Buddhism & Buddhist Beliefs – Isn't it time you were enlightened?
Nirvana is another belief of Buddhism religion; this has been associated with both Hinduism the oldest religion in the world and Buddhism its best known off-shoot. although this is the most misunderstood term in Buddhism because there are still many people who still don’t understand what nirvana really mean, is most specially to those who are not really followers. But those people who are in the west recognize it by the term of the meaning heaven, heaven on earth of maybe from a famous rock bad before. But, this is the state of eternal happiness that could be achieved by just giving up worldly desires.
In Buddha the word nirvana was described as the ultimate goal, it means that it has already reached the state during the enlightenment.
Actually nirvana really means extinguishing and unbinding. It is a freedom from whatever binds you; even it comes from the burning passion of desire, jealousy and even ignorance. Once this all things overcome, a state of bliss is achieved.
All people know what Buddhism really is. But maybe the only things they don’t know especially for those who are not follower and believer that the Buddhism was divided in three types and in three sections.
Theravada Buddhism – this is the first and the southern Buddhism that the word comes from pali language which means that “the Doctrine of the Elders”. Their biggest aim is to use the meditation to train mind, and to encourage freedom of the mind from suffering. This kind or freedom suffering will allow you to reach the greatest spiritual goal the Nirvana. Theravada Buddhism is the only surviving school from the earliest years of Buddhism.
Mahayana Buddhism – This is Buddhism in eastern Buddhism. This section only teaches the Pali Canon, this is the religious text in Theravada Buddhism but it also includes additional texts beliefs. This type of Buddhism believes that the person must practice universal compassion, and that is the altruistic quest of the Bodhisattva to attain the “Awakened Mind” of Buddha hood. This has also the level of mysticism involved.
Tibetan Buddhism – This is the third type of Buddhism that was located in the Northern. This type of Buddhism is also considered to be a type of Mahayana Buddhism, but this was also embraces other teachings, texts, and practices that some are not seen in the eastern type. This is also sometimes called Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana and this was uses both Mahayana and Theraveda scriptures.
Buddhism is a religion that was based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama. He came to be called the Buddha that means awakened one. Most people who are under Buddhism religion believe that:
- Buddha is their only master
- They take refuge in Buddha, and that is Dhamma and the Sangha
- The world is not really created and ruled by God only.
- They also believe that the purpose of life is to develop empathy for all living beings even without prejudice and to work for their good, happiness and peace.
- They have accepted the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
- That all accustomed things are transient and dukkha and all conditioned and unconditioned things are without self.
- They have thirty seven qualities helpful in the enlightenment and the different aspects of the path taught by the Buddha.
- They also have a 3 ways of attaining enlightenment that was named Disciple, as a Pratyeka Buddha and as a Samyak-sam-Buddha.
- The Buddhism follower also believes the practices, rites and ceremonies, customs and even the habits that that was followed in different countries.
In Buddhism, they believe in many things that symbolizes their beliefs. And the 8 Auspicious symbols are also one of those symbols. Now, let us see what are the other symbols in Buddhism aside from the 8 Auspicious.
Eight Spoked Wheel – The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism. They are said to have sharp edges to cut through ignorance.
The Bodhi Tree – became a symbol of the Buddha’s presence and an object of worship. This is quite understandable.
The Buddha’s Footprint – the footprints also remind the followers that the Buddha has entered nirvana and is no longer present in the physical world. Buddhist symbols that have several legends and symbolic meanings attached to them. This was also indicated towards the physical presence of an enlightened being on the earth.
An Empty Throne – lies in the concept of ‘empty’, an important element of mysticism. This was also symbolizing the royalty of Siddharta Gautama.
A Begging Bowl – Is the simplest but most important objects in the daily lives of Buddhist monks. This has been the primary symbols of the chosen life of the Buddhist monk.
The Lion –is the symbol of the royalty that the Buddha was a part of before attaining enlightenment. It is also the power of the Buddha’s teaching is quiet often compared with the roar of a lion.
Buddhism enlightenment path has 8 fold paths. In Buddhism enlightenment means to realize. And the historical Buddha first explains what the eightfold path is in his first sermon after his enlightenment.
The Eightfold Path is:
While these paths are also divided into three main sections: wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline.
Wisdom: it has a two path. The right View and Right Intention. Right View doesn’t mean about believing in doctrine, it perceives the nature of us and of course the world around us. While the Right Intention refers also to the energy and commitment one needs to be fully engaged in Buddhist practice.
Ethical Conduct: Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood, this is the ethical conduct path. This will calls us to take care in our speech, actions and especially our daily lives to not harm others and to cultivate wholesomeness in ourselves. This part ties into the precepts.
Mental Discipline: The one who develop the mental discipline to cut through delusion is through Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
Buddhism is the Chinese belief. This has been believed that it is a practice and spiritual development that will lead to insight into the true nature of life. For those who believe in this religion they practice in meditation that means of changing oneself in order to develop all the qualities of every people’s awareness, kindness and wisdom.
Let’s understand the ten facts in Buddhism religion:
1. Buddhism starts from its man follower known Buddha.
2. and about 500 million Buddhists worldwide already.
3. This kind of religious belief is base on the teaching of Siddharta Gautama that was popularly known Buddha. He is teaching Buddhism using The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path.
4. The four noble truth contains:
The Truth of Suffering: All is suffering.
The Arising of Suffering: Suffering arises from desire and delusion.
The Cessation of Suffering: Nirvana is the solution.
The Truth of the Way: How to achieve Nirvana.
5. While the Noble Eightfold Path includes eight concepts, and this concepts would lead them to nirvana. This is divided into three categories:
Sila: moral conduct
Samadhi: mental concentration (meditation).
Panna: wisdom.
6. Using Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism this has been already spread in two main schools or branches.
7. Theravada means “Doctrine of the Elders”. Known to be the oldest in surviving schools of Buddhism that represent a conservative option that maintains many practices and beliefs for the early followers of Buddha.
8. While Mahayana means “The Great Vehicle”. This is the greatest surviving school that changes the content of Buddhist practice in profound ways.
9. Both the Theravada and Mahayana accept the Tripitakas (also known as Pali Canon) as their scriptures.
10. The Mahayana also have the Mahayana Sutras, which they regard as more important than the Pali Canon. The Theravada finds these Sutras as irrelevant.
