What is Buddhism really about? I would like to hear from actual Buddhists, but any input would be appreciated?

Question

For the girl who said worshoping a false god below, You are a true idiot.

Answer 1

Please excuse the lengthy answer...you have asked for an answer to a very big question and to answer I must cover the basics of Buddhism and the why of the Practise...I am a Buddhist of the Theravada Tradition and have been practising for over 23 years...I'm unsure of your level of understanding and therefore I'll limit my explanation so that there is minimal jargon and Buddhist terminology and try as best I can to pinpoint what the Practise is about and I'll try as best as I can not to confuse you with any esoteric and Spiritual terms or details ....keep smiling as you read if you can...the Buddha did say that "Are we not the Happy ones...?"

Buddhism, in basic terms, is a method of discovery of the Mind, how it works, how it perceives and how it confuses and distorts the everyday experiences to which we are subject, shows us how these distortions and misconceptions cause us to suffer, explains how these things cause us to cause suffering to others and explains how this can be avoided, thereby giving us a method to help us become happier in real terms, calmer and able to be helpful and understanding of others.

Buddhist Practise examines these workings of the Mind, helps us to sort out which parts of the Mind are causing confusion and distortion and in effect rids it of these distorting and confusing things. It concentrates on a term called 'Self' and its relationship to our Consciousness. To Buddhists, our Consciousness guides out thoughts and our thoughts guide our Actions and it is our Actions which cause Consequences both to ourselves and to others. By concentrating on ridding this Consciousness of the "Self", we become less "selfish", making our thoughts less selfish, making our Actions less selfish, making us cause Positive Consequences as opposed to causing negative or neutral Consequences. These positive Consequences help to make others happy from our Actions and we as Buddhists derive our own happiness from other's happiness rather than selfishly chasing those things which give us selfish happiness like buying a new car or a new suit or getting drunk or such things. These Consequences are due to a phenomenon called Karma which to Buddhists is a noun for the phenomenon of Consequence rather than the cause for them. To Buddhists, Karma can be Positive, negative or neutral depending on our Intentions and it is the purpose of Buddhist Practise to develop Wisdom so that we can more easily discern what Actions to choose so that only Positive Karma or Positive Consequences happen from our Actions, making others happier for meeting us than before they met us, thereby helping to provide happiness for others rather than deriving it from others by hurting them or using them.

The basis of Buddhist Practise is the Four Noble Truths

1.Definitions of Suffering...the First Noble Truth
2.Causes of Suffering...the Second Noble Truth
3.Release from Suffering...the Third Noble Truth
4.The Method of Release being the Eightfold Path....the Fourth Noble Truth

The Practise of Buddhism then becomes the practise of the development of the Mind using the Eightfold Noble Path which is the Method of Release from Suffering. This is a list of characteristics of the Mind which are developed to expand a person's awareness of others and allow the Mind to work properly.

This involves meditation practises which will highlight our thought processes and this is where we find the source of or the causes of the arising of selfish feelings, so we know them and can find ways of improving ourselves. As well as following the guidelines in a practical manner by practising being unselfish in our everyday lives.

It follows then that to follow the Noble Eightfold Path one must develop the following

Morality including
1.Right Speech
2.Right Actions
3.Right Livelihood (killing is forbidden even as employment)

Mind including
4.Right Effort
5.Right Mindfulness
6.Right Concentration

Wisdom including
7.Right View
8.Right Understanding

As well as these, there are a set of moral code guidelines which are called the Precepts. In general there are 5 but some prefer the more strict code and follow 8. Buddhist Monks adhere to over 200...The 5 are
1.Refrain from taking Life
2.Refrain from theft
3.Refrain from sexual miscunduct
4.Refrain from lying
5.Refrain from drugs and alcohol

So, by practising the development of these 8 characteristics of the Noble Eightfold Path and adhering to the 5 Precepts we strive for the achiement of an heightened state of consciousness which is free of suffering because it is free of the selfishness of that part of it called "Self"...

We do this not for a selfish reason, rather we strive so that all beings are free of suffering both through a direct result or consequence of our Actions or through the positive consequence or Karma for which we strive.

Buddhists believe several things
1.That Beings include all sentient Life Forms, these Life Forms include animals and humans.
2.There are several levels of existence....several Lower Realms, this Realm and several higher Realms each containing Life Forms of their own.
3.There is no Deity or all powerful God
4.Some higher Realms do have Beings such as Gods and
superhumans or Deva's who have evolved to get to that Realm
5.Life is a cyclic phenomenon which continues endlessly from Birth through Life then Death then Rebirth
6.Rebirth is a result of another phenomena known as Karma.
Karma is a phenomena which is a consequence of our
Actions in both this Life and our previous Lives. These
consequences can be positive, negative or neutral depending on our intentions.
7.To escape from and therefore move out of the cycle of Karma, Death and Rebirth, one must evolve and to do this one must attain enlightenment it is understood that we do not have to be Monks to achieve this state but it attainable by all who dilligently follow the Path, it is further understood that it is a Path with no end, that following it will expand our awareness to include others and thereby release ourselves from our self serving feelings, selfishness if you will. We are in effect to become truly selfless in our dealings with others.
8.Buddhists do not preach to attract converts as the Dharma
states that we each should not believe the Dharma but should reach understanding by our own experience of it.
9. Buddhists do not pray to or worship the Lord Buddha or His image, rather we pay homage and honour to a great human being who's compassion we respect in giving humans the beautiful Dharma. We do this by repeating our promises to Him....we seek refuge in the Buddha...we seek refuge in the Dharma...and we seek refuge in the Sangha or community..these promises are known as the 3 refuges or the 3 gems.

This is a very, very basic introduction to the Dharma and Buddhist ideology. Do not take this answer as the truth of Buddhism. I am not a Teacher nor an Adept and only serves as a very incomplete guide.

I hope I've helped you and not caused too much confusion...
as you can see it is a very big subject and not easily explained...

Peace from a Buddhist..in the continuing season of joy

Edit: To Jamie....wonderful explanation of Nicheran Buddhism, I have been wondering what some of the differences were and are between my own tradition of Theravada and Zen...I was particularly interested to read your explanation on the role of women and the differences between the way women are seen between the 2 Traditions...thank you for a wonderfully written explanation

Answer 2

Some excellent information already. Gaz is closest to my stance. I still hold to my early teachings.

However, Nicheran Buddhism departs somewhat. This latter form of Buddhism is focussed on the Lotus Sutra. Essentailly this sutra speakes of earlier teachings of the Buddha as the provisional teachings...the Lotus Sutra is like the conclusion of the PHD paper, every thing in the middle was leading towards understanding and becomes obsolite once the Lotus Sutra is grasped.

Shakyamunni (Siddarther) Buddha was speaking to those of his time though his teachings are timeless. There was a strong patriarchy in his culture and the surrounding cultures. Lord Shakyamuni Buddha believed that women could become buddhas. The Lotus sutra strives to overcome cultural bounderies and is said to be the most difficult sutra to grasp.

Nicheran, recognized by some to be the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law, stated that women when enlightened become as great or greater than their male counterparts as Buddha's. Nicheran Buddhism strongly promotes the equality of women.

I believe that those who read between the lines of earlier Sutras, grasp this without studying the final work. However, there are still additionall aspects of this Sutra that give it great impact.

Someone a while back gave a great quote which I wish I had written down, regarding death and Buddhism. There are contradictions regarding, death, reincarnation, god's and goddesses. This is in part due to the many schools of Buddhism which exist. Not any different to Christainity! So as an exanmple, in Tebetin and Nicheran Buddhism...you do hear about dieties, afterlife and even demons. However, study helps us to contextualise these things and gain a greater understanding of the actual rather than litteral 'meaning"!

The final goal for any Buddhist is enlightenment. Buddhism is a path to enlightenmnent. It is a life work.

Is a crusifix an idol?...what about statues of jesus? The cross?No, they are focal points that sometimes take on a living energy from our attentiveness to them. That steams from a need to connect. Focal points are not wroong but they are neother essential!

I was taught in a Canadian-Korean Zen Buddhist Temple...The Zen Lotus Society...that the original statue was not of a man at all! That the statue was created to comfort those of a more litteral mind. It was originally a symbolic chair with two footprints in front of it. Can you think why?

The space was for us. Anyone may attain Buddhahood, anyone.

Peace and compassion.

Jamie

Answer 3

Buddhism is not a religion,is an education,Buddha Dharma is the Universal Law,Buddha is one who has awaken or enlightened and 'saw' the truth of the universe and teaches the truth,they are centered in the Four Noble Truth and the Eight Noble Path,they are a set of studies to purify our self by the body,speech and thought,if you approach them as religion,you will find it very complicating,they are to be as simple as possible,just like the air we breath,it is there and we need it all the time,it is something very common,and common do not mean not important,BTW Buddhism is to change the way we look at life and the enviorment,in the eyes of Buddha all beings are Buddhas,in the eyes of devils even the Buddha is a devil,let the ignorant say what they like,for all are our teacher,we can learn for the good ,bad and ugly.[that is what Buddhism is all about] May all have peace.

Answer 4

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.

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.

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.

Answer 5

Buddhism, as I have been exposed to it, is basically a system for understanding your mind, emotions, and your life path. It is an ancient system which doesn't tell you to "believe" anything on Faith - Buddhism presents ideas and concepts and asks you to test them for yourself, so you can decide if they match your experience of the world.

It feels like equal parts science, self-help therapy, and religion. The best of each. :)

Its a little overwhelming at first, so you should commit to learning it, spend some time to find a good teacher and group to meet with. There are many places to start, and all the concepts are interlocking, so jump in anywhere and be patient with yourself.

Meditation is key, and you can start to do this on your own before you even meet a group.

Answer 6

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 what you do not wish others do to you."

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

Ask more questions from the “Expert”, click here:
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/948-61982/Buddhists/justinchoo.htm

Answer 7

The person above me has given you the answer you had asked.

Only to add, Buddhism believes in No God. Everything is self and oneself. There is nothing Buddha can do for you other than showing you the way he had achieved. However, he did mention that believe in yourself, not his word nor anyone else, which made this religion different from others.

Answer 8

http://www.justbegood.net

My friends just started the above site.It explains Buddhism in simple English.

Answer 9

Try this link for a strart. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

Answer 10

Worshiping a false God.