Buddhism

is one of the ancient and most popular religions in India. This religion began by a man name Gautama. Gautama said he was awoken to the awareness of the nature of humans; his awakening is called Budh. Gautama was born given the name Siddhartha. He was born into the Kshatriya caste. Gautama was pampered ever since he was young and married a beautiful woman. However, he believed these satisfactions were temporary. He traveled and faced the harsh realities of the world in an episode of the Four Passing Sights: old age, disease, death, and an ascetic who chose to live in solitude to find his way to salvation. Influenced by the ascetic, Gautama decided to leave his house and abandon his luxuries. Gautama wanted to earn salvation, but not through other mendicants methods. He grouped with 5 men and practiced asterism to gain salvation. In the brink of salvation, Gautama believed that decreasing the body would increase his spirit. He only ate one grain, one sesame seed, and one piece of fruit per day. But starvation did not bring salvation; therefore, Gautama ate rice and drank milk for another quest. He then learned the Buddhist doctrine of Middle Way. Spiritual happiness required physical happiness as well, thus he ate more to become healthy. Gautama sat underneath a tree on a lotus and determined not to leave the spot till he gains enlightenment. Mara was scared of Gautama and used her daughters representing discontent, delight, and desire to scare Gautama away. They have failed. During First Watch, Gautama saw his previous lifestyle and the cycle and birth and death. During the Second Watch, he saw deaths and births of all living beings. Lastly, during the Third Watch, Gautama saw the Four Noble Truths: the summation of the human conditions and ways to transcend it. Through the Four Noble Truths. Gautama gained enlightenment and became a Buddha. Gautama was able to escape into nirvana, or eternal bliss that is ultimate salvation. However, wanting to spread his discoveries, Gautama stayed in earth to spread his ideas. He taught his ideas to the 5 mendicants who quickly grasped the ideas and became arhats. The first Buddhist community called the Sangha was formed. Today, Buddhists take refuge in the traditions Three Jewels, or three focal elements: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. When Gautama was 80, Buddha became sick because of good poisoning. Before he died, he said, All the constituents of being are transitory; work out your salvation with diligence. Gautama died and passed into nirvana. Dharma is the principal Buddhist teaching. They are gained through deep meditation, as how Buddhism is not dependent of divine beings rather on deep meditation and self-reflection. Buddhism is similar to Hinduism as Hindus say but Buddhist are against Hinduism. Buddhist believes that time is cynical just like Hindus. They believe that one lives numerous times. They also believe in the doctrine of Sasmsara, or the wheel of rebirth. Buddhists can only escape this cycle through moksha and reach spiritual perfection. Buddhists also believe that they control their destination and life. Buddhism is different from Hinduism in many ways. Buddhist does not take deities heavily. They believe, quite frankly that they are useless. They also rejected the caste system. This is apparent in the text called Pali, a local dialect spoken by the common people. This shows Buddhists acceptance of all social levels. By noting the

Three Marks of Existence, Gautama revealed his understanding of the changing world. Buddhists believe in a common paradox, Anatta: there are no ultimate reality within or any substratum that is real. This is the first mark of existence. The second mark of existence is the Annica, which means impermanence. This states the idea that things are constantly changing. The last Mark of existence is the Dukkha. This says the suffering and is the result of Anicca and anatta. If there is so self, why is there rebirth? It is just a transfer of a bundle of energy, which is decided among ones karma. Karma is the moral law of cause and effect. Personal identity is depended heavily upon karma. The moral life or karma requires 5 percepts: not lying, not stealing, not engaging in sensuous misconduct, not killing, and not drinking. These are the five precepts. During the Third Watch, Gautama perceived the four noble truths. First, to live is to suffer. Second, suffering is brought by desire. Third, Suffering can be brought to cessation. Lastly, solution is the Noble eightfold path. The first noble truth is Dukkha. This is implying that life needs repair. Dukkha is physical and emotional. Everyone is subject to Dukkha and Dukkha is inescapable. Buddha gave few lectures on how he saw the most apparent dhukka during his lifetime. The second noble truth is tanha, which means desire or thirst. Tanha is distinguished through its selfish personality. Tanha is inescapable as well and is broken only through great difficulty. How does one handle such pessimism? Buddhists are in fact, actually happy and aware of the diseases and how it can be rooted out. The Noble Eightfold Path encompasses all aspects of life. It is a 8 steps that should be mastered. First you need right views; second, right intentions; third, right speech; fourth, right conduct; fifth, right livelihood; sixth, right effort; seventh, right mindfulness; eighth, right meditation. When all these steps are achieved, one can achieve Nirvana once dead. Nirvana cannot be comprehended until it is experiences. The living ones are arhats who are forever transformed but awake. Buddhism is divided into three great rafts, or vehicles. They are the Theravada, the Mahayana, and the Vajrayana. These have regional as well as belief differences. Theravada follows the earliest texts and agrees with the original teaching of Buddha. Mahayana, who believes they are superior over Theravada, is the largest dominant form of Buddhism. Mahayana focuses on Buddha over Buddhas teachings. The last raft is Vajrayana who believes that nirvana is attainable any time. All these rafts are distinct but they all want to achieve Nirvana. Buddhism is a unique religion. It focuses on the spiritual individual not the divinity. Buddhism also agrees with modern scientific theories. They believe that meditation is the best way to nurture wisdom and earn transcendence.