Question: What is Buddhism and what do Buddhists believe?

Answer: Buddhism is one of the world's leading religions in terms of number of adherents, geographical distribution and socio-cultural influence. Perceived primarily as an "Eastern" religion, it is becoming increasingly popular and influential in the Western world. It is a unique world religion, although it has much in common with Hinduism, as both teach about karma (cause and effect ethics), Maya (the illusory nature of the world) and Samsara (the cycle of reincarnation). Buddhists believe that the ultimate goal of life is to achieve "enlightenment" as they understand it.

The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in the royal domain of India around 600 BC. As the legend goes, he lived in luxury, under little influence from the outside world. His parents wanted to free him from the influence of religion and protect him from pain and suffering. However, the harmony in his refuge was soon disrupted - he had visions of an old man, a sick man and a corpse. His fourth vision was of a peaceful ascetic monk (one who denies luxury and comfort). Seeing the monk's calmness, he himself decided to become an ascetic. He renounced his life of wealth and affluence, seeking enlightenment through asceticism. He achieved success in this kind of taming of the flesh and intense meditation, becoming a leader among his peers. Ultimately, his efforts culminated in the final act. He "indulged" himself with a bowl of rice and sat under a fig tree (also called the Bodhi tree) to meditate until he achieved "enlightenment" or died. Despite his torments and temptations, he achieved enlightenment the next morning. Thus he became known as the "enlightened one" or "Buddha". He took his new understanding and began teaching it to his fellow monks, over whom he had already acquired considerable influence. Five comrades became his first followers.

So what did Gautama discover? Enlightenment lies “in the middle,” and not in luxurious bliss or self-abasement. He also discovered what later became known as the “Four Noble Truths”: 1) to live is to suffer (Dukkha); 2) suffering is caused by desire (Tanha or “attachment”); 3) suffering can be eliminated by getting rid of all attachments; 4) This is achieved by following the noble eight-stage path. The “Eight Step Path” is about having the right 1) point of view; 2) intentions; 3) speech; 4) actions; 5) way of life (monasticism); 6) effort (direct energy properly); 7) consciousness (meditation); 8) concentration. The Buddha's teachings were collected in the Tripitaka or "Three Baskets".

Embedded within these distinctive doctrines are teachings common to Hinduism, namely reincarnation, karma, maya, and the tendency to perceive reality as pantheistic in orientation. Buddhism also offers an intricate theology of deities and exalted beings. However, like Hinduism, Buddhism's views on God are difficult to pinpoint. Some sects of Buddhism can rightfully be called atheistic, while others can be called pantheistic, and still others, such as Pure Land Buddhism, theistic. Classical Buddhism, however, makes no mention of the reality of a supreme Being and is therefore considered atheistic.

Buddhism is quite diverse. It can be broadly divided into two broad categories: Theravada (Teaching of the Elders) and Mahayana (Great Vehicle). Theravada is a monastic movement that emphasizes enlightenment and nirvana for monks, while Mahayana Buddhism extends this goal of enlightenment to lay non-monks. Within these categories numerous branches can be found, including Tendai, Vajrayana, Nichirenism, Shingon, Pure Land, Zen, and Reba, among others. It is important for outsiders seeking to understand Buddhism not to pretend to know all the details of a particular school of Buddhism if they have only studied classical, historical Buddhism.

Buddha never considered himself a god or a divine being. On the contrary, he considered himself a “guide” for others. It was only after his death that some of his followers accorded him divine status, although not all of his disciples agreed with this. However, the Bible is very clear that Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 3:17: “And a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, in him is my delight”) and that He and God are one (John 10:30 ). No one can call himself a Christian without professing faith in Jesus as God.

Jesus taught that He is the way, not just one who showed it, as John 14:6 confirms: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only through Me can one come to the Father.” Before Gautama's death, Buddhism had gained significant influence in India, and three hundred years later it had spread to large parts of Asia. The scriptures and sayings attributed to the Buddha were written about four hundred years after his death.

In Buddhism, ignorance is generally considered a sin. And although sin is perceived as a “moral error,” the context in which “evil” and “good” are distinguished is immoral. Karma is considered to be the balance of nature, which cannot be influenced personally. Nature has no morals, so karma is not a moral code, and sin, after all, is not immoral. Thus, it can be said that, according to Buddhist teaching, our mistake is not a moral problem, since it is an impersonal mistake and not an interpersonal violation. The consequences of this understanding are devastating. For Buddhists, sin is more like a misdemeanor than a crime against the nature of a holy God. This understanding of sin is inconsistent with the innate moral awareness that people are in the position of being condemned for their sins before a holy God (Romans 1–2).

Followers of Buddhism believe that sin is an impersonal and correctable error, but this contradicts the doctrine of depravity - the main doctrine of Christianity. The Bible tells us that man's sin is an eternal problem and has endless consequences. In Buddhism there is no need for a Savior to deliver people from their disastrous sins. For the Christian, Jesus is the only means of salvation from eternal damnation. Buddhists are based only on the ethics of life and meditative appeal to sublime beings, in the hope of the possible achievement of enlightenment and final nirvana. More than likely, they will have to go through a series of reincarnations to pay off the huge accumulation of karmic debts. For true followers of Buddhism, religion is a philosophy of morals and ethics, embodied in life in abstinence from one's own self. In Buddhism, reality is impersonal and relative, so it is not important. Besides treating God as an illusory concept, dissolving sins into non-moral errors and rejecting all material realities as maya (“illusion”), even we ourselves lose “ourselves”. Personality becomes an illusion.

Regarding questions about the creation of the world and the universe, as well as about their creator, the teachings of the Buddha are silent, because in Buddhism there is neither beginning nor end. Instead, there is an endless cycle of birth and death. One might ask what kind of Being created us to live, endure such pain and suffering, and then die again and again? This may make you think - what is the point, why? Christians know that God sent His Son to die for us, once, so that we would not have to suffer for all eternity. He sent His Son to give us the knowledge that we are not alone and that we are loved. Christians know that there is more to life than suffering and death: “…has now been made visible by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and made life and immortality known to the world with the Good News” (2 Timothy 1:10).

Buddhism teaches that nirvana is the highest state of being, a state of pure being, which is achieved through the merits of each individual. Nirvana defies rational explanation and logical order, and therefore cannot be taught, but only realized. Jesus' heavenly teaching, on the other hand, is very specific. He taught us that our physical bodies die, but our souls ascend to be with Him in heaven (Mark 12:25). The Buddha taught that human beings do not have individual souls, that individuality or "ego" is an illusion. Buddhists do not have a merciful Heavenly Father who sent His Son to die for us, for our salvation, to provide a way for us to achieve His glory and greatness. Ultimately, this is why Buddhism must be rejected.

Probably everyone has questions, the answers to which are not so easy to find. Many people think about the spiritual beginning and begin to look for a path to awareness of their existence. One of the oldest religious faiths, Buddhism, helps in such searches, teaches us to comprehend wisdom and improve our own spirituality.

What kind of religion is this

It is difficult to answer briefly what Buddhism is, since this postulate is more reminiscent of a philosophical teaching. One of the fundamental provisions is the assertion that only impermanence is constant.. To put it simply, in our world the only thing that is constant is the continuous cycle of everything: events, birth and death.

It is believed that the world arose on its own. And our life is, in essence, a search for the reasons for our appearance and awareness for which we appeared. If we talk about religion briefly, then Buddhism and its path are moral and spiritual, the awareness that all life is suffering: birth, growing up, attachments and achievements, fear of losing what has been achieved.

The ultimate goal is enlightenment, the achievement of supreme bliss, that is, “nirvana.” The enlightened one is independent of any concepts, he has comprehended his physical, mental, mind and spirit.

Origins of Buddhism

In the north of India, in the town of Lumbini, a boy, Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC, according to other sources - 1027-948 BC), was born into the royal family. At the age of 29, thinking about the meaning of life, Siddhatrha left the palace and accepted asceticism. Realizing that severe asceticism and exhausting practices would not provide answers, Gautama decided to cleanse through deep healing.

By the age of 35, he achieved enlightenment, becoming the Buddha and teacher to his followers. The founder of Buddhism, Gautama, lived until he was eighty years old, preaching and enlightening. It is noteworthy that Buddhists accept enlightened people of other religions, such as Jesus and Mohammed, as teachers.

Separately about monks

The community of Buddhist monks is considered the most ancient religious community. The lifestyle of monks does not imply complete withdrawal from the world; many of them actively participate in worldly life.

They usually travel in small groups, staying close to lay people who share their faith, since it is monasticism that is entrusted with the mission of preservation, enlightenment in the faith, instruction and dissemination of the teachings of Gautama. It is noteworthy that after making the decision to devote their lives to monasticism, initiates are not required to completely break with their family.

The monks live off the donations of the laity, being content with only the most necessary things. Shelter, and they are provided by the laity. It is believed that a layman who helps a monk in his mission improves his own by working through its negative aspects. Therefore, lay believers provide the monasteries financially.

The task of the monks is to show by their example the correct way of life, to study religion, to improve themselves morally and spiritually, and also to preserve religious writings, the sacred book of Buddhism - the Tripitaka.

Did you know? Contrary to the existing opinion that only men are monks in Buddhism, there were also women among them, they were called bhikkhunis. A classic example of this is the mother of Gautama Mahaprajapati, whom he himself elevated to monastic rank.

Basics of teaching

Unlike other religions, Buddhism is more about philosophy than about mysticism or blind faith. The main ideas of Buddhism are based on the “four noble truths”. Let's look briefly at each of them.

The Truth about Suffering (Duhkha)

The truth about suffering is that it is continuous: we are born from suffering, we experience it throughout our lives, constantly returning our thoughts to some problems, having achieved something, we are afraid of losing, suffering again about this.

We suffer in search of correction of the actions of the past, we feel guilty for our misdeeds. Constant worries, fear, fear of inevitable old age and death, dissatisfaction, disappointment - this is the cycle of suffering. Awareness of yourself in this cycle is the first step towards the truth.

On the cause of suffering (trishna)

Following the path of self-awareness, we begin to look for the cause of constant dissatisfaction. At the same time, everything and actions lend themselves to scrupulous analysis, as a result we come to the conclusion that life is a constant struggle with suffering. Striving for something and getting what he wants, a person begins to desire even more, and so on in a circle. That is, the primary source of our suffering is the insatiable thirst for more and more new achievements.

On the cessation of suffering (nirodha)

Rotating in the cycle of struggle with their own dissatisfaction, many mistakenly believe that they can get rid of suffering by defeating their ego. However, this path leads to self-destruction. You can come to an understanding of the path without suffering only by stopping the struggle with it.

By letting go of negative thoughts (anger, envy, hatred that destroy the mind and soul), and starting to look for piety within ourselves, we can look at our struggle from a distance. At the same time, an understanding of the true goal comes - the cessation of the struggle is moral cleansing, the renunciation of ungodly thoughts and desires.

Truth about the path (marga)

It is important to correctly understand the true path to enlightenment. Buddha called it the “middle path,” that is, self-development and spiritual purification without fanaticism. Some of his students misunderstood the truth about the path: they saw it in complete renunciation of desires and needs, in self-torture, and in meditative practice, instead of calm concentration, they tried to bring themselves to.

This is fundamentally wrong: even Buddha needed food and clothing in order to have strength for further preaching. He taught to look for a path between severe asceticism and a life of pleasure, without extremes. On the path of enlightenment, meditative practice plays an important role: in this case, concentration is mostly aimed at gaining mental balance and observing the flow of one’s thoughts in the present moment.

By learning to analyze your actions here and now, you can avoid repeating any mistakes in the future. Full awareness of one’s “I” and the ability to step beyond the ego lead to awareness of the true path.

Did you know? There are unusual Buddha statues in the hills east of Monywa in Myanmar. Both are hollow inside, open to everyone, and inside there are images of events related to the development of religion. One of the statues rises 132 meters, the second, depicting Buddha in a reclining position, has a length of 90 meters.

What Buddhists Believe: Stages of the Buddhist Path

Followers of the Buddha's teachings believe that every person appeared on this earth for a reason; each of us, with each of our appearances (reincarnation), has a chance to clear karma and achieve special grace - “nirvana” (liberation from rebirth, a state of blissful peace). To do this, you need to realize the truth and free your mind from delusions.

Wisdom (prajna)

Wisdom lies in the determination to follow the teachings, the awareness of truths, the exercise of self-discipline, the renunciation of desires. This is seeing the situation through the prism of doubt and accepting oneself and the surrounding reality as they are.

Comprehension of wisdom lies in contrasting one’s “I”, intuitive insight through meditation, and overcoming delusions. This is one of the foundations of the teaching, which consists in comprehending reality, unclouded by worldly prejudices. The word itself in Sanskrit means “superknowledge”: “pra” - highest, “jna” - knowledge.

Morals (shilā)

Morality - maintaining a healthy lifestyle: renunciation of violence in any form, trafficking in weapons, drugs, people, abuse. This is compliance with moral and ethical standards: purity of speech, without the use of swear words, without gossip, lies, or rude attitude towards one’s neighbor.

Concentrations (samadhi)

Samadhi in Sanskrit means unification, completion, perfection. Mastering methods of concentration, realizing oneself not as an individual, but in merging with the higher cosmic mind. Such an enlightened state is achieved through meditation, calming one’s consciousness and contemplation; ultimately, enlightenment leads to perfect consciousness, that is, to nirvana.

About the currents of Buddhism

Over the entire history of the teaching, many schools and branches from the classical perception have formed; at the moment, there are three main currents, and we’ll talk about them. Essentially, these are three paths to knowledge that the Buddha conveyed to his disciples using different methods, in different interpretations, but they all lead to the same goal.

Hinayana

Hinayana is the oldest school that claims to accurately transmit the teachings of its founder, Buddha Shakyamuni (in the world - Gautama), based on the teacher’s first sermons about the four truths. Followers draw the main tenets of their faith from the most authoritative (according to them) sources - the Tripitaka, sacred texts compiled after Shakyamuni passed into nirvana.

Of all the eighteen schools of Hinayana, today there is "Theravada", which practices more meditative studies than the philosophy of teaching. The goal of Hinayana followers is to escape from all worldly things through strict renunciation, achieve enlightenment like the Buddha, and leave the cycle of samsara, going into a state of bliss.

Important! The key difference between Hinayana and Mahayana: in the first, Buddha is a real person who has achieved enlightenment, in the second, he is a metaphysical manifestation.

Mahayana and Vajrayana

The Mahayana movement is associated with Shakyamuni's disciple Nagarjuna. In this direction, the Hinayana theory is rethought and supplemented. This trend has become widespread in Japan, China and Tibet. The theoretical basis is the sutras, the written form of spiritual revelations, according to the practitioners of Shakyamuni himself.

However, the teacher himself is perceived as a metaphysical manifestation of nature, primordial matter. The sutras claim that the teacher has not left samsara and cannot leave it, since a part of him is in each of us.

Basics of Vajrayana - . The direction itself, together with the practice of Mahayana, uses various rituals and ceremonies, reading to strengthen the personality and its spiritual growth, and self-awareness. Tantrics most revered Padmasambhava, the founder of the tantric movement in Tibet.

How to become a Buddhist

For a person interested in teaching, there are several recommendations:

• Before becoming a Buddhist, read the relevant literature; ignorance of terminology and theory will not allow you to immerse yourself in the teachings completely.
• You need to decide on the direction and choose the school that suits you.
• Study the traditions of the chosen movement, meditative practices and basic tenets.

To become part of a religious teaching, you must go through the eightfold path of realizing the truth, which consists of eight stages:

1. Understanding that is achieved by reflecting on the truth of existence.
2. Determination, which is expressed in renunciation of all things.
3. This stage is to achieve speech in which there are no lies or swear words.
4. At this stage, a person learns to do only good deeds.
5. At this stage, a person comes to an understanding of true life.
6. At this stage, a person comes to the realization of a true thought.
7. At this stage, a person must achieve complete detachment from everything external.
8. At this stage, a person achieves enlightenment after going through all the previous stages.

Having passed this path, a person learns the philosophy of teaching and becomes familiar with it. Beginners are advised to seek guidance and some clarification from a teacher, this could be a wandering monk.

Important!Please note that several meetings will not give the result you expect: the teacher will not be able to answer all the questions. To do this, you need to live side by side with him for a long time, perhaps years.

The main work on yourself is to renounce everything negative; you need to apply in life everything that you read about in sacred texts. Give up bad habits, do not show violence, rudeness, foul language, help people without expecting anything in return. Only self-purification, self-improvement and morality will lead you to an understanding of the teaching itself and its foundations.

Official recognition of you as a true follower can be achieved through a personal meeting with the Lama. Only he will decide whether you are ready to follow the teaching.

Buddhism: differences from other religions

Buddhism does not recognize one god, the creator of all things; the teaching is based on the fact that everyone has a divine beginning, everyone can become enlightened and achieve nirvana. Buddha is a teacher.

The path of enlightenment, unlike world religions, lies in self-improvement and the achievement of morality and ethics, and not in blind faith. A living religion recognizes and has recognized science, smoothly adapting to it, recognizes the existence of other worlds and dimensions, while considering the Earth a blessed place from where, by purifying karma and achieving enlightenment, one can get to nirvana.

Sacred texts are not an indisputable authority, but only guidance and instruction on the path to truth. The search for answers and awareness of wisdom lies through self-knowledge, and not unquestioning submission to the tenets of faith. That is, faith itself is based, first of all, on experience.

Unlike Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Buddhists do not accept the idea of ​​absolute sin. From the point of view of teaching, sin is a personal error that can be corrected in subsequent reincarnations. That is, there is no strict definition of “hell” and “heaven”, because there is no morality in nature. Every mistake is correctable and, as a result, any person, through reincarnation, can clear karma, that is, repay his debt to the Universal Mind.

In Judaism, Islam or Christianity, the only salvation is God. In Buddhism, salvation depends on oneself, understanding one’s nature, following moral and ethical standards, abstaining from negative manifestations of one’s ego, and self-improvement. There are differences in monasticism: instead of complete thoughtless submission to the abbot, monks make decisions as a community, the community leader is also chosen collectively. Of course, respect should be shown to elders and experienced people. In the community also, unlike Christian ones, there are no titles or ranks.

It is impossible to learn everything about Buddhism right away; teaching and improvement take years. You can be imbued with the truths of the teaching only by completely devoting yourself to this religion.

If you want to know what Buddhism is and how Buddhism can lead you to liberation from suffering and true happiness, then read the article to the end and you will have an idea about all the basic concepts of this teaching. You can find different information about Buddhism in different sources. Somewhere Buddhism is more similar to Western psychology and explains how with the help of meditation you can become calm, freeing yourself from attachments and desires. But somewhere Buddhism is described as an esoteric teaching that explains all events in a person’s life as a natural consequence of his karma. In this article I will try to look at Buddhism from different angles and convey what I myself heard from one of the followers of Buddhism - a Vietnamese monk who was born in a monastery and practiced Buddhism all his life.

What is Buddhism? Buddhism is the world's most popular religion, followed by more than 300 million people worldwide. The word Buddhism comes from the word budhi, which means to awaken. This spiritual teaching originated about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, himself awakened or became enlightened.

What is Buddhism? Is Buddhism a religion?

They say that Buddhism is one of the first world religions. But Buddhists themselves consider this teaching not to be a religion, but rather a science of human consciousness, which studies the causes of suffering and ways of liberation from them.

The Buddhist path can be described as follows:

• Lead a moral life
• Be mindful and aware of your thoughts, feelings and actions
• Develop wisdom, understanding and compassion

How can Buddhism help me?

Buddhism explains the purpose of life, it explains the apparent injustice and inequality throughout the world. Buddhism provides practical instructions and a way of life that leads to true happiness as well as material prosperity.

How does Buddhism explain the injustice of the world? Why can one person have a thousand times more benefits than millions of other people? When I said that Buddhism explains this injustice, I cheated a little, because in this spiritual teaching, there is no such thing as injustice.

Buddhism claims that the external world is something like an illusion, and this illusion is individual for each person. And this illusory reality is created by the human mind itself. That is, what you see in the world around you is a reflection of your mind. What you carry in your mind is what you see reflected, isn't that fair? And most importantly, every person has complete freedom to choose what to fill their mind with.

You probably thought that this knowledge can be used to change your reality, fulfill all your desires and become happy? It’s possible, but that’s not what Buddhism teaches.

Human desires are endless, and achieving what you want will not bring real happiness. The fact is that desire is an internal state of a person, and, I must say, this state causes suffering. When a person gets what he wants, this state does not disappear anywhere. It’s just that a new object of desire appears immediately, and we continue to suffer.

True happiness, according to Buddhism, is achieved not by changing what you carry in your mind, but by freeing your mind from all predispositions.

If you compare the mind to a film, then you can choose which film to watch: a sad one with a bad ending or an easy one with a happy ending. But true happiness is not watching a movie at all, because a movie is a pre-programmed predisposition.

The predispositions of the mind are precisely its content, which, reflected as if in a mirror, creates the reality of a person. It can also be thought of as a mental program that plays back and creates reality.

This program in Buddhism is called karma, and predispositions are also called imprints in the mind or sanskara.

We ourselves create imprints in our minds by reacting to external events. Notice that when you are angry, a kind of imprint of this emotion appears in your body; when you are grateful, it feels like a completely different imprint. These bodily imprints of your reactions will be the cause of events that will happen to you in the future.

And you have already realized that everything that is currently happening around you is the result of your past imprints. And these events try to evoke in you the same emotions that caused them.

This law in Buddhism is called law of cause and effect.

Therefore, any reaction to external events (vedana) becomes a cause that will lead to an event in the future that will again cause the same reaction in you. This is such a vicious circle. This cause-and-effect cycle is called in Buddhism the wheel of samsara.

And this circle can only be broken awareness. If an unpleasant situation happens to you, you automatically react the way you are used to, thereby creating another such situation in the future. This automaticity is the main enemy of awareness. Only when you consciously choose your reactions to everything that happens, you break this circle and get out of it. Therefore, by reacting to any situation with gratitude, no matter how much it contradicts the logic of the mind, you fill your mind with good imprints and form a completely new, better reality in your future.

But I will repeat once again that the goal of Buddhism is not only to create favorable imprints in the mind, but, in principle, to free oneself from any programs and predispositions, both bad and good.

Selfishness is the cause of all suffering

Buddhism teaches that all suffering comes from the false concept of Self. Yes, the existence of a separate Self is just another concept created in the mind. And it is this I, which in Western psychology is called the Ego, that suffers.

Any suffering can only stem from a person’s attachment to himself, his ego and selfishness.

What a Buddhist Master does is destroy this false Ego, freeing the student from suffering. And this is usually painful and scary. But it's effective.

Probably one of the most famous practices for getting rid of egoism is tonglen. To perform it, you need to imagine a familiar person in front of you and with each breath mentally draw into yourself, into the solar plexus area, all his suffering and pain in the form of a black cloud. And with every exhalation, give all your happiness and all the best that you have or that you would like to have. Imagine your close friend (if you are a woman) and mentally give her everything you want for yourself: a lot of money, a better man, talented children, etc. And take away all her suffering for yourself. It is even more effective to do this practice with your enemies.

Practice tonglen twice a day in the morning and evening for 5-10 minutes for 3 weeks. And you will see the result.

The practice of tonglen is something that will give you positive imprints in your mind, which after some time will come to you in the form of what you gave up and gave to another person.

What are reactions in Buddhism

Imagine that a loved one betrayed you. This makes you angry, resentful, angry. But think about it, are you obligated to experience these feelings? The question is not whether you can feel something else at this moment, such as gratitude. But is this option purely theoretically possible? There is no law that says you have to feel resentment or anger in this situation. You make your own choice.

We react to situations with negative emotions only because we are in the dark. We confuse cause and effect, switching their places, believing that situations evoke feelings in us. In fact, feelings cause situations, and situations only tend to evoke in us the same feelings that caused them. But we are not obliged to react to them the way they want. We ourselves can make our own conscious spiritual choices.

The world completely reflects our feelings.

We don’t see this only because this reflection occurs with a time delay. That is, your current reality is a reflection of past feelings. What's the point of reacting to the past? Isn't this the greatest stupidity of a person who is in ignorance? Let's leave this question open and smoothly move on to the next fundamental principle of Buddhist philosophy.

Open mind

It was not for nothing that I suggested leaving the question from the last part open. In one of the most common forms of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, it is not customary to create concepts of the mind. Feel the difference between reasoning and thinking.

Reasoning always has a logical conclusion - a ready answer. If you like to reason and have an answer to any question, you are a smart guy who still needs to grow and grow in awareness.

Reflection is a state of open mind. You are pondering the question, but do not deliberately come to a logical complete answer, leaving the question open. It's a kind of meditation. Such meditation develops awareness and promotes the rapid growth of human consciousness.

In Zen Buddhism there are even special tasks-questions for meditative reflection, which are called koans. If someday a Buddhist master asks you such a koan problem, do not rush to answer it with a smart look, otherwise you might get hit on the head with a bamboo stick. A koan is a riddle without a solution, it is created for reflection, not for cleverness.

If you decide to follow Zen Buddhism, you can close this article and discard any other ready-made answers to your eternal questions. After all, I’m also building concepts here. Is it good or bad?

Non-judgmental perception in Buddhism

So is this good or bad? How did you answer the question from the last chapter?

But a Buddhist would not answer at all. Because non-judgmental perception– another cornerstone of Buddhism.

According to Buddhism, such assessments as “good” and “bad”, “good” and “evil” and any duality exist only in the human mind and are an illusion.

If you paint a black dot on a black wall, you won't see it. If you draw a white dot on a white wall, you won't see it either. One can see a white dot on a black wall and vice versa only because there is an opposite. Also, good does not exist without evil and evil does not exist without good. And any opposites are parts of one whole.

When you create any assessment in your mind, for example, “good,” you immediately create its opposite in your own mind, otherwise how would you distinguish this “good” of yours?

How to Practice Buddhism: Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a core practice of Buddhism. You can sit in meditation like Buddha for many years. But for this you need to go to a monastery and renounce secular life. This path is hardly suitable for us ordinary people.

Fortunately, you don't have to sit under a banyan tree to practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness can be practiced in everyday life. To do this, you need to impartially and carefully observe what is happening at the moment.

If you carefully read the article, then you already understand that the present moment that all the Masters talk about is not what is happening around you. The present moment is what is happening inside you. Your reactions. And first of all, your bodily sensations.

After all, it is bodily sensations that are reflected in the mirror of the world - they create imprints in your mind.

So, be aware. Keep your attention in the present moment, here and now.

And carefully observe impartially:

• Bodily sensations and emotions are reactions to what is happening in the outside world.
• Thoughts. Buddhism teaches that thoughts are not you. Thoughts are the same events of the “external world”, but which occur in your mind. That is, thoughts are also predispositions that also leave their imprints. You cannot choose your thoughts, thoughts appear out of nowhere on their own. But you can choose your reactions to them.
• Surrounding area. In addition to the “present” moment, you also need to be very sensitive to the entire space around you, to be attentive to people and nature. But keep all your senses under control, not allowing them to influence your internal state.

Buddhism in Questions and Answers

Why is Buddhism becoming popular?

Buddhism is becoming popular in Western countries for a number of reasons. The first good reason is that Buddhism has solutions to many of the problems of modern materialistic society. It also provides deep insight into the human mind and natural treatments for chronic stress and depression. Mindfulness meditation or mindfulness is already used in official Western medicine to treat depression.

The most effective and advanced psychotherapeutic practices are borrowed from Buddhist psychology.

Buddhism is spreading in the West primarily among educated and wealthy people, because, having covered their primary material needs, people strive for conscious spiritual development, which ordinary religions with outdated dogmas and blind faith cannot provide.

Who was Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama was born in 563 BC into a royal family in Lumbini in modern-day Nepal.

At the age of 29, he realized that wealth and luxury do not guarantee happiness, so he researched various teachings, religions and philosophies of the time to find the key to human happiness. After six years of study and meditation, he finally found the "middle path" and became enlightened. After his enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism until his death at the age of 80.

Was Buddha God?

No. Buddha was not God and did not claim to be. He was an ordinary man who taught the path to enlightenment from his own experience.

Do Buddhists worship idols?

Buddhists respect Buddha images, but do not worship or ask for favor. Buddha statues with hands resting on laps and a compassionate smile remind us to strive to cultivate peace and love within ourselves. Worshiping the statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.

Why are so many Buddhist countries poor?

One of the Buddhist teachings is that wealth does not guarantee happiness, and wealth is not permanent. In every country, people suffer, whether rich or poor. But those who know themselves find true happiness.

Are there different types of Buddhism?

There are many different types of Buddhism. Accents vary from country to country due to customs and culture. What does not change is the essence of the teaching.

Are other religions true?

Buddhism is a belief system that is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism is consistent with the moral teachings of other religions, but Buddhism goes further by providing long-term purpose to our existence through wisdom and true understanding. True Buddhism is very tolerant and does not concern itself with labels such as "Christian", "Muslim", "Hindu" or "Buddhist". This is why there have never been wars in the name of Buddhism. This is why Buddhists do not preach or proselytize, but explain only when an explanation is required.

Is Buddhism a science?

Science is knowledge that can be developed into a system that depends on observation and verification of facts, and on the establishment of general natural laws. The essence of Buddhism fits 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 teachings rather than accept his word as true. Buddhism depends more on understanding than on faith.

What did 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, that is, life includes pain, aging, disease and ultimately death. We also endure psychological suffering such as loneliness, fear, embarrassment, disappointment and anger. This is an irrefutable fact that cannot be denied. This is realistic rather than pessimistic, because pessimism expects things to be bad. Instead, Buddhism explains how we can avoid suffering and how we can be truly happy.

What is the second noble truth?

The second truth is that suffering is caused by desire and aversion. We will suffer if we expect other people to live up to our expectations, if we want others to like us, if we don't get what we want, etc. In other words, getting what you want is not guarantees happiness. Instead of constantly struggling to get what you want, try changing your desires. Desire robs us of satisfaction and happiness. A life full of desires, and especially the desire to continue to exist, creates a powerful energy that forces a person to be born. Thus desires lead to physical suffering because they force us to be reborn.

What is the third noble truth?

The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be achieved. That true happiness and contentment are possible. If we give up the useless craving of desires and learn to live in the present moment (without dwelling in the past or imagined future), then we can become happy and free. Then we will have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.

What is the Fourth Noble Truth?

The fourth truth is that the Noble Eightfold Path is the path that leads to the end of suffering.

What is the Noble Eightfold Path?

The Noble Eightfold Path or middle path consists of eight rules.

Right View or Experience of the Four Noble Truths

Right intention or unwavering decision to follow the Buddhist path

Correct speech or refusal of lies and rudeness

Right conduct or non-harm of living beings

Right way of living or earning a living according to Buddhist values

Right effort or development in oneself of qualities conducive to awakening

Right mindfulness or continuous awareness of body sensations, thoughts, mental images

Right Concentration or Deep Concentration and Meditation to Achieve Liberation

What is karma?

Karma is the law that every cause has an effect. Our actions have results. This simple law explains a number of things: inequality in the world, why some are born disabled and some gifted, why some live short lives. Karma emphasizes the importance of each person taking responsibility for their past and present actions. How can we check the karmic effect of our actions? The answer is summarized by considering (1) the intention behind the action, (2) the action's impact on oneself, and (3) the effect on others.

What is wisdom?

Buddhism teaches that wisdom should be developed with compassion. On the one hand, you can be a good-hearted fool, and on the other hand, you can gain knowledge without any emotions. Buddhism uses a middle path to develop both. The highest wisdom is to see that in reality all phenomena are incomplete, impermanent and do not constitute a fixed entity. True wisdom is not simply believing what we are told, but experiencing and understanding truth and reality. Wisdom requires an open, objective, untainted mind. The Buddhist path requires courage, patience, flexibility and intelligence.

What is compassion?

Compassion includes the qualities of communication, the willingness to give comfort, sympathy, and care. In Buddhism, we can understand others when we can truly understand ourselves, through wisdom.

How can I become a Buddhist?

Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism teaches that the solutions to our problems are within us, not outside. The Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as true, but rather to experience the teachings for themselves. Thus, everyone decides for themselves and takes responsibility for their actions and understanding. This makes Buddhism less of a fixed package of beliefs that must be accepted in its entirety, and more of a study that each person learns and uses in their own way.

Buddhism, along with Islam and Christianity, is considered a world religion. This means that it is not defined by the ethnicity of its followers. It can be confessed to any person, regardless of his race, nationality and place of residence. In this article we will briefly look at the main ideas of Buddhism.

A summary of the ideas and philosophy of Buddhism

Briefly about the history of Buddhism

Buddhism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Its origins occurred in contrast to the then dominant Brahmanism in the middle of the first millennium BC in the northern part of India. In the philosophy of Ancient India, Buddhism occupied and occupies a key place, closely intertwined with it.

If we briefly consider the emergence of Buddhism, then, according to a certain category of scientists, this phenomenon was facilitated by certain changes in the life of the Indian people. Around the middle of the 6th century BC. Indian society was hit by a cultural and economic crisis. Those tribal and traditional ties that existed before this time began to gradually undergo changes. It is very important that it was during that period that the formation of class relations took place. Many ascetics appeared, wandering across the expanses of India, who formed their own vision of the world, which they shared with other people. Thus, in the confrontation with the foundations of that time, Buddhism also appeared, earning recognition among the people.

A large number of scholars believe that the founder of Buddhism was a real person named Siddhartha Gautama , known as Buddha Shakyamuni . He was born in 560 BC. in the wealthy family of the king of the Shakya tribe. Since childhood, he knew neither disappointment nor need, and was surrounded by limitless luxury. And so Siddhartha lived through his youth, ignorant of the existence of illness, old age and death. The real shock for him was that one day, while walking outside the palace, he encountered an old man, a sick man and a funeral procession. This influenced him so much that at the age of 29 he joins a group of wandering hermits. So he begins the search for the truth of existence. Gautama tries to understand the nature of human troubles and tries to find ways to eliminate them. Realizing that an endless series of reincarnations was inevitable if he did not get rid of suffering, he tried to find answers to his questions from the sages.

After spending 6 years traveling, he tested different techniques, practiced yoga, but came to the conclusion that enlightenment could not be achieved using these methods. He considered reflection and prayer to be effective methods. It was while he was spending time meditating under the Bodhi tree that he experienced enlightenment, through which he found the answer to his question. After his discovery, he spent a few more days at the site of the sudden insight, and then went to the valley. And they began to call him Buddha (“enlightened one”). There he began to preach the doctrine to people. The very first sermon took place in Benares.

Basic concepts and ideas of Buddhism

One of the main goals of Buddhism is the path to Nirvana. Nirvana is a state of awareness of one’s soul, achieved through self-denial, rejection of comfortable conditions of the external environment. Buddha, after spending a long time in meditation and deep reflection, mastered the method of controlling his own consciousness. In the process, he came to the conclusion that people are very attached to worldly goods and are overly concerned about the opinions of other people. Because of this, the human soul not only does not develop, but also degrades. Having achieved nirvana, you can lose this addiction.

The essential four truths that underlie Buddhism:

1. There is the concept of dukkha (suffering, anger, fear, self-flagellation and other negatively colored experiences). Every person is influenced by dukkha to a greater or lesser extent.
2. Dukkha always has a reason that contributes to the emergence of addiction - greed, vanity, lust, etc.
3. You can get rid of addiction and suffering.
4. You can completely free yourself from dukkha thanks to the path leading to nirvana.

Buddha was of the opinion that it is necessary to adhere to the “middle path,” that is, every person must find the “golden” mean between a wealthy, satiated with luxury, and an ascetic way of life, devoid of all the benefits of humanity.

There are three main treasures in Buddhism:

1. Buddha - this can be either the creator of the teaching himself or his follower who has achieved enlightenment.
2. Dharma is the teaching itself, its foundations and principles, and what it can give to its followers.
3. Sangha is a community of Buddhists who adhere to the laws of this religious teaching.

To achieve all three jewels, Buddhists resort to fighting three poisons:

• detachment from the truth of being and ignorance;
• desires and passions that contribute to suffering;
• incontinence, anger, inability to accept anything here and now.

According to the ideas of Buddhism, every person experiences both physical and mental suffering. Illness, death and even birth are suffering. But this state is unnatural, so you need to get rid of it.

Briefly about the philosophy of Buddhism

This teaching cannot be called only a religion, at the center of which is God, who created the world. Buddhism is a philosophy, the principles of which we will briefly consider below. The teaching involves helping to direct a person on the path of self-development and self-awareness.

In Buddhism there is no idea that there is an eternal soul that atones for sins. However, everything a person does and in what way will find its imprint - it will definitely return to him. This is not divine punishment. These are the consequences of all actions and thoughts that leave traces on your own karma.

Buddhism has the basic truths revealed by Buddha:

1. Human life is suffering. All things are impermanent and transitory. Having arisen, everything must be destroyed. Existence itself is symbolized in Buddhism as a flame consuming itself, but fire can only bring suffering.
2. Suffering arises from desires. Man is so attached to the material aspects of existence that he craves for life. The greater this desire, the more he will suffer.
3. Getting rid of suffering is possible only through getting rid of desires. Nirvana is a state, having reached which a person experiences the extinction of passions and thirst. Thanks to nirvana, a feeling of bliss arises, freedom from the transmigration of souls.
4. To achieve the goal of getting rid of desire, one must resort to the eightfold path of salvation. It is this path that is called the “middle”, which allows one to get rid of suffering by rejecting extremes, which consists of something between the torture of the flesh and the indulgence of physical pleasures.

The Eightfold Path of Salvation includes:

• correct understanding - the most important thing to do is to realize that the world is full of suffering and sorrow;
• correct intentions - you need to take the path of limiting your passions and aspirations, the fundamental basis of which is human egoism;
• correct speech - it should bring good, so you should watch your words (so that they do not exude evil);
• right actions - one should do good deeds, refrain from unvirtuous actions;
• the right way of life - only a worthy way of life that does not harm all living things can bring a person closer to getting rid of suffering;
• correct efforts - you need to tune in to goodness, drive away all evil from yourself, carefully monitoring the course of your thoughts;
• correct thoughts - the most important evil comes from our own flesh, by getting rid of the desires of which we can get rid of suffering;
• correct concentration - the eightfold path requires constant training and concentration.

The first two stages are called prajna and involve the stage of achieving wisdom. The next three are the regulation of morality and correct behavior (sila). The remaining three steps represent mental discipline (samadha).

Directions of Buddhism

The very first who supported the teachings of the Buddha began to gather in a secluded place while the rains were falling. Since they refused any property, they were called bhikshas - “beggars.” They shaved their heads, dressed in rags (mostly yellow) and moved from place to place. Their life was unusually ascetic. When it rained, they hid in caves. They were usually buried where they lived, and a stupa (domed-shaped crypt building) was built on the site of their graves. Their entrances were made tightly walled up and buildings for various purposes were built around the stupas.

After the death of the Buddha, a convocation of his followers took place, who canonized the teaching. But the period of greatest flowering of Buddhism can be considered the reign of Emperor Ashoka - the 3rd century. BC.

You can select three main philosophical schools of Buddhism , formed in different periods of the doctrine’s existence:

1. Hinayana. The main ideal of the direction is considered to be a monk - only he can get rid of reincarnation. There is no pantheon of saints who could intercede for a person, there are no rituals, the concept of hell and heaven, cult sculptures, icons. Everything that happens to a person is the result of his actions, thoughts and lifestyle.
2. Mahayana. Even a layman (if he is pious, of course), can achieve salvation just like a monk. The institution of bodhisattvas appears, who are saints who help people on the path of their salvation. The concept of heaven, a pantheon of saints, images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas also appear.
3. Vajrayana. It is a tantric teaching based on the principles of self-control and meditation.

So, the main idea of ​​Buddhism is that human life is suffering and one must strive to get rid of it. This teaching continues to confidently spread across the planet, winning more and more supporters.

The Perfect One is free from any concept, for he has comprehended what his body is, where it comes from and where it disappears. He understood the meaning of feelings, how they arise and how they disappear. He understood samkhara (mental structures), how they arise and how they disappear. He understood the nature of consciousness, how it arises and how it disappears.

Literally these words contain the whole meaning of Buddhist teaching, at least in its original form. The founder and main object of worship in Buddhism is Prince Gautama Siddhartha, who lived in 563 - 483 BC, which suggests that this religion is one of the oldest in the world.

According to legend, at the age of 35, Gautama achieved enlightenment, after which he changed his life and the lives of many people who followed him. One could easily argue that this is still happening today. He was called “Buddha” by his followers (from the Sanskrit “buddha” - enlightened, awakened). His preaching lasted 40 years, Siddhartha died at the age of 80, without leaving a single written work about himself. Before and after him there were other enlightened personalities - Buddhas, who contributed to the spiritual development of civilization. Followers of some areas of Buddhism also consider preachers of other religions - Christ, Mohammed and others - to be Buddha teachers.

The concept of God in Buddhism

Some individual sects revere Buddha as God, but other Buddhists see him as their founder, mentor and enlightener. Buddhists believe that enlightenment can only be achieved through the infinite energy of the Universe. Thus, the Buddhist world does not recognize a creator God, omniscient and omnipotent. Every person is a part of the deity. Buddhists do not have one permanent God; every enlightened person can achieve the title of “Buddha”. This understanding of God makes Buddhism different from most Western religions.

The essence of Buddhist practice

Buddhists strive to purify the clouded states of mind that distort reality. These are anger, fear, ignorance, selfishness, laziness, jealousy, envy, greed, irritation and others. Buddhism cultivates and develops such pure and beneficial qualities of consciousness as kindness, generosity, gratitude, compassion, hard work, wisdom and others. All this allows you to gradually learn and clear your mind, which leads to a lasting sense of well-being. By making the mind strong and bright, Buddhists reduce anxiety and irritation, which lead to adversity and depression. Ultimately, Buddhism is a necessary condition for the deepest insights that lead to the final liberation of the mind.

Buddhism is a religion not so much of a mystical as of a philosophical nature. Buddhist doctrine contains 4 main “noble truths” about human suffering:

On the nature of suffering;
about the origin and causes of suffering;
about ending suffering and eliminating its sources;
about ways to end suffering.

The last, fourth truth, points to the path to the destruction of suffering and pain, otherwise called the eightfold path to achieving inner peace. This state of mind allows you to immerse yourself in transcendental meditation and achieve wisdom and enlightenment.

Morals and ethics of Buddhism

Buddhist morals and ethics are built on the principles of non-harm and moderation. At the same time, a person’s sense of morality, concentration and wisdom is nurtured and developed. And with the help of meditation, Buddhists learn the mechanisms of the mind and the cause-and-effect relationships between bodily, spiritual and psychological processes. The teachings of Buddhism have become the basis of a number of schools, which are united by the fact that each, at its own level of understanding of the life and teachings of the Buddha, is aimed at the comprehensive development of man - the meaningful use of body, speech and mind.

But since Buddhist teaching is multifaceted and is based not on faith, but on experience, it is not enough to limit ourselves to only describing its content. The features of this spiritual path become visible only in comparison with other worldviews and religions. And one should approach the teachings of the Buddha only after freeing the energy of the mind from strict moral standards.

Development of Buddhism in the world

The call for freedom from suffering and belief in the energy of the Universe led to the emergence of Western mentalist doctrines of the 19th and 20th centuries. The first adherents of Buddhism in the West were mainly immigrants from Asia and the East, who were tormented by internal anxiety, and then they were joined by agnostics and atheists of all affiliations.

In Tibet, Buddhism was the state religion and before the capture of Tibet by China, the main Buddhist of the country, the Dalai Lama, was also the head of the state. After the Chinese invasion in the 50s of the last century, the 14th Dalai Lama was forced to leave the country and go to India in order to bring the light of teaching to his followers from there. He is the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. Worship of the Dalai Lama is prohibited in Tibet, and even for possessing a photograph of the Dalai Lama, Tibetans face serious punishment.

In the USA and Europe, Buddhism received its large-scale spread in the form of Zen Buddhism, a movement that arose in the 12th century in Japan. The Buddhist monk Shaku Soen, a representative of this trend, gave a stormy speech at the World Congress of Religions in Chicago (1893) about the “divinity of mind” of Zen Buddhism. After this day, Zen and yoga are the most popular eastern teachings in the West, where control of the mind over the body is considered a priority. Zen practices an emphasis on individual meditation and a lack of authority on scriptures, prayers and teachings. As in Buddhism, in Zen wisdom is comprehended through experience, and its highest hypostasis is enlightenment (awakening). It is possible that such interest in Zen Buddhism in the West arose due to the simplicity of this teaching. After all, according to the teachings of the Buddha, every person himself is capable of becoming a Buddha, which means that everyone is part of the earthly deity. And you need to look for answers only in yourself.