Faith at a glance:

Buddhism

Origins

• Based on the inheritance of Siddhartha Gautama , the Enlightened One or Buddha, who lived in India in the 5th century bce
• Shocked by the sight of the fragility and suffering of human beings, as a young man he began a spiritual search leading to his Enlightenment and teaching of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
• The Buddha lived to be eighty years old and entered into his paranirvana about 483bce
  

Note: Buddhism has two main traditions, developed as the teaching spread from India north into China and Japan, and south into Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Many Buddhist names and concepts are expressed either in their Sanscrit forms, from the language of northern India, or in their Pali forms, from the language of southern India, depending on the tradition followed by the writer.

Scripture and Tradition

The Four Noble Truths express the heart of the Buddhist dharma or teaching:

• Dukkha (Suffering) is the experience of the transitoriness and imperfection of life. It is one of the Three Signs of Being, the others being impermanence and the illusory nature of the self.
• Samudaya (Origin of suffering) originates in craving, desire for security and permanence which cannot be satisfied and results in attachment to transitory things and to rebirth.
• Nirodha (Cessation of suffering) The overcoming of craving is known as nirvana which includes the "quenching" or "extinction" of the craving that leads to suffering.
• Marga (The Way) or the Noble Eightfold Path is the means by which craving may be overcome.
  

The dharmachakra, symbol of the Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold path is the path of:

• Right perception
• Right intention
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration

Buddhists who follow the Path seek refuge in the Three Jewels:

• I take refuge in the Buddha (the Enlightened One)

• I take refuge in the dharma (the teachings of the Buddha)

• I take refuge in the sangha (the community of the Buddha)

The Five Precepts

Buddhist ethical practice involves commitment to five precepts, linked to the Eightfold Path:

• Not to harm living beings

• Not to take what is not given

• Not to engage in sexual misconduct or misuse of the senses

• Not to utter harmful speech

• Not to use drink or drugs which cloud the mind

Meditation

Buddhism is practiced throughout East Asia and in modern times has spread to the west and developed new forms. Buddhist practice is very varied. Meditation is practiced by most schools of Buddhism, to nurture mindfulness, and a compassionate heart.

Buddhists from the Theravada tradition of South Asia may have a more devotional approach, while Buddhists from the Mahayana tradition of China , Japan and East Asia focus more on silent meditation. Vajrayana, the Tibetan tradition, is practiced in India , Nepal , Bhutan , and central Asia including Russia .

A disciple once asked The Blessed One:
"Are you a God?"
"No, friend" said The Blessed One.
"Are you a saint?"
"No, friend" said The Blessed One.
"Are you a magician?"
"No, friend" said The Blessed One.
"What are you then?"
"I am awake."