5 Minutes Introduction to Buddhism

 What is Buddhism?
        Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world.
        The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'.  It has its origins about
        2,500 years ago when Siddhata Gotama, known as the Buddha, was
        himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.


 Is Buddhism a Religion?
        To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy
        or 'way of life'.  It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love
        of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

        (1) to lead a moral life,
        (2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and
        (3) to develop wisdom and understanding.


 How Can Buddhism Help Me?
        Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice
        and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice
        or way of life that leads to true happiness.


 Why is Buddhism Becoming Popular?
        Buddhism is becoming popular in western countries for a number of
        reasons,  The first good reason is Buddhism has answers to many of
        the problems in modern materialistic societies. It also includes
        (for those who are interested) a deep understanding of the human
        mind (and natural therapies) which prominent psychologists around
        the world are now discovering to be both very advanced and effective.


 Who Was the Buddha?
        Siddhata Gotama was born into a royal family in northen India, in
        563 BC. At 29, he realised that wealth and luxury did not guarantee
        happiness, so he explored the different teachings religions and
        philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. After
        six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path'
        and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest
        of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism - called the Dhamma,
        or Truth - until his death at the age of 80.


 Was the Buddha a God?
        He was not, nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught a path
        to enlightenment from his own experience.


 Do Buddhists Worship Idols?
        Buddhists sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, not in
        worship, nor to ask for favours. A statue of the Buddha with hands
        rested gently in its lap and a compassionate smile reminds us to
        strive to develop peace and love within ourselves. Bowing to the
        statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.


 Why are so Many Buddhist Counties Poor?
        One of the Buddhist teachings is that wealth does not guarantee
        happiness and also wealth is impermanent.  The people of every
        country suffer whether rich or poor, but those who understand
        Buddhist teachings can find true happiness.


 Are There Different Types of Buddhism?
        There are many different types of Buddhism, because the emphasis
        changes from country to county due to customs and culture.  What
        does not vary is the essence of the teaching - the Dhamma or truth.


 Are Other Religions Wrong?
        Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other
        beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of
        other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term
        purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding.
        Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like
        'Christian', 'Moslem','Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that's why there have
        never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is also why
        Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an
        explanation is sought.


 Is Buddhism Scientific?
        Science is knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends
        upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws. The
        core of Buddhism fit into this definition, because the Four Noble
        truths (see below) can be tested and proven by anyone in fact the
        Buddha himself asked his followers to test the teaching rather than
        accept his word as true Buddhism depends more on understanding
        than faith.


 What did the Buddha Teach?
        The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism
        can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold
        Path.


 What is the First Noble Truth?
        The first truth is that life is suffering ie, life includes pain,
        getting old disease and ultimately death.  We also endure psycho-
        logical suffering like loneliness frustration, fear, embarrassment,
        disappointment and anger. This is an irrefutable fact that cannot
        be denied. It is realistic rather than pessimistic because pessimism
        is expecting things to be bad. lnstead, Buddhism explains how suffer-
        ing can be avoided and how we can be truly happy.


 What is the Second Noble Truth?
        The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion.
        We will suffer if we expect other people to conform to our expectation,
        if we want others to like us, if we do not get something we want,etc.
        In other words, getting what you want does not guarantee happiness.
        Rather than constantly struggling to get what you want, try to modify
        your wanting.  Wanting deprives us of contentment and happiness. A
        lifetime of wanting and craving and especially the craving to continue
        to exist, creates a powerful energy which causes the individual to be
        born. So craving leads to physical suffering because it causes us to
        be reborn.


 What is the Third Noble Truth?
        The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can
        be attained that true happiness and contentment are possible. lf we
        give up useless caving and learn to live each day at a time (not
        dwelling in the past or the imagined future) then we can become happy
        and free. We then have more time and energy to help others.  This is
        Nirvana.


 What is the Fourth Noble Truth?
        The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which
        leads to the end of suffering.


 What is the Noble 8-Fold Path?
        In summary, the Noble 8-fold Path is being moral (through what we
        say, do and our livelihood), focusing the mind on being fully aware
        of our thoughts and actions, and developing wisdom by understanding
        the Four Noble Truths and by developing compassion for others.


 What are the 5 Precepts?
        The moral code within Buddhism is the precepts, of which the main
        five are: not to take the life of anything living, not to take
        anything not freely given, to abstain from sexual misconduct and
        sensual overindulgence, to refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid
        intoxication, that is, losing mindfulness.


 What is Karma?
        Karma is the law that every cause has an effect, ie, our actions have
        results. This simple law explains a number of things: inequality in
        the world, why some are born handicapped and some gifted, why some
        live only a short life.  Karma underlines the importance of all
        individuals being responsible for their past and present actions.
        How can we test the karmic effect of our actions? The answer is
        summed up by looking at (1) the intention behind the action, (2)
        effects of the action on oneself, and (3) the effects on others.


 What is Wisdom?
        Buddhism teacher that wisdom should be developed with compassion.
        At one extreme, you could be a good-heart fool and at the other
        extreme, you could attain knowledge without any emotion. Buddhism
        uses the middle path to develop both.  The highest wisdom is seeing
        that in reality, all phenomena are incomplete, impermanent and do
        no constitute a fixed entity.  True wisdom is not simply believing
        what we are told but instead experiencing and understanding truth
        and reality. Wisdom requires an open, objective, un-bigoted mind.
        The Buddhist path requires courage patience, flexibility and
        intelligence.


 What is Compassion?
        Compassion includes qualities of sharing readiness to give comfort
        sympathy, concern, caring. In Buddhism, we can really understand
        others, when we can really understand ourselves, through wisdom.


 How do I Become a Buddhist?
        Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism
        teaches that the solutions to our problems are within ourselves not
        outside.  The Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as
        true, but rather to test the teachings for themselves. ln this way,
        each person decides for themselves and takes responsibility for their
        own actions and understanding.  This makes Buddhism less of a fixed
        package of beliefs which is to be accepted in its entirety, and more
        of a teaching which each person learns and uses in their own way.




Prepared by Brian White 1993, with thanks to Ven S. Dhammika.