What are the fundamentals of Buddhism?

Question

It seems so damn complicated. While you're at it, what did Buddha do, and how can there possibly be two Dali Lamas?

Good point, Shaun K, but I was refering to the first Buddha, I just didn't remember his name from when I read Sidhartha and I didn't want to embarass myself trying to spell it... thanks for the link.

Answer 1

I provided a link containing a basic view of buddhist funamentals. It will help you out. The Buddha is not one person. A Buddha is a great person who has achieved enlightenment and reached nirvana. If you mean the first buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, he basicly created the Buddhist religion with his teachings.

Answer 2

Buddhist practice is actually quite easy -- chanting, meditation, etc. are usually very simple for most people. Buddhist "philosophy" is fairly complex -- the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Three Poisons, etc., ad infinitum.

Fortunately, you don't need to know anything about Buddhist philosophy to realize the fruits of Buddha's teaching. All you have to do is practice. If you do this with diligence, you'll discover that your inherent wisdom and compassion begin to emerge and that your life will become more clear and beneficial.

Buddha was a normal human being, just like you and me. He was born a prince in the Shakya clan in Northern India but left that life behind in an effort to discover the causes of suffering. After some time of serious practice, he awakened to his true nature -- he got enlightenment. (The word "buddha" means "awake" in Sanskrit.)

After Buddha got enlightenment, he spent the rest of his life teaching others how to have the same experience. His last words before he died were, "Don't take my word for it -- find out for yourself."

These words mean that Buddha's teaching words won't help us. We must do the real work of looking deeply into our own lives and wake up, just like the Buddha did. Then we can truly help this world.

Regarding the Dalai Lama -- there can only be one Dalai Lama at any one time. In the Tibetan version of Buddhism, it is believed that each Dalai Lama reincarnates after death into a new body. There is a process for discovering which young child contains the spirit of the previous Dalai Lama and that child then becomes the new Dalai Lama. Other traditions of Buddhism don't view reincarnation in the same manner.

Answer 3

(Only) Tibetan Buddhism has this tradition of looking for the re-incarnation of great practitioners. Dalai Lama is one of them (currently the 14th reincarnation). Duplicate identifications are probably due to conflict of interest (with government? ).

Nonetheless, the three aspects of the Buddhist teaching that clearly distinguish it from non-Buddhist teachings: (1) all things are impermanent, (2) all things lack inherent existence (no-self), (3) and that nirvana is perfect quiesence.

This is a good beginners guide by Bhikkhu Shravasti Dhammika: "Good Question, Good Answer":
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/goodqa/goodqa-00.htm

Hope you are not discouraged by the 'complication'. Buddha's path towards enlightenment are meant to be simple. It just got complicated as it evolved to suit the mass.

May you be enlightened one day :)

Answer 4

Buddhism believes that the world is a place of constant suffering brought about having desires. When you release all earthly desires, you can obtain a personal state of being while not being, you are nothing, which makes you part of everything. Really complex, true, but it's followers can show a form of piousness that many are not able to fully comprehend.

Answer 5

Buddhas teachings were the same as Christs--transend your ego--& stop pretending you are separate to everything else in existence.

Answer 6

From the second answer,Bhuddism sounds like confusion;philosophies that are masked in such a way that people dont immediately figure it out.

Answer 7

You said it's too complicated. If you want it in one sentence then it's here.

There are causes and their consequences; A Buddhist must believe this.

Answer 8

maybe your cat knows. lame.