Could you please tell me about Buddhism?

Question

I'm curious, any information would be helpful.

What are the different types?

Any good websites?

Thank you all for your answers and websites.

Answer 1

Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs.

The fundamental belief involves reincarnation: the concept that one must go through many cycles of birth, living, and death. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana - a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.

The Three Trainings or Practices:

Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles: The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal.
The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in Christianity -- to do onto others as you would wish them do onto you.
Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom.
Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.
Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
The first two paths listed in the Eightfold Path, described below, refer to discernment; the last three belong to concentration; the middle three are related to virtue.
The Four Noble Truths:
The Buddha's Four Noble Truths explore human suffering.
Dukkha: Suffering exists: (Suffering is real and and almost universal.
Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering. (It is the desire to have and control things. Nirodha: There is an end to suffering. (Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana It lets go of any desire or craving.)
Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path:
The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of:
Panna: Discernment, wisdom: 1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths
2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life
Sila: Virtue, morality:
3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language
4) Samma kammanta Right conduct by following the Five Precepts
5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others
Samadhi: Concentration, meditation:
6) Samma vayama Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7) Samma sati Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8) Samma samadhi Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness
The Five Precepts:
These are rules to live by.
Do not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence.
Do not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation.
Do not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name calling, gossip, etc.
Do not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage.
Do not consume alcohol or other drugs.

If you want to know if there's truth in a belief system, check the actions of its followers. If they are at peace with others and themselves, their religion works.

Based on the actions of followers since, Buddha was truly the Prince of Peace.

Answer 2

The first three answers are good and pretty accurate (as some of the others).

Simply understand that Buddhism is a religion primarily concerned with ending suffering, primarily though using meditation to attain self-realization.

Answer 3

The Actual Buddha (which is unknown to most Buddhists) was an incarnation of God. He never said he was God because he came to trick the atheistes. God is so mercyful that he didn't want the athiests to suffer in hell, so he gave them a chance to accept Him by saying there is no God just sit down and meditate (kind of like you do a child(Just sit ther so you don't get into mischif) and He said they could merge into Brahman the light energy after death,which is actuallyl the effulgence eminating from Gods Beautiful Spiritual eternal Body (not made of any material elements) It is actuallyl a temporary situation to merge into his light though. They may stay for billions of years, but eventually they become board because the souls constitutional position is to serve. So they fall back to earth and get another chance to accept God and serve Him. That is the unlimited mercy of God. He Gives unlimited chances to surrender to Him and be happy. There is more but I like to keep it simple. Write for more.

Answer 4

well i was going to post an answer but kappalokka has done a GREAT job! :P i'll just add...in the 1st precept,not killing includes ALL creatures ..from ants and flies to humans :)

oh and here are some answers i have given to Qs asked about Buddhism...just in case you may find them helpful..

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aokac1d_rdPNCu_Ju8wDzt7ty6IX?qid=20070426170442AAsMjW7&show=7#profile-info-wu42tCjJaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsofbE8nPpbg0IrzTqq2SEzty6IX?qid=20070425230949AAGWElx&show=7#profile-info-8LAMCpD5aa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuF7cxDblh7GOrtXwqckUsHty6IX?qid=20070425210923AAkgG8t&show=7#profile-info-8LAMCpD5aa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au_d34TaxC7JI3OmlMqfcWHty6IX?qid=20070425050745AAk3Le1&show=7#profile-info-ace100f555a54df59f63328c32852437aa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Asjc7fp.p6mwuk_JC2f_xiPty6IX?qid=20070424074508AAlKhUp&show=7#profile-info-sSGBM40Uaa

and one word of warning,be VERY careful when you're searching for info over the net....there are some GROSS untruths going around....check this link..it leads to another Q that was asked by someone and another guy had posted a link that contained false information...i have made corrections..
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApW2VM4Ka0ItG0TrQZsdtfjsy6IX?qid=20070430070216AA9enm1

Answer 5

This is a very broad question with answers that would take far more space than I have here, so may I humbly point you towards www.buddhanet.net where you can research to your dear heart's content.

_()_

Answer 6

this is about Theravada Buddhist from Thailand

http://www.11meditation.co.nr

not in a deep detail but it will help you to get a big picture before you get something deeper from somewhere else.
(I think, it's good to start here.)

hope it helps

Answer 7

Beliefnet.com has some good resources.

Answer 8

Buddhism

Buddhism is a very logical philosophy which reveals about the mind, life, and the nature of the world. Lord Buddha is the great master.
A Buddha is a great master who shows people the way to achieve Nirvana the cessation of Sorrow. Lord Buddha was his own master and preached the knowledge he gained through enlightenment. He has reached the state of Buddha by improving his self doing merits and meditation for many years in his previous lives.
Lord Buddha did not represent another powerful invisible figure to preach his knowledge and was his own master. To the layman he taught how to live a good, sincere, happy and a purposeful life and proposed some guidelines to follow to achieve these objectives. Those who do good deeds are rewarded with positive results and vice versa he said. He also said those who want to improve the mind should practice to eliminate selfishness, hatred, anger and ignorance.

Lord Buddha had born 2500 years ago in Northern India and has gain the state of Buddha in his life due to the great merits he has done in his previous lives and the improvement of mind by the meditation he has done. He is not the first or the last Buddha.
There were Buddha's in the past and will be in the future. So we are living in a rare era, an era where Buddhism exists in the world.
We are very lucky to be born in a period of a Buddha. Because there are dark eras where Buddhism does not exists in this world.

He said right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration will lead to cessation of sorrow and to attain Nirvana the ultimate peace. To achieve Nirvana you have to follow the above path. It is not a process which can be done very quickly. One has to follow the path Buddha has taught patiently to achieve Nirvana.


For the intellectuals he said the life is sorrow and taught the way to eliminate the sorrow, by enlightenment. Enlightenment could only be attained through improvement of knowledge thus the improvement of conscious or mind hence some consider it as a philosophy. Worshiping is not a requirement in Buddhism though many do it as a habit and a custom.

Long before Newton, Buddha said every action has a reaction including in all conscious deeds. Those who do good deeds shall be rewarded with positive results and those who do harmful actions (with an evil intension) may experience in adverse results. The results of our righteous or sinful deeds Buddha said shall follow our soul in subsequent lives. Apart from heaven and hell he also said there are other forms of lives after this life.

Just like in thousands of present day books which provide self improvement techniques. Buddha provided an enormous amount of advice to the layman to improve one's self. He said selfishness; hatred, anger and ignorance prevent one from self improvement. One who wants to improve the mind should learn to eliminate these four statuses of mind. Buddha is said to have supernatural powers such as reading others thoughts. He has gained those abilities through meditation. We already know some people possess super natural powers and extra ordinary abilities. Such status could be achieved by improving one's mind thought it is not the ultimatum of the Buddhism. Self improvement or the learning process since the childhood is a way of improving our mind or thinking. It is by improvement of one's mind that the truth could be understood.

It is up to the individual who follows Buddhism to understand and practice what Lord Buddha had taught. Understanding and practicing is important for self improvement.
The Lord Buddha has shown the way. It is our own responsibility to follow it and understand the truth.

Buddhists are practicing 3 major merits in their lives.
They are

1. Dana (Giving & helping other people and animals.)

2. Sheela (preventing from doing sins like killing and harming others and animals, stealing, adultery, false speech, etc.)

3. Bhavana (The improvement in mindfulness and wisdom by practicing Meditation.)

From these practices they are trying to give up desires step by step and coming closer to the state of ultimate freedom NIRVANA.


5 Main precepts of Buddhism

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living beings.
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from stealing.
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery, rape, child abuse, etc).
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from false speech (lying).
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to heedlessness.

Every Buddhist should take those precepts and try to improve own self to live a happy, peaceful life. When you give up your lust, anger, fear, hatred your mind becomes more clear and calm. Mind can be improved by meditation.
One fine day when you understand the truth by your self which was shown by Lord Buddha you will find the ultimate peace. Buddhism is a great philosophy, it all about understanding by your self. There is much more to learn about Buddhism.
So here are two of the best web sites to find out more about Buddhism.


http://www.metta.lk/

http://www.bswa.org/

Answer 9

site below for all your religious questions