Buddhism

Guide Note

Buddhism is a religion, philosophy and way of life originating in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama that attempts to identify the causes of human suffering and ways to ease that suffering. The foundation of Buddhism lies in the Four Noble Truths.

1. All worldly phenomena is unsatisfactory, fleeting and unfulfilling, subject to subject to birth, decay, disease, and death. Existence is suffering (dukhka)
2. Suffering has a cause, i.e., craving for pleasure of the senses, which can never be fully satisfied, and aversion from pain (trishna)
3. Extinguish craving so that no passion and desire remain. Cessation of suffering (nirvana)
4. The end of suffering via the Noble Eightfold Path

1. Perfect View: develop an understanding of the nature of the world through the Four Noble Truths
2. Perfect Resolve: avoid jealous or angry thoughts. Cultivate thoughts of goodwill and renunciation
3. Perfect Speech: avoid false speech, harsh words, and mindless chatter
4. Perfect Action: peaceful, honest and pure conduct; observance of the Five Precepts
5. Perfect Livelihood: avoid livelihood that harms others or involves intoxicants
6. Perfect Effort: determined discipline and cultivation of the mind
7. Perfect Mindfulness: awareness of actions, words and thoughts, and the true nature of reality
8. Perfect Concentration: Purification of the mind and concentration on one point or object, leading to higher states of consciousness

The Five Precepts of Buddhism constitute the basic code of ethics, undertaken by lay followers of the Buddha Gautama

1. Avoid killing or harming any living being
2. Avoid taking that which has not been given
3. Avoid committing sexual misconduct
4. Avoid using false words
5. Avoid taking alcohol and other intoxicants

Three additional precepts apply to monks and nuns, and may be taken by lay followers on special occasions:

1. Eat moderately and only at the appropriate time
2. Avoid dancing, singing, music, and bodily adornments
3. Abstain from sleeping in luxurious beds

Fast Facts

1. Founded circa 5th Century, BCE
2. Over 300 million Buddhists worldwide
3. Traditions:
   1. Theravada or Hinayana: Sri Lanka, SE Asia
   2. Mahayana: China, Mongolia, South Korea, North Korea, Japan
   3. Vajrayana: Tibet, Japan
4. Fundamental Teaching: Four Noble Truths
5. End suffering by following Noble Eightfold Path
6. Practice a non-extremism called The Middle Way