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Buddhism is a religion, the 4th most followed with 500 000 000 followers. But what is it?
Buddhism is not just a single religion, there are 3 (4?) major branches of Buddhism, which are the following:
- Theravada: Located in south east asia, unique by it's attempt to keep Buddhism as true to the old ways.
- Vajrayana: Located in the mountains of Tibet, it branched out through to the revelation of esoteric practices, which were hidden by Buddha
- Mahayana: Located in China, Korea and Japan, it has the unique belief of Bodhisattvas, people who has denied Nirvana to help others to reach Nirvana.
- Hinayana: A sub-branch of Mahayana, and has the "basic" beliefs for buddhism, such as the 4 Noble truths, 8-fold path, Nirvana, and more.
Buddhism, can be compatible with other religions, like in Japan where buddhist traditions has gotten into Shinto temples.
Buddha? Esoteric Practices? Bodhisattvas? What are all of these??
To explain all of these terms, I will start with the beginning: Who is the Buddha?
When saying "The Buddha", people generally mean Siddhartha Gautama. "Buddha" isn't a person, it's a title. When translated, "Buddha" means "Enlightened". Buddhas (Yes, there are many) are people who has gotten to Nirvana. Gautama Buddha was the buddha who spread the knowledge of Samsara, Dukkha (suffering), and Nirvana.
What is Nirvana?
Nirvana, is the end of all suffering in a person, it's when a person breaks away from Samsara (the cycle of death and rebirth). When someone reaches Nirvana in their lifetime, the life they are living in is the last life they will ever live, and they will become nothingness after death.
What is Samsara?
Samsara is the cycle of death and rebirth, between death and rebirth, there is hell. Buddhism has many many hells, and the one people go to depends on their karma. If you have good karma, you skip hell entirely.
How do we reach Nirvana?
Gautama Buddha highlighted the 4 noble truths, which are the following:
- Dukkha: Living IS suffering
- Samudhaya: The root of all suffering is craving
- Nirodha: Stopping craving stops suffering
- Magga: To end craving, the 8-fold path guides the way
The 8-fold path is as followed:
Right understanding: Comprehending the nature of reality and the path to transformation
Right intent: Cultivating an attitude of love and non-ill will
Right speech: Speaking truthfully and harmoniously
Right action: Engaging in ethical conduct and non-harmful behaviour
Right livelyhood: Earning a living in a way that doesn't harm others
Right effort: Cultivating positive states of mind and overcoming negative ones
Right mindfulness: Developing awareness of the body, feelings and thoughts
Right concentration: Practice meditation to reach deeper states of awareness
In general, the 8 fold path also makes good karma.
What are the "Esoteric practices"?
According to Vajrayana buddhism, Buddha hid a collection of hidden practices to reach Nirvana faster, and these practices were revealed after his death. Esoteric practices include chantings, buddhist bell usage, human bone-trumpet, and many other things.
What is a Bodhisattva?
According to Mahayana buddhism, a person can resign to Nirvana, in order to help those who can't reach Nirvana. For example, there is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who vowed to stay in hell in order to guide those who generated bad karma. Like Buddhas, there are many Bodhisattvas. When a Bodhisattva dies, they go to pure land, a sort of heaven for the Bodhisattvas (I do not know when they live for another rebirth)
What is allowed and unallowed in Buddhism?
In my interpretation of Buddhism, if you are not a monk, you can do whatever you want, and you will recieve according Karma. If by "unallowed" you mean't "generates bad karma", then the following activities are what you search:
Killing, lying, thinking harmful thoughts, disrespecting, hurting, consuming intoxicants (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, …), and many more.
Do Buddhists believe in god?
In buddhist texts, the existance of god(s) are never confirmed nor denied. Since Buddhis mis compatible with other religions, it depends on those religions. BUT, the closest thing to a "god" exists in Vajrayana buddhism, with Yama, aka the creator of suffering. Despite of his Satan-like title, he is considered to be a Bodhisattva. Why? Because suffering is the thing that makes buddhas, and thus, Nirvana.
Are you (the writer of this article) buddhist?
I consider myself to be Buddhist, but I cannot find a single branch to identify with. I sometimes listen to Esoteric chants, and then learn about another bodhisattva. The buddha that I see myself the most in is the Fighting Buddha (Sun Wukong), from the myth "Journey to the West".
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