A FIVE MINUTE INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM:

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm

€ What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The
word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years
ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened
(enlightened) at the age of 35.

€ Is Buddhism a Religion?

To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way
of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and
the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

(1) to lead a moral life,
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and
(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

€ How Can Buddhism Help Me?

Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and
inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of
life that leads to true happiness.

€ Why is Buddhism Becoming Popular?

Buddhism is becoming popular in western countries for a number of reasons.
The first good reason is Buddhism has answers to many of the problems in
modern materialistic societies. It also includes (for those who are
interested) a deep understanding of the human mind (and natural therapies)
which prominent psychologists around the world are now discovering to be
both very advanced and effective.

€ Who Was the Buddha?

Siddhartha Gotama was born into a royal family in Lumbini, now located in
Nepal, in 563 BC. At 29, he realised that wealth and luxury did not
guarantee happiness, so he explored the different teachings religions and
philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. After six years
of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and was
enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life
teaching the principles of Buddhism -- called the Dhamma, or Truth -- until
his death at the age of 80.

€ Was the Buddha a God?

He was not, nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught a path to
enlightenment from his own experience.

€ Do Buddhists Worship Idols?

Buddhists sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in worship, nor
to ask for favours. A statue of the Buddha with hands rested gently in its
lap and a compassionate smile reminds us to strive to develop peace and love
within ourselves. Bowing to the statue is an expression of gratitude for the
teaching.

€ Why are so Many Buddhist Countries Poor?

One of the Buddhist teachings is that wealth does not guarantee happiness
and also wealth is impermanent. The people of every country suffer whether
rich or poor, but those who understand Buddhist teachings can find true
happiness.

€ Are There Different Types of Buddhism?

There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis changes
from country to country due to customs and culture. What does not vary is
the essence of the teaching -- the Dhamma or truth.

€ Are Other Religions Wrong?

Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or
religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but
Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence,
through wisdom and true understanding. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and
not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist';
that is why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism.
That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an
explanation is sought.

€ Is Buddhism Scientific?

Science is knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon
seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws. The core of
Buddhism fit into this definition, because the Four Noble truths (see below)
can be tested and proven by anyone. In fact the Buddha himself asked his
followers to test the teaching rather than accept his word as true. Buddhism
depends more on understanding than faith.

€ What did the Buddha Teach?

The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be
summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

€ What is the First Noble Truth?

The first truth is that life is suffering i.e., life includes pain, getting
old, disease, and ultimately death. We also endure psychological suffering
like loneliness, frustration, fear, embarrassment, disappointment and anger.
This is an irrefutable fact that cannot be denied. It is realistic rather
than pessimistic because pessimism is expecting things to be bad. lnstead,
Buddhism explains how suffering can be avoided and how we can be truly
happy.

€ What is the Second Noble Truth?

The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion. We
will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our expectation, if we
want others to like us, if we do not get something we want, etc. In other
words, getting what you want does not guarantee happiness. Rather than
constantly struggling to get what you want, try to modify your wanting.
Wanting deprives us of contentment and happiness. A lifetime of wanting and
craving and especially the craving to continue to exist, creates a powerful
energy which causes the individual to be born. So craving leads to physical
suffering because it causes us to be reborn.

€ What is the Third Noble Truth?

The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be
attained; that true happiness and contentment are possible. lf we give up
useless craving and learn to live each day at a time (not dwelling in the
past or the imagined future) then we can become happy and free. We then have
more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.

€ What is the Fourth Noble Truth?

The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which leads to
the end of suffering.

€ What is the Noble 8-Fold Path?

In summary, the Noble 8-fold Path is being moral (through what we say, do
and our livelihood), focusing the mind on being fully aware of our thoughts
and actions, and developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths
and by developing compassion for others.

€ What are the 5 Precepts?

The moral code within Buddhism is the precepts, of which the main five are:
not to take the life of anything living, not to take anything not freely
given, to abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence, to
refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid intoxication, that is, losing
mindfulness.

€ What is Karma?

Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, i.e., our actions have
results. This simple law explains a number of things: inequality in the
world, why some are born handicapped and some gifted, why some live only a
short life. Karma underlines the importance of all individuals being
responsible for their past and present actions. How can we test the karmic
effect of our actions? The answer is summed up by looking at (1) the
intention behind the action, (2) effects of the action on oneself, and (3)
the effects on others.

€ What is Wisdom?

Buddhism teaches that wisdom should be developed with compassion. At one
extreme, you could be a goodhearted fool and at the other extreme, you could
attain knowledge without any emotion. Buddhism uses the middle path to
develop both. The highest wisdom is seeing that in reality, all phenomena
are incomplete, impermanent and do no constitute a fixed entity. True wisdom
is not simply believing what we are told but instead experiencing and
understanding truth and reality. Wisdom requires an open, objective,
unbigoted mind. The Buddhist path requires courage, patience, flexibility
and intelligence.

€ What is Compassion?

Compassion includes qualities of sharing, readiness to give comfort,
sympathy, concern, caring. In Buddhism, we can really understand others,
when we can really understand ourselves, through wisdom.

€ How do I Become a Buddhist?

Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism teaches
that the solutions to our problems are within ourselves not outside. The
Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as true, but rather to
test the teachings for themselves. ln this way, each person decides for
themselves and takes responsibility for their own actions and understanding.
This makes Buddhism less of a fixed package of beliefs which is to be
accepted in its entirety, and more of a teaching which each person learns
and uses in their own way.

............

THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
Described by John Allan

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/8foldpath.htm

The Eight-Fold Path is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths - the first of
the Buddha's teachings. All the teachings flow from this foundation.

The Four Noble Truths are

1. The Noble Truth of the reality of Dukkha as part of conditioned
existence. Dukkha is a multi-faceted word. Its literal meaning is "that
which is difficult to bear". It can mean suffering, stress, pain, anguish,
affliction or unsatisfactoriness. Each of the English words is either too
strong or too weak in their meaning to be a universally successful
translation. Dukkha can be gross or very subtle. From extreme physical and
mental pain and torment to subtle inner conflicts and existential malaise.

2. The Noble Truth that Dukkha has a causal arising. This cause is defined
as grasping and clinging or aversion. On one hand it is trying to control
anything and everything by grabbing onto or trying to pin them down. On the
other hand it is control by pushing away or pushing down and running away or
flinching away from things. It is the process of identification through
which we try to make internal and external things and experiences into "me
and mine" or wholly '"other" than Me. This flies in the face of the three
signs of existence -- Anicca, Dukkha. Anatta -- Impermanence. Stress or
Suffering and No-Self. Because all conditioned existence is impermanent it
gives rise to Dukkha, and this means that in conditioned existence there is
no unchanging and permanent Self. There is nothing to grasp onto and also in
reality, nothing or no 'one' to do the grasping! We grab onto or try to push
away ever changing dynamic processes. These attempts to control, limit us to
little definitions of who we are.

3. The Noble Truth of the end of Dukkha, which is Nirvana or Nibbana. Beyond
grasping and control and conditional existence is Nirvana. "The mind like
fire unbound." The realisation of Nirvana is supreme Bodhi or Awakening. It
is waking up to the true nature of reality. It is waking up to our true
nature. Buddha Nature. The Pali Canon of Theravada, the foundational
Buddhist teachings, says little about Nirvana, using terms like the
Unconditioned the Deathless, and the Unborn. Mahayana teachings speak more
about the qualities of Nirvana and use terms like, True Nature, Original
Mind, Infinite light and Infinite life. Beyond space and time. Nirvana
defies definition.

Nirvana literally means "unbound' as in "Mind like fire unbound". This
beautiful image is of a flame burning by itself. Just the flame, not
something burning and giving off a flame. Picture a flame burning on a wick
or stick, it seems to hover around or just above the thing burning. The
flame seems to be independent of the thing burning but it clings to the
stick and is bound to it. This sense of the flame being unbound has often
been misunderstood to mean the flame is extinguished or blown out. This is
completely opposite to the meaning of the symbol. The flame "burns" and
gives light but is no longer bound to any combustible material. The flame is
not blown out -- the clinging and the clung to is extinguished. The flame of
our true nature, which is awakening, burns independently. Ultimately Nirvana
is beyond conception and intellectual understanding. Full understanding only
comes through direct experience of this "state' which is beyond the
limitations and definitions of space and time.

4. The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to Awakening. The path is a
paradox. It is a conditioned thing that is said to help you to the
unconditioned. Awakening is not "made" by anything: it is not a product of
anything including the Buddha's teachings. Awakening, your true nature is
already always present. We are just not awake to this reality. Clinging to
limitation, and attempts to control the ceaseless flow of phenomena and
process obscures our true nature.

The path is a process to help you remove or move beyond the conditioned
responses that obscure your true nature. In this sense the Path is
ultimately about unlearning rather than learning -- another paradox. We
learn so we can unlearn and uncover. The Buddha called his teaching a Raft.
To cross a turbulent river we may need to build a raft. When built, we
single-mindedly and with great energy make our way across. Once across we
don't need to cart the raft around with us. In other words don't cling to
anything including the teachings. However, make sure you use them before you
let them go. It's no use knowing everything about the raft and not getting
on. The teachings are tools not dogma. The teachings are Upaya, which means
skillful means or expedient method. It is fingers pointing at the moon --
don't confuse the finger for the moon.

The Path

1. Samma-Ditthi * - Complete or Perfect Vision, also translated as right
view or understanding. Vision of the nature of reality and the path of
transformation.

2. Samma-Sankappa - Perfected Emotion or Aspiration, also translated as
right thought or attitude. Liberating emotional intelligence in your life
and acting from love and compassion. An informed heart and feeling mind that
are free to practice letting go.

3. Samma-Vaca - Perfected or whole Speech. Also called right speech. Clear,
truthful, uplifting and non-harmful communication.

4. Samma-Kammanta - Integral Action. Also called right action. An ethical
foundation for life based on the principle of non-exploitation of oneself
and others. The five precepts.

5. Samma-Ajiva - Proper Livelihood. Also called right livelihood. This is a
livelihood based on correct action the ethical principal of
non-exploitation. The basis of an Ideal society.

6. Samma-Vayama - Complete or Full Effort, Energy or Vitality. Also called
right effort or diligence. Consciously directing our life energy to the
transformative path of creative and healing action that fosters wholeness.
Conscious evolution.

7. Samma-Sati - Complete or Thorough Awareness. Also called "right
mindfulness". Developing awareness, "if you hold yourself dear watch
yourself well". Levels of Awareness and mindfulness -- of things, oneself,
feelings, thought, people and Reality.

8. Samma-Samadhi - Full, Integral or Holistic Samadhi. This is often
translated as concentration, meditation, absorption or one-pointedness of
mind. None of these translations is adequate. Samadhi literally means to be
fixed, absorbed in or established at one point, thus the first level of
meaning is concentration when the mind is fixed on a single object. The
second level of meaning goes further and represents the establishment, not
just of the mind, but also of the whole being in various levels or modes of
consciousness and awareness. This is Samadhi in the sense of enlightenment
or Buddhahood.

* The word Samma means 'proper', 'whole', 'thorough', 'integral',
'complete', and 'perfect' -- related to English 'summit' -- It does not
necessarily mean 'right', as opposed to 'wrong'. However it is often
translated as "right" which can send a less than accurate message. For
instance the opposite of 'Right Awareness' is not necessarily 'Wrong
Awareness'. It may simply be incomplete. Use of the word 'right' may make
for a neat or consistent list of qualities in translations. The down side is
that it can give the impression that the Path is a narrow and moralistic
approach to the spiritual life. I use variant interpretations so you
consider the depth of meanings. What do these things mean in your life right
now?

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Published by David Sunfellow
NewHeavenNewEarth (NHNE)
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