Explain Buddhism to me.?

Question

Please

I'm not converting, I'm very solid on my walk with Jesus, I'm simply curious. I've seen alot of answers connected to it thats all. Yes, I have heard of Google. I wanted to hear it first hand. Thanks you guys!

Answer 1

The four noble truths of Buddhism.

First, these truth are universal truth applicable to all beings. It is because in our time , Lord Buddha re-discover these truths and taught to us, so they are known as the teaching of Buddha (Buddhism).

One should understand the function of each noble truth so that one will know exactly what to know about each of the truth.

First Noble Truth of Suffering (Note: one need to understand it fully)
1. Physical or mental suffering
2. Suffering due to changes
3. suffering momment-to-moment due to formation (inheritant in existence)

Second Noble Truth of cause of Suffering = Craving ( Note: one need to discard or eradicate it completely)
1. Craving for sensual pleasures ( i.e. belief in self-indulgence)
2. Craving for existence (i.e. belief in eternal life)
3. Craving for non-existence (i.e.belief in one life only)

Third Noble Truth of ceasation of Suffering (i.e. Enlightenment) Note: one need to realize it fully.
1. Stream-enterer ( one has let go of wrong belief in 'ego' and enter the 'stream' which will lead to enlightenment)
2. Once-returner - Who have reduce much of anger and lust that only one more time , he will be reborn into this round of existences)
3. None-returner - who has get rid of anger and lust completely. thus he will not return to human world.
4. Enlightened person- who has no more defilements such as greed hatred and delusion.

Fourth Noble Truth of the path leading to ceasation of Suffering ( Note: this need to be cultivated completely)

Noble Eight folder path:

1. Right understanding
2. Right thoughts
3. Right efforts
4. Right mindfulness
5. Right concentration
6. Right speech
7. Right action
8. Right livelihood

A 'practicing' buddhist is a person cultivating noble eight fold-path to be free from all kind of suffering by purifying the mind.

I know it is abit technical. To summarize,

To avoid evil,
To do goods,
To purify mind
This is the teachings of all Buddhas.

Application in life:


1. Right understanding - 1. everything is changing. you, the one you love, feelings 2. wanting to be care (i.e. expectation) cause sadness- thinking about it over and over again lead to depression

2. Right thoughts - think about good will toward love one, (not so much of lust) and think of letting go those expectation or desire.
3. Right efforts - put effort to let go negative thoughts and think more of joyful and loving thoughts.
4. Right mindfulness - be alert and mindful of what is in one mind in present moment.
5. Right concentration - apply one mind to one-point such as one natural breathing so that mind become peaceful and stable.
6. Right speech - speak what is truthful , useful and pleasant
7. Right action - avoid cruelty, harmful to oneself and other.
8. Right livelihood - choose job whcih aviod cruelty, harmful to oneself and other.

Answer 2

The Heart of the Buddha's teaching lies in the Four Noble Truths/the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths:

1) Unsatisfactoriness of worldly conditions - Dukha, often expressed as 'suffering'

2) The arising or origin of Dukha - (unsatifactoriness) is craving or 'selfish attachments'.

3) The Cessation (ending) of Dukha is attainable

4) The Middle Way leading to cessation of Dukha is through mindfully following the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path to Happiness: note- the word Right (as in the Eightfold Path) in the Pali language means 'Skillful'

1) Right or Skillful Understanding

2) Right or Skillful Thoughts

3) Right or Skillful Speech

4) Right or Skillful Action

5) Right or Skillful Livelihood

6) Right or Skillful Effort

7) Right or Skillful Mindfulness

8) Right or Skillful Concentration

*A very important aspect of Buddhism is patience and tolerance toward 'all' people of 'all' religious beliefs. The Buddha emphasized the sacredness of all living creatures: Do no harm to any living thing, especially human beings!

The Main types of Meditation practiced by Buddhists are Mindfulness Meditation and Loving-kindness Meditation.

The Five Precepts are important principles to follow for Buddhsits: they are actually part of the Noble Eightfold Path, falling under Right/Skillful Actions.

A few other important Buddhist terms: the Divine Abodes, Impermanence, and Anatta.

An excellent Book to read, which explains in detail
the Noble Eightfold Path as well as many other important teachings and principles of Buddhism is
"Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness"
By: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.

Hope this helps toward a clearer understanding of Buddhism.

Happy 2008' New Year !

Metta to all.

Answer 3

Buddhist practice helps us ease suffering -- our own and that of everyone we meet.

The Buddha, a normal human being who lived 2,500 years ago, taught that suffering arises from clinging and attachment to thoughts.

When we stop clinging, our inherent compassion, wisdom, and creativity emerges. Then we can live in ways that reduce suffering. While all of us have tasted this freedom in our lives, those who can live like this from moment to moment are said to be *enlightened*.

Buddha also taught that everything always changes. That means that nothing, not even our consciousness, remains the same, moment to moment. If we can deeply accept this, then there is nothing we will try to hold onto. (Again, clinging causes suffering.)

Buddhism has not set of beliefs that Buddhists must adopt -- no doctrine or creed. That's why Christians, Muslims, Jews, and atheists can all benefit from Buddhism. Buddhism is really just a set of practices that transform consciousness so that our lives can become deeply generous, compassionate, and helpful.

Answer 4

Seriously, read Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. You'll enjoy it, seeing as your are a Christian, and it will allow you to grasp the concept of Buddhism.

I loved it. Very spiritual and sensible book.

Answer 5

Rebirth
Nirvana is what happens when you escape the cycle of rebirth through enlightenment (seeing all things as they are)
Everything just is
All things are empty
Meditation is the driving force
The mind/discipline is crucial
Any gods that exist are not eternal
Any hells that exist can be escaped

Answer 6

Buddhism is simple, their goal is to reach Nirvanna, and to reach Enlightenment

Answer 7

u heard of google?

Answer 8

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

http://buddhism.about.com/

http://www.buddhanet.net/

http://americanbuddhist.net/taxonomy/term/51

http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/footsteps.htm