QUICK LOOK

IN DEPTH

RESOURCES/LINKS

 Quick Look

PRACTICED BY	Approximately 111+ million people
MAJORITY OF FOLLOWERS IN	Southeast Asia, China, Japan
FOLLOWERS CALLED	Buddhists
DAY OF WORSHIP	No specific theological practice
FOUNDER	Siddhartha Gautama
DEITY/DEITIES	Buddha
SACRED TEXT(S)	The Tripitaka, the Sutras

In Depth

Buddhists represent the fourth largest religious group in the world. Buddhism is usually separated into three schools of thought. Each division has many sects. The three schools of Buddhist thought are Theravada or Southern Buddhism, Mahayana or Northern Buddhism, and Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism.

 

Although distinct, each section of Buddhism shares the same fundamental beliefs. One of these is the belief in reincarnation. Buddhists believe that one must pass through birth, life and death until Nirvana is achieved. Nirvana is a state of enlightenment that is achieved when one lets go of desire and self. Tolerance and understanding are core beliefs as well. Violence is against the teachings of Buddha, who is considered one of the first teachers. He is revered as a deity, but he does not provide the path to Nirvana. This path is only discovered through continual personal effort and education. Ignorance is the root of evil in the minds of Buddhists.

 

Buddha set forth the Four Noble Truths, which explore human suffering. They are another core belief of Buddhism. The first is called Dukkha. Dukkha defines the existence of suffering. The second Noble Truth is Samudaya. Samudaya states that the cause of suffering is desire. Nirodha sets forth the idea that suffering will stop with the acquisition of Nirvana and the last Noble Truth, Magga, outlines The Eightfold Path, which eliminates suffering. The Five Precepts also set forth moral boundaries for Buddhists. They are: 1.Do not kill 2.Do not steal 3.Do not lie 4.Do not be unchaste 5.Do not consume alcohol or other drugs.

 

The Eightfold Path gives Buddhists the plan to achieve Nirvana. The essential discipline to achieve Nirvana involves ethical conduct, mental discipline and the pursuit of wisdom. The path involves the following steps:

Panna: Wisdom:

1) Samma ditthi: Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths

2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life

Sila: Morality:

3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language

4) Samma kammanta: Right conduct by following the Five Precepts

5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others

Samadhi: Concentration:

6) Samma vayama: Right Effort; promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts

7) Samma sati: Right Mindfulness; Become aware of your body, mind and feelings

8) Samma samadhi: Right Concentration; Meditate to achieve a higher state of
consciousness

Resources/Links

http://www.religious tolerance.org/buddhism.htm Author: B.A. Robinson, Copyright © 1996, 1998, 2000 to 2002 incl., by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, Latest update: 2002-AUG-26

 

http://www.buddhanet.net/ © 1992-2003 Buddha Dharma Education Association, Inc.

 

http://www.milarepa.org Organization dedicated to freeing Tibet and its Buddhists

 

Hicks, Johnnie. Ideas from class discussions and handouts, Multicultural Education, a Global Perspective.

 

 

 

Copyright ©2003, Jason Coleman
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