In order for someone to understand Buddhism, they must understand the principle beliefs of Buddhism. The principle beliefs are as follows:
The Three Jewels:
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| The Three Jewels |
The Three Jewels are elements central to Buddhism. The Three Jewels are the Buddha, Dharma (Buddha's teachings) and the Sangha (Buddhist community). Buddhists call them 'Jewels' because they are precious. Buddhists show their commitment to the Three Jewels by reciting these words in the Tipitaka:
"I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
I go to the Dharma as my refuge.
I got to the Sangha as my refuge." [1]
Let us have a look at the Three Jewels in depth:
The Buddha:
There is great debate between different groups as to how influential the Buddha is. On one side, traditionalists claim that he is nothing more than an example for us, a soul who was last reincarnated 2500 years ago and has since exited the cycle of suffering and the cares of existence. At the other extreme, Buddha is recognised as a deity to who one can pray to and ask favours. At first his presence was recognised by a set of footprints - reminding Buddhists that he had once walked the earth. After, he was remembered a stupas - a burial mound or monument that usually has a relic contained within. And finally, the actual form of Buddha as a statue was created.
The Dharma:
The Dharma is the Buddhist name for the teachings of the Buddha, which can be found in scriptures such as the Pali Canon. The word dharma literally means 'universal truth' [2] , a truth that needs to be responded to and lived out in practice. Buddhists may consult specially trained teachers of the scriptures, such as monks, to understand all the truth about what the Buddha taught.
The Sangha:
The Sangha is the third and last Jewel of Buddhism. For some Buddhists, the Sangha refers to those Buddhists who live as monks or nuns. But recently, this has changed. Many Buddhists believe that the term can refer to anyone who belongs to a local vihara or temple. [2] Laypeople look to the sangha for spiritual guidance, help with meditation and advice on how to live.
The Four Noble Truths
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| Enlightenment - no suffering - the Four Noble Truths |
The Buddha spelt out a simple plan that people could follow to achieve. These truths set out the reasons why people suffer and shows a way out of their suffering. They are:
1. All is suffering (dukkha);
2. The cause of suffering is attachment to (or desire for) life;
3. There is a way out of suffering;
4. The way out of suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path
Buddha wanted people to realise the truths about life. He thought that he desires, the longings that people have to own things, to have certain relationships or any other sort of longings will only lead to pain, because they cannot be permanent. [2]
The Noble Eightfold Path
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| Eightfold Path |
Following the noble Eightfold Path, Buddhists believe that they can find a way out of suffering and see beyond illusion. The Eightfold Path is not eight individual steps but rather a way that needs to be taken together. [2] They are:
1. Right Understanding: Keeping perspective - seeing things as they are.
2. Right Thought: Avoid anger - as it achieves little.
3. Right Speech: People should not lie.
4. Right Action: Behaving the correct way - avoid selfishness.
5. Right Livelihood: Helping the 'world' in one's work.
6. Right Effort: Strive fro betterment - facilitate a pure mind.
7. Right Mindfulness: Think clearly about the world.
8. Right Concentration: Silence, contemplation and meditation.
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| Karma |
Karma is a natural law of moral causation. That is, that actions and attitudes have repercussions. These repercussions can affect people in their lives - right now. Although the existence of the soul is doubted, this concept nevertheless explains how all beings are influenced by intentional actions that accumulate reactions. Karma encourages good behaviour, because one hopes for a better rebirth in one's next life. Karma will determine whether people reach enlightenment. It does not just work for individuals but can have an effect on the whole nation or the whole planet. [2]
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| Samsara |
Buddhists believe that we are trapped on a wheel of life. This they call, Samsara. They believe that we will be reborn many times in order to give us the opportunity to reach nirvana. They also believe, that when someone is reborn as a human being, they should not waste the opportunity that being a human gives you as only through being a human can one reach nirvana. Only human beings have the mental capacity to reach enlightenment. [2] Samsara for Buddhists, works as a metaphorical system for the endlessness that accompanies an unenlightened life. Samsara is the doctrine of rebirth.
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| Nirvana |
This is the only way to break such an unending cycle of rebirth and suffering. For some Buddhists, particularly Westerners, they see Nirvana as a sort of 'heaven'. Coming to enlightenment (nirvana), is coming to the realisation that everything is part of the same reality. To reach nirvana, Buddhists can look to the idea of dana and sila [2] . Dana is the idea that we should try to be generous while sila is the idea that all moral actions should be skillful and that it should lead people everywhere being able to live a life free of the delusions and desires which Buddha warned followers about.
There are many more principle beliefs that make up Buddhism. If you'd like to find out more about them, visit the following sources.
These sources will explain the Three Marks of Existence (Anicca, Duhkka, Anatta):
These sources will look at the Core Ethical Teachings of Buddhism (the Five Percepts):
- Wood, Cavan, (2002), ‘Living Buddhism’. Heinemann Library.
- http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Precepts.htm
- http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/precepts.html
- http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm
Footnotes
1. Ganeri, Anita, (2003), ‘Sacred Texts: The Tipitaka and other Buddhist texts’. London: Evans Brothers Limited.
2. Wood, Cavan, (2002), ‘Living Buddhism’. Heinemann Library.
