Can someone explain the basic story of the Budist religion to me?

Answer 1

To start off - to all those giving all the thumbs down for the more correct answers - maybe you ought to look at the loving accepting message the Buddha taught rather than showing your Bigotry.

The Wikki entry is fairly accurate. Faiths like those founded by the Buddha & Confucius challenge the defination of Religion as neither recognise any Dieties/Gods. They were both historical wise men who (generally speaking) looked at how people interacted with each other and nature rather than at any actions of a God.

Amongst other things the Buddha taught non-violence (to animals and people) AND respect (to people, their faiths and their property) - and to lead/teach by example.

.

Answer 2

I assume that you come from a Christian tradition, for you assume that Buddhists texts (sutra's) is like the Bible, an old collection of stories, and also you assume that it is a religion.

Buddhism is not a religion - but a philosophy for 300 million people around the world.

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.

Buddhism provides a code of practice to attain true happiness.

Buddha is not a God - nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught by example.

Buddhists use images of the Buddha to focus thier thoughts, they do not pray to him, or ask for prayers from him.

There are many different types of Buddhism, but all are tolerant of all other beliefs - there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. Buddhists do not preach or try to convert,

Buddhism depends on understanding - not on faith.

Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, i.e., our actions have results. Buddhism teaches that wisdom should be developed with compassion. In Buddhism, you can only really understand others, when you fully understand yourself.

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.

Answer 3

There is much available if you just do a simple searchbut here is an easy place to begin - The Buddha
If you want to find out about Buddhism, start with the Buddha. He was born over 2500 years ago at a place called Lumbini (in Nepal). His historical name was Siddhattha Gotama. His father, Suddhodhana, was the ruler of the kingdom of Kosala and Siddhattha was therefore born into a life of wealth and privilege.
At the age of twenty-nine, however, he left his father's palace, disenchanted with the life of pleasure and comfort he had led. He came to realize that all of this was transitory and that one day he would succumb to old age, sickness and death. However, he also believed that there must be an escape from suffering which would be found in some form of higher realization or enlightenment.

For the next six years he put his body through extremes of self-mortification, including fasting almost to the point of death.

After those six years - although he had attained to some higher states - he realized that this method would not bring him complete enlightenment. Instead, he returned to a different, less extreme form of practice which he had stumbled on, almost by accident, during his youth.
At the age of thirty-five, the Buddha sat beneath what is referred to as the Bodhi tree and it was there that he finally achieved enlightenment. He had finally found that ineffable state of perfect bliss and knowledge.

For the remaining forty-five years of his life the Buddha spent his time as a humble monk, teaching others to realize what he himself had discovered.

http://buddhism.about.com/od/theravada/ss/BuddhismSS.htm
another site
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/buddhahist.html

Answer 4

Basic "story":

Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in India in about 550 BCE. He lived an INCREDIBLY sheltered life within the palace, but he persuaded a servant to take him on a journey through the streets.

On this journey, he saw a sick person, an old person, a corpse and a monk. When he asked his erstwhile guide what was going on with each of these individuals, he learned that everyone will become ill, if you survive long enough everyone will become decrepit in old age, and everyone will die. Yet the monk sought to find meaning in life in spite of knowing all this.

The story continues that this had an enormous impact on Siddhartha Gautama, and so he eventually left his palace to go on a spiritual quest. He studied with various (essentially Hindu) gurus who said that they could teach him how to achieve enlightenment, and thus end his suffering. He lived an extremely ascetic life, but had a hard time trying to achieve enlightenment. One day he decided to sit under the "Bodhi" tree and meditate. During this time he achieved enlightenment by discovering the 4 noble truths:
1. All life is suffering.
2. Suffering is caused by longing or attachment.
3. It is possible to overcome longing and thus end suffering.
4. This end of suffering is possible through following the 8-fold path.

I won't go into the 8-fold path here, but it is essentially deciding to live a life of moderation and kindness. Buddha also taught that thinking is at the center of everything and that it can lead to either suffering or to enlightenment.

Buddha died of apparent food poisoning when he was in his 80s. He was not (and usually still is not) considered a god, but rather simply a wise person who teaches that we are all responsible for finding our own way toward enlightenment by accepting life on its terms and embracing happiness that is available through such openness.

Naturally I left out a lot, but I hope this helps.

- {♂♂} - {♂♀} - {♀♀} -

Answer 5

Buddhism is often described as a religion[1] and a collection of various philosophies.[2] To many, however, Buddhism is a set of spiritual teachings and practices rather than a religion.[3] [4] Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means roughly the "teachings of the Awakened One" in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism was brought into being around the 5th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, hereafter referred to as "the Buddha." [5]

Answer 6

Buddhism is NOT a religion . It is a philosophy.

Rephrase your question and post it in the correct section in Yahoo , you will get more correct and better answers .

Oh – and I ztill zpell Buddhism incorrectly without my Computer .

Answer 7

Go on to Google

Answer 8

The Buddha has said: "As the Ocean has one taste, the taste of salt (lona rasa); so too does my Doctrine & Discipline (Dharma-Vinaya) have one taste, the Taste of Freedom [Liberation], (Vimutti Rasa)".

i. c.

Answer 9

Buddhism is about waking up, in honesty and kindness, to the actual and beautiful nature of being alive.

(The word "buddha" literally means "awoken.")
.

Answer 10

Siddhartha went to Asia teaching his way of life to others and they followed and created a new way to live.