The basic beliefs of Buddhism are the principles of rebirth and karma. There now follows a brief introduction to these topics taken from Geshe Kelsang's book, Eight Steps to Happiness:"The mind is neither physical, nor a by-product of purely physical processes, but a formless continuum that is a separate entity from the body. When the body disintegrates at death, the mind does not cease. Although our superficial conscious mind ceases, it does so by dissolving into a deeper level of consciousness, call 'the very subtle mind'.

The continuum of our very subtle mind has no beginning and no end, and it is this mind which, when completely purified, transforms into the omniscient mind of a Buddha.

Every action we perform leaves an imprint, or potential, on our very subtle mind, and each karmic potential eventually gives rise to its own effect. Our mind is like a field, and performing actions is like sowing seeds in that field. Positive or virtuous actions sow the seeds of future happiness, and negative or non-virtuous actions sow the seeds of future suffering.

This definite relationship between actions and their effects - virtue causing happiness and non-virtue causing suffering - is known as the 'law of karma'. An understanding of the law of karma is the basis of Buddhist morality.

After we die our very subtle mind leaves our body and enters the intermediate state, or 'bardo' in Tibetan. In this subtle dream-like state we experience many different visions that arise from the karmic potentials that were activated at the time of our death. These visions may be pleasant or terrifying depending on the karma that ripens. Once these karmic seeds have fully ripened they impel us to take rebirth without choice.

It is important to understand that as ordinary samsaric beings we do not choose our rebirth but are reborn solely in accordance with our karma. If good karma ripens we are reborn in a fortunate state, either as a human or a god, but if negative karma ripens we are reborn in a lower state, as an animal, a hungry ghost, or a hell being.

It is as if we are blown to our future lives by the winds of our karma, sometimes ending up in higher rebirths, sometimes in lower rebirths.

This uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth without choice is called 'cyclic existence', or 'samsara' in Sanskrit. Samsara is like a Ferris wheel, sometimes taking us up into the three fortunate realms, sometimes down into the three lower realms.

The driving force of the wheel of samsara is our contaminated actions motivated by delusions, and the hub of the wheel is self-grasping ignorance. For as long as we remain on this wheel we shall experience an unceasing cycle of suffering and dissatisfaction, and we shall have no opportunity to experience pure, lasting happiness.

By practicing the Buddhist path to liberation and enlightenment, however, we can destroy self-grasping, thereby liberating ourself from the cycle of uncontrolled rebirth and attaining a state of perfect peace and freedom. We shall then be in a position to help others to do the same."

The Buddha taught that life was dissatisfactory because of craving, but that this condition was curable by following the Eightfold Path. This teaching is called the Four Noble Truths:

Dukkha: All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering. Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire (tanha) rooted in ignorance. Nirodha: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana. Magga: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path.

The beliefs of Buddhism are based on the teachings of the faith's founder, the Buddha; a name which means the Awakened One. The goal of Buddhism is for the self to attain a state of total enlightenment which includes but is not limited to having inner peace 24/7. A core belief in Buddhism is the Three Truths that allow an individual to move down that spiritual path towards enlightenment and understanding;

1) Nothing is ever lost in the universe - think of it like the science principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transfered from one form to another.

2) Everything changes - nothing in this universe that exists is a constant.

3) The law of cause of and effect - like Newton's Laws of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

From here we can progress to the Four Noble Truths of (1) Everyone suffers, (2) we are the cause of our own suffering, (3) to end our suffering, we must stop doing what causes it, and (4) when suffering is ended we are on the path to enlightenment. Just to note that in this context pain and suffering are two different notions.

There is the Eightfold Path that is also at the core of the Buddhist beliefs:

1. Right View. The right way to think about life is to see the world through the eyes of the Buddha--with wisdom and compassion.

2. Right Thought. We are what we think. Clear and kind thoughts build good, strong characters.

3. Right Speech. By speaking kind and helpful words, we are respected and trusted by everyone.

4. Right Conduct. No matter what we say, others know us from the way we behave. Before we criticize others, we should first see what we do ourselves.

5. Right Livelihood. This means choosing a job that does not hurt others. The Buddha said, "Do not earn your living by harming others. Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy."

6. Right Effort. A worthwhile life means doing our best at all times and having good will toward others. This also means not wasting effort on things that harm ourselves and others.

7. Right Mindfulness. This means being aware of our thoughts, words, and deeds.

8. Right Concentration. Focus on one thought or object at a time. By doing this, we can

Finally we have the five precepts, much like Judaism and Christianity's Ten Commandments, which are:

1. No killing Respect for life

2. No stealing Respect for others' property

3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature

4. No lying Respect for honesty

5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind
What Buddhists believe in is this

The Four Noble Truths, which are:

1) There is suffering (discontentment, unhappiness) in the world

2) There are specific causes of this suffering.

3) There is a state (a mindset, a way of life) where suffering ceases.

4) There is a path (actions, practices) to attain this state of freedom from suffering.

The Buddha laid out the Eightfold Path as what he described as "the Middle Way" to reach enlightenment. This method is less severe than the path that The Buddha followed and avoids the extremes that he tried and failed at to reach enlightenment.

The eightfold path consists of:

1. Right View

2. Right Intention (thought)

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration.
Buddhists beleive that there is a state which can be attained (nirvana) in which ignorance, wrong desires and suffering is extinguished.

To reach nirvana a person must become enlightened. Enlightenment is a condition in which a person fully understands how the world actually works instead of how we perceive it to work. These were laid out by the Buddha in the Four Noble Truths, which are:

1) There is suffering in the world

2) There is a cause for this suffering (attachment to wrong desires and ignorance).

3) There is a state which can be attained where suffering ends (enlightenment).

4) There is a path you can take to end suffering (The Eight Fold Path).

Enlightenment can be reached by anyone who is willing to make the effort. The Buddha laid out a path, called the Eight Fold Path (which is a little too long to describe here). This path guides us to enlightenment and Nirvana. This is what Buddhists believe.

The four noble truths are central to all Buddhists and might be regarded as the most important values in Buddhism. Many Buddhist would not think of them as beliefs, as they can largely be proven through our own experience.

They are:

The truth of suffering, why we suffer.

The truth of how the suffering begins.

The truth of how the suffering can end.

The truth of how we can end suffering.

Short answer: The Four Noble Truths. Life is full of suffering, and the Buddha teaches us a way to end our suffering.

Philosophical answer: No God, no heaven, no hell, no soul. There is only you, and you are everything (just as waves are the ocean). You have innumerable lives to realize your Buddha nature, so whenever you get tired of running in this wheel we call life (with all its pain and sadness), you're always welcome to read our books and learn our lessons.

Resources

Top Categories

Product

Company