Buddhism, a way of life from the East. Many know it, but only superficially: men in robes and they are peaceful. But people don’t know it deeper than that. Time to delve deeper into the world of Buddhism.
The History of Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini in the late sixteenth century BC, now called Nepal. His father was King Shuddhodana. Wise men predicted at Siddhartha’s birth that he would become a great leader. In addition, one sage said that he would get to know the suffering of the people and would not become leader of the country but leader of a religion. His father wanted him to become king and kept him inside the palace and ordered that any old or sick man should not come near the palace.
Siddhartha grew up in the palace and knew no hunger and no suffering. He married Princess Yashodara and had a son, Rahula. At the age of twenty-six he left the palace because he was curious about life outside the palace walls. Outside the walls he saw the four signs that made him aware of reality. He saw an old man, a sick man, a dead man and an ascetic. (An ascetic is a man who lives austerely and austerely out of conviction.) When he saw that the ascetic, despite his limitations, was living a happy life, he vowed to do the same. His father threatened to disinherit him, but Siddhatha was embarrassed and left the palace to live his new life.
He led his life austerely, eating little and drinking little. After he almost died, he was convinced that this was not the way to combat suffering. He looked for another way: he sat under a tree and meditated for 49 days and nights. suddenly he gained insight, or called enlightenment. Thus Siddhartha became Buddha, the enlightened one.
Buddha discovered that in every life you experience suffering, pain, illness and disappointment. Everyone dies, but before you die you can be happy by giving up the desires for power and money. This teaching to free yourself from suffering is called the teaching of Buddha.
The teachings of Buddha
Buddha’s teachings are divided into two parts:
- the three Signs of Being
- the Four Noble Truths
The Three Signs of Being
The first Sign of Being is called dukkha, ‘life is perfect’. Dukkha means that there is physical suffering, the human experience leads to dissatisfaction. The second Sign of Being is called annica, ‘everything in life changes’. The third Sign of Being is called anatta, ‘there is no self’. There is no soul or ego within man.
The Four Noble Truths
- there is suffering. (pain, sadness, poverty must be accepted and recognized that they are there)
- there is a cause for the suffering (sensory, performance behavior, destructiveness)
- the truth of ending suffering (one must be open to reality and remove illusion from the world)
- there is a path that leads to salvation (the Eightfold Path)
The Eightfold Path
- 2 steps for wisdom
- With insight you will find a way to harmony
- 3 steps for behavior
- You can deflect speech by not lying
- Be careful not to act harmoniously
- Practice a profession that doesn’t hurt anyone
- 3 steps for inner peace
- You should make efforts to punish bad deeds by not doing them anymore and you should be mindful of how you behave in a situation and concentration will keep you from a bad mind
Main groups in Buddhism
- Theravada Buddhism
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Zen Buddhism
The Nirvana
Nirvana is the highest position a person can attain, which makes him called holy. The basis of this is the Eightfold Path. There are also some conditions expressed in three principles. Wrong behavior must be avoided, you must have a disciplined mind and you must have insight about yourself and your environment. These principles include the law of karma. If you are generous to those less fortunate, you will be more prosperous at your rebirth. If you are rude and selfish, you will be punished in your rebirth. Good attracts good, bad attracts bad.