what is buddhism? what does it repsent?

Question

project?

Answer 1

It is impossible to answer this question here. It takes years to understand Buddhism and what it represents. It was started by a man named Siddartha Gautama. He was a son of a royal ruler. He discovered early in life that he could not find true happiness. At the age of 29 he set off to find true happiness. It took him six years to find the happiness that he was looking for. He then taught until he was 80 years old. His teachings are based on the 4 Noble truths (1) life is suffering 2) there is a cause to suffering 3) there is a way to stop suffering and 4) the way to stop suffering (the 8 fold Noble Path. Many non Buddhist focus on truth #1-life is suffering and say that Buddhism is a pessimistic religion/philosophy. When they do this, they are ignoring truth #3 which states that one can end suffering and the way to end it is to follow the 8 fold Noble path.

(1) RIGHT VIEW: Right view consists of an understanding of the Four Noble Truths: Right view also consists of an understanding of kamma: "Beings are the owners of their actions....whatever deeds they do, good or bad, of those they shall be heirs."
(2) RIGHT INTENTION: Right intention consists of the intentions of Renunciation, Good Will (Metta) and Harmlessness.
The intention of renunciation means that the pull of desire (craving) is to be resisted and eventually abandoned, because it is the root of suffering. "Turning away from craving becomes the key to happiness, to freedom from the hold of attachment."
The intention of good will (metta) involves the development of selfless love for other beings.
The intention of harmlessness involves the development of thought guided by compassion, the wish that all beings will be free of suffering.
(3) RIGHT SPEECH: Right speech means abstaining from false speech, slander, harsh or hurtful language, and idle chatter.
(4) RIGHT ACTION: Right action means abstaining from killing other sentient beings (not just human beings), abstaining from stealing, and abstaining from sexual misconduct (sexual relations which are harmful to others).
(5) RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: Right livelihood means earning one's living in a righteous way: legally, honestly, peacefully, and without producing harm and suffering for others.
(6) RIGHT EFFORT: Right effort involves the undertaking of four "great endeavors":
(a) to prevent the arising of unwholesome mental states (such as sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and worry, and doubt),
(b) to abandon arisen unwholesome mental states,
(c) to arouse wholesome mental states (such as the seven factors of enlightenment: mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, energy, rapture, tranquility, concentration, and equanimity),
(d) to maintain arisen wholesome states.
(7) RIGHT MINDFULNESS: "The ultimate truth, the Dhamma, is not something mysterious and remote, but the truth of our own experience...It has to be known by insight...What brings the field of experience into focus and makes it accessible to insight is mindfulness." Right mindfulness is cultivated through the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness: mindful contemplation of the body, feelings, states of mind, and phenomena.
(8) RIGHT CONCENTRATION: Right concentration (one-pointedness of mind) "makes the mind still and steady...opens vast vistas of bliss, serenity and power," and helps us to "generate the insights unveiling the ultimate truth of things." It is developed through meditation on specific objects

Like other religions, there are various sects. The most prominent are Mahayana which includes Zen, Theravadan and Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism.

Answer 2

The 4 Noble Truths and the 8 fold Path

Answer 3

Mahayana Buddhism is about mercy, gentleness and righteousness. If you can apply these into your life, eventually your life will become better and more peaceful/ When you die, you may not reincarnate into another life to be suffer but go to Heaven and Nirvana.
Karma (what goes around come around) is a strong principle of Mahayana. Everything you do has its consequences (good or bad).
Buddha is not a God, but he will bless and guide you, even save you, if you live a righteous life and believe in Karma!

Answer 4

Buddhism's origin is very similar to Christianity's beginnings although their teachings are rather different. Both religions were started by very wise individuals who offered a critique to the religions they were raised in. Jesus was raised a Jew and then offered a critique of the Jewish religion- these philosophical objections later became the core of Christianity. Siddhartha was raised in the Hindu faith and then offered a critique of that faith- this philosophy ultimately became Buddhism.

Basically, Buddhists believe that they can reach inner Peace, nirvana, by living without any possessions- ultimately giving away their ownership of their self. They attempt to obtain this ultimate act through a variety of meditation techniques.

Answer 5

Hindus do believe in spirit verbal substitute, it is for specific, yet this physique of understanding is a heavily guarded secret of in particular Tantrics and can be found out with the aid of a guru. The emphasis on "instructor-Disciple" dating for getting to grasp is as a results of inherent hazards in contact. Spirits in many cases choose a medium to talk, and an excellent form of a time the spirit refuses to depart the medium. basically that souls which has not attained moksha, could be invoked. it is all i understand.

Answer 6

Buddhism is not a religion, but more of a philosophy on living life as a good person. Reaching enlightenment through inner peace, etc etc.

Answer 7

Kind of Evolution/Involution Theory in Religion

You keep re-incarnate to be higher/lower life form

Cheers

Answer 8

Basically, it is a non-theistic religion based on Indian teachings of peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

Answer 9

here

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

it's about Theravada Buddhist religion from Thailand.
not in a deep detail but you will get a big picture (I guess)...

hope it helps