philosophical sayings of Buddhism. Some have debated whether it is a religion or not since no fight has happened over this so far. Especially people immersed in materalistic practices have found Buddhism a way out and a liberating experience. But Buddhism is more than than, much more. It can be said as a way of life which is aligned with modern era.
This is the fourth largest religion in the world with over 520 million followers or over 7% of the global population. It started from India. How did it start? What does it say?
The origin
The four noble truths
The eight-fold path
Types and Practices
Origin
It all began with a prince named Siddharta Gautama who lived around 500 BCE. He was born on the northern edge of the Ganges River basin, an area on the periphery of the ancient civilization of North India, in what is today southern Nepal. His family name was Gautama (in Sanskrit) or Gotama (in Pali), and his given name was Siddhartha (Sanskrit: “he who achieves his aim”) or Siddhatta (in Pali). He is frequently called Shakyamuni, “the sage of the Shakya clan.” In Buddhist texts he is most commonly addressed as Bhagavat (often translated as “Lord”), and he refers to himself as the Tathagata, which can mean both “one who has thus come” and “one who has thus gone.” Traditional sources on the date of his death—or, in the language of the tradition, his “passage into nirvana”—range from 2420 to 290 bce.
According to Buddhist tradition, the sheltered young prince was shocked by the suffering he saw outside his palace walls, so he left his life of luxury to seek answers. Eventually he succeeded at age 35, becoming the Buddha--the "Enlightened One." He is believed to live till 80 years teaching the dharma (the path to liberation from suffering) and establishing the sangha (a community of monks).
Buddhism is based on the teachings of Buddha, the awakened one. This is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. Buddhists seek to reach a state of "Nirvana". This path to enlightenment is possible through the development and practice of Morality, Meditation and Wisdom. There is no personal GOD. Change is always possible. One must know, Buddha was born a hindu and Buddhism came from Hinduism. Where Hinduism was based on rituals and philosophy, buddhism ripped off the delusions and focused more on what was related to mind. Then it developed beyond.
The absence of GOD makes many question whether it's a religion or not. May be you can call it the most scientific religion of all. It says that nothing is fixed, change is always possible. It's very straight forward. One must take the path of enlightenment for one self rather than believing in fixed dogmas. More over, to transform and to be responsible for your life, you don't need to belong to any cast, creed or religion. Do you?
Painting: Wheel of life
Four Noble Truths (Dukkha and its ending)
The foundation of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths:
The truth/ existence of suffering ( "dukkha")
The truth of the cause of suffering ( "samudaya")
The truth of the end/ cessation of suffering ( "nirhodha")
The truth of the path that frees us from suffering ( "magga")
The Four Truths express the basic orientation of Buddhism: we crave and cling to impermanent states and things, which is dukkha, "incapable of satisfying" and painful. This keeps us caught in saṃsāra, the endless cycle of repeated rebirth, dukkha and dying again. But there is a way to liberation from this endless cycle to the state of nirvana, namely following the Noble Eightfold Path.
Dukkha is most commonly translated as "suffering," but this is inaccurate, since it refers not to episodic suffering, but to the intrinsically unsatisfactory nature of temporary states and things, including pleasant but temporary experiences. We expect happiness from states and things which are impermanent, and therefore cannot attain real happiness.
Dukkha arises when we crave (Pali: tanha) and cling to these changing phenomena. The clinging and craving produces karma, which ties us to samsara, the round of death and rebirth. Craving includes kama-tanha, craving for sense-pleasures; bhava-tanha, craving to continue the cycle of life and death, including rebirth; and vibhava-tanha, craving to not experience the world and painful feelings.
Dukkha ceases, or can be confined, when craving and clinging cease or are confined. This also means that no more karma is being produced, and rebirth ends. Cessation is nirvana, "blowing out," and peace of mind.
By following the Buddhist path to moksha, liberation, one starts to disengage from craving and clinging to impermanent states and things. The term "path" is usually taken to mean the Noble Eightfold Path, but other versions of "the path" can also be found in the Nikayas.
The eight fold path
Buddha used to believe that awakening comes from one's own direct experiences, not through external beliefs and dogmas. Many will agree with this. One must realize the truth for oneself.
Right view
The belief that there is an afterlife and not everything ends with death, that Buddha taught and followed a successful path to nirvana; according to Peter Harvey, the right view is held in Buddhism as a belief in the Buddhist principles of karma and rebirth, and the importance of the Four Noble Truths and the True Realities.
Right Intention
Giving up home and adopting the life of a religious mendicant in order to follow the path; this concept, states Harvey, aims at peaceful renunciation, into an environment of non-sensuality, non-ill-will (to loving kindness), away from cruelty (to compassion).
Right Speech
No lying, no rude speech, no telling one person what another says about him, speaking that which leads to salvation
Right Action
No killing or injuring, no taking what is not given; no sexual acts in monastic pursuit, for lay Buddhists no sensual misconduct such as sexual involvement with someone married, or with an unmarried woman protected by her parents or relatives
Right Livelihood
For monks, beg to feed, only possessing what is essential to sustain life. For lay Buddhists, the canonical texts state right livelihood as abstaining from wrong livelihood, explained as not becoming a source or means of suffering to sentient beings by cheating them, or harming or killing them in any way
Right Effort
Guard against sensual thoughts; this concept, states Harvey, aims at preventing unwholesome states that disrupt meditation
Right Mindfulness
Never be absent minded, conscious of what one is doing; this, states Harvey, encourages mindfulness about impermanence of the body, feelings and mind, as well as to experience the five skandhas, the five hindrances, the four True Realities and seven factors of awakening
Right Concentration
Correct meditation or concentration (dhyana), explained as the four jhānas
Dharma wheel
representing
the eight fold path
Types and Practices
The essence of buddhism is in exploring the paths not just believing it. So as time grew, different forms of Buddhism emerged. It was around 2000 years ago, two main classifications happened: Theravada and Mahayana.
Theravada
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, (Myanmar) and Laos. "Anatman" means that an individual's ego or personality is a delusion. Once freed from this delusion, one can attain liberation and enjoy the bliss of Nirvana. Considers Buddha as unique.
The goal is to attain "Arhat". It suggests Meditation for monks, prayers for lay persons. More rationalist, historical form.
Mahayana
China, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea, and Vietnam. In India too. Here, all phenomena are void of intrinsic identity and take identity only in relation to other phenomena. There is neither reality nor unreality, only relativity. The Mahayana teaching is called "shunyata" or "emptiness." Considers buddha as one of the many buddhas. The goal is to attain "Buddhahood". It suggests Prayer, Chanting and Meditation for both. More of rituals, Mysticism and worldly flexibility.
Vajrayana
A part of Mahayana which is mainly associated with Tibetan Buddhism. Tantric Buddhism is largely concerned with rituals and meditative practices.
Zen
Zen is also a part of Mahayana Buddhism prevailing in China, Korea and Japan. It lays special emphasis on meditation and direct discovery of buddha nature
Nichiren
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren and is one of the Kamakura Buddhism schools. Its teachings derive from some 300–400 extant letters and treatises attributed to Nichiren. The majority of Buddhist sects do not seek to proselytise (preach and convert), with the notable exception of this.