What is Buddhism?

Question

like what are the rules that buddhist live by?

Answer 1

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.

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.

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.

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Answer 2

The Buddha expounded universal truth and universal ethics. A more appropriate term to describe Buddhism is "humanism". It deals with the proper conduct of human lives.

The Buddha discovered the way to peace and happiness through realizing the true nature of life and this universe. It was more than 2500 years ago in northern India where the Buddha through harnessing the power of his mind realized that if man is to be free of greed, hatred and delusion, he had to look inwards into his mind, and start cleansing his inner defilements. If one reduces one's defilements, one would experience peace and happiness. He discovered that the whole world had certain characteristics and that life continued to exist because of certain causes. This world is very unsatisfactory, because we cannot be fully satisfied in life and that nothing is permanent. He also pointed out that because of our craving for permanent and complete satisfaction, we were always miserable.

The one universal rule applicable to all is:
"Do not do to others that you do not wish done to you."

For more info, refer to the mother of all Buddhist web sites : www.buddhanet.net

Answer 3

Buddhism is a way of being, it's not really a religion. You can be a Christian Buddhist. There is historical documentation that Jesus studied in the East.

Answer 4

this may helps a bit

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

There are some basic things about Theravada Buddhist religion in Thailand.

no deep details but I think this will help you to get a big picture of Buddhisms

hope it helps

Answer 5

it's a very broad topic...buddhanet is a really good site....be careful about info that you get on the net though because i've come across many sites that have a load of lies about buddhism

basically there are to schools of thought:mahayana and theravadha

theravadha is the original and purest form,but there's not much difference (if any) between the interpretations of buddha's teachings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana

Answer 6

Do not accept anything out of authority
Do not accept anything because it happens to be written down
Do not accept anything out of reverence for their teacher or out of hearsay
Do not accept anything because it sounds reasonable
But to verify,test what they have heard in the light of their own experience.
Follow what is beneficial, that leads to happiness,that leads to calm
You can see yourself that when no greed and anger are present in you no suffering,pain in mind and disturbances
LORD BUDDHA

Answer 7

There are no rules. There are a set of moral precepts which you can choose to adhere to and ostensibly that will lead to enlightenment but you need only believe as much as you find logical.

Answer 8

buddhism i understand is code of conduct for living better life using principals of equality ,freedom & faternity

Answer 9

http://www.buddhanet.com/

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