Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the major religions in today’s world. Some think of Buddhism as a philosophy, others as a religion, and some think of it as both. However, it is not really a religion in the true sense of the word. In Buddhism, there is no belief in a Creator or God, so it cannot be defined as a religion in the strict sense of the word. This does not mean than people interested in Buddhism can not believe in God. People of all religions can study the teachings of the Budda. Buddhists do not worship the Budda; they look to the Budda for teaching and guidence, but not for salvation. Buddists want to make the Budda’s teachings available to all that are interested, they do not attempt to convert others to Buddhism. While the rest of humanity dwells in the dream that is called waking human state, one Siddhartha Guatama roused himself. Buddism begins with a man who woke up.
Budda was born a prince named Siddhartha Guatama in a small kingdom in what is now Nepal in 563b.c.e. Shortly after his birth, his father consulted with a nuraber of astrologers, all of whom declared that the newborn prince would become a great king and that he would rule the world in truth and righteousness. Among these astrologers, there was one who declared that if the prince were to see a sick person, an old person, a corpse, and a world renouncing ascetic, he would become dissatisfied with life and become a wandering monk in order to seek final peace.
King Shuddhodana decided to prevent his son from running into any of these four sights and surrounded him with pleasant diversions during his early years. Finally the prince convinced his father into letting him visit a part of the city that was beyond the palace gates. Before allowing the prince to ride out in his chariot, Shuddhodana first ordered the streets to be cleared of the sick or the infirm, that the prince not be allowed to see any of the corpses or the world renouncers. Despite the kings efforts, at one point the path of the royal chariot was blocked by a sick man. Siddhartha had never before encountered a serious illness. He found out that the man had grown old and that such afflictions were just the result of age. Siddhartha was amazed to find that most people see such sights every day but persist in short-sighted pursuit and mundane affairs, apparently unconcerned that they will become sick, grow old, and die.
In three other journeys outside the palace, Siddhartha saw an old man and corpse, and when he learned that eventually his young healthy body would become weak he fell into a deep depression. On the fourth trip, Siddhartha saw a world renouncer , a man who stood apart from the crowd, who owned nothing and was unaffected by the petty concerns of the masses, and who radiated calm, serenity, and a profound inner peace. This sight lifted Siddhartha’s spirits, since it revealed to him that he could transcend the mundane existence and find true happiness. At this point, Siddhartha resolved to renounce the world and find inner peace. He felt that the evils of desire were endless. They were the root of sorrow, accompanied by regrets, struggles, and hostility. Siddhartha left the palace and started to practice meditation with many teachers, but none could show him a path leading to the end of suffering. He met up with five spiritual seekers who told him that the way to salvation lies in severe asceticism. He followed their practices, and eventually was eating only a single grain of rice per day. He grew so weak that he almost died. This experience taught Siddhartha the futility of asceticism and that it can be just as bad as hedonistic indulgence.
Siddhartha continued on his journey. One day he settled under a tree to mediate. During the night, Siddhartha entered into progressively deeper meditative states, in which the patterns of the world fell into place for him, and thus he came to understand the causes and effects of actions, why beings suffer, and how to transcend all the pains and sorrows of the world. By the dawn of the next morning he had completely awakened from the misconceptions of ordinary people, and at this point he became Budda. The Sanskrit root of the word budh means to awake and to know.
“ Are you a god?” they asked.
“No.”
“An angel?”
“No.”
“A saint?”
“No.”
“Then, what are you?”
“I am awake,”
Buddhism is one of the major religions in today’s world. Some think of Buddhism as a philosophy, others as a religion, and some think of it as both. However, it is not really a religion in the true sense of the word. In Buddhism, there is no belief in a Creator or God, so it cannot be defined as a religion in the strict sense of the word. This does not mean than people interested in Buddhism can not believe in God. People of all religions can study the teachings of the Budda. Buddhists do not worship the Budda; they look to the Budda for teaching and guidence, but not for salvation. Buddists want to make the Budda’s teachings available to all that are interested, they do not attempt to convert others to Buddhism. While the rest of humanity dwells in the dream that is called waking human state, one Siddhartha Guatama roused himself. Buddism begins with a man who woke up.
Budda was born a prince named Siddhartha Guatama in a small kingdom in what is now Nepal in 563b.c.e. Shortly after his birth, his father consulted with a nuraber of astrologers, all of whom declared that the newborn prince would become a great king and that he would rule the world in truth and righteousness. Among these astrologers, there was one who declared that if the prince were to see a sick person, an old person, a corpse, and a world renouncing ascetic, he would become dissatisfied with life and become a wandering monk in order to seek final peace.
King Shuddhodana decided to prevent his son from running into any of these four sights and surrounded him with pleasant diversions during his early years. Finally the prince convinced his father into letting him visit a part of the city that was beyond the palace gates. Before allowing the prince to ride out in his chariot, Shuddhodana first ordered the streets to be cleared of the sick or the infirm, that the prince not be allowed to see any of the corpses or the world renouncers. Despite the kings efforts, at one point the path of the royal chariot was blocked by a sick man. Siddhartha had never before encountered a serious illness. He found out that the man had grown old and that such afflictions were just the result of age. Siddhartha was amazed to find that most people see such sights every day but persist in short-sighted pursuit and mundane affairs, apparently unconcerned that they will become sick, grow old, and die.
In three other journeys outside the palace, Siddhartha saw an old man and corpse, and when he learned that eventually his young healthy body would become weak he fell into a deep depression. On the fourth trip, Siddhartha saw a world renouncer , a man who stood apart from the crowd, who owned nothing and was unaffected by the petty concerns of the masses, and who radiated calm, serenity, and a profound inner peace. This sight lifted Siddhartha’s spirits, since it revealed to him that he could transcend the mundane existence and find true happiness. At this point, Siddhartha resolved to renounce the world and find inner peace. He felt that the evils of desire were endless. They were the root of sorrow, accompanied by regrets, struggles, and hostility. Siddhartha left the palace and started to practice meditation with many teachers, but none could show him a path leading to the end of suffering. He met up with five spiritual seekers who told him that the way to salvation lies in severe asceticism. He followed their practices, and eventually was eating only a single grain of rice per day. He grew so weak that he almost died. This experience taught Siddhartha the futility of asceticism and that it can be just as bad as hedonistic indulgence.
Siddhartha continued on his journey. One day he settled under a tree to mediate. During the night, Siddhartha entered into progressively deeper meditative states, in which the patterns of the world fell into place for him, and thus he came to understand the causes and effects of actions, why beings suffer, and how to transcend all the pains and sorrows of the world. By the dawn of the next morning he had completely awakened from the misconceptions of ordinary people, and at this point he became Budda. The Sanskrit root of the word budh means to awake and to know.
“ Are you a god?” they asked.
“No.”
“An angel?”
“No.”
“A saint?”
“No.”
“Then, what are you?”
“I am awake,”