Buddhism: A Path to Enlightenment
Buddhism
Buddhism seeks to liberate individuals from the illusion of appearances and the cycle of reincarnation, ultimately leading to union with the Great All. This liberation is achieved through deep meditation, preceded by mastery over one’s own body. Buddhism emphasizes the cessation of all suffering, including that of self-mortification, through absolute detachment.
For Buddhists, two words characterize their perspective towards others: kindness and compassion.
The foundation of Buddhist teaching lies in the recognition of universal suffering and the pursuit of Nirvana.
Nirvana
Nirvana represents the union of the individual soul (Atman) with the universal soul (Brahman). It signifies the cessation of all desires, aversions, and the cycle of birth and death. This concept is often depicted as an ethereal realm, akin to paradise.
God
The concept of a personal God does not align with the Buddhist framework. Buddhism can be considered atheistic or, at the very least, agnostic.
Initiator/Founder
Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha. Born in the 6th century BCE into a warrior caste, he married his cousin at the age of 16 and had three daughters and a son. Despite living a life of luxury, Siddhartha was deeply troubled by the suffering he witnessed around him. Determined to find the truth, he renounced his privileged life and embarked on a path of rigorous asceticism under the guidance of a guru.
After six years of intense study, meditation, and self-discipline, Siddhartha experienced a profound awakening beneath a fig tree, which later became a sacred symbol in Buddhism. This pivotal moment marked his transformation into the Buddha, the Awakened One.
From that day forward, the Buddha traveled throughout northern India, sharing his insights and teachings. His compassion and patience were legendary, attracting thousands of followers. He passed away around 480 BCE. Initially, the Buddha was represented through symbols such as the Bodhi tree (tree of enlightenment) and the Dharmachakra (wheel of law). Later, artistic depictions of the Buddha were inspired by Greek statues of Apollo, while retaining the distinctive slightly slanted eyes of his lineage.
Main Message
Buddhism teaches that happiness derived from material possessions and worldly desires is fleeting and ultimately leads to pain, suffering, and dissatisfaction. The root cause of this suffering is attachment. Liberation comes from eradicating desire and cultivating pure meditation (dhyana), ultimately leading to the attainment of Nirvana.
Death
Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, known as samsara, is achieved by adhering to the Buddha’s teachings.
Sacred Books
Buddhism does not have a single, universally accepted sacred book like some other religions. However, there exists a vast collection of the Buddha’s sermons and teachings. The Sermon at Benares is considered a foundational text, outlining the Four Noble Truths:
- The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
- The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya)
- The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha)
- The truth of the path to the end of suffering (Magga)
Another significant scripture is the Pali Canon, also known as the Theravada Canon.
Community of Believers
-CHURCH-Distinguish between monks and laity. The monks are considered disciples and models, while the laity should keep the community of monks who are beggars.
MORAL-The resignation, detached from everything to oneself and meditation. The b.Mahayana also called for compassion: to get to merge with others to relieve suffering and save his karma together.
BRANCHES AND CURRENT-is divided into three main streams: + + The Little Vehicle: the Hinayana, which allows cross the river of rebirth to reach the shore of nirvana. It is the practice of the Buddha’s rules. Theravada is the doctrine of the ancient Buddhist orthodoxy approved by the councils of monks by the Pataliputra where sthaviras established the canon of Buddhism, which comprises three parts: the discipline (prescribes rules to be observed by the monks) , preaching (collection of sermons and statements of the Buddha) and doctrine (set of seven works that are as metaphysicalBuddhist music). + + The Great Vehicle: Mahayana is. Add to the teaching of Buddha written oral tradition. It is the opposite of elitism of the Little Vehicle, since the latter invites a single release while the Mahayana is open to all. Argues that through the transmigration, the faithful can become saints. The aspiration is to help others break free of reincarnation, through the release of others. This doctrine explains two parables. + + The Tantric vehicle appears as a resurgence of the ancient Hindu practices. It is based on the similarities that link the various phenomena of the world into a single whole, which uses them to attain the absolute and act upon the universe. This current lies rather in the rites. They are either the recitation of mantras or yoga (breathing exercises).