During the Buddha’s desire for enlightenment, there were many religious practices that required either excessive pampering of feelings or severe deprivation, as in fasting weeks. Understanding that none of them was really useful, what was later known as “Middle way"Towards enlightenment ... a balanced approach that emphasizes internal rather than external renunciation.
Unlike most religions or spiritual beliefs, Buddha's teachings were propagated by non-violent methods, such as word of mouth or carvings on prominent stone buildings. And here are 10 more interesting facts about Buddhism.
10. Siddhartha Gautama is considered the founder of the doctrine
Buddhism is basically the teachings of Siddhart Gautama, born in 623 BC. He was born a prince, but continued the long spiritual quest for happiness and an end to suffering. After many trials and various paths, he finally found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. After his enlightenment, he began to teach others, and this is how the teaching of Buddhism began.
9. Arose in the 1st millennium BC. e. in India
Several scholars have suggested that the Prajnaparamita sutras, which are some of the earliest sutras of the Mahayana, developed among the Mahasangiks along the Kha River in the Indhra region of South India.
The earliest Mahayana sutras include the very first versions of the Prajnaparamita genre, as well as texts relating to Buddha Akshobhya, which were probably recorded in the 1st century BC in southern India.
Guang Xing declares: "Some scholars have suggested that Prajñāpāramitā probably developed among the Mahasangiks in southern India, in the country of Indra, on the river Ksha". A.K. Warder believes that "Mahayana originated in southern India and almost certainly in Andhra. ”
8. Four Noble Truths Stand Out
Four Noble Truths Are the Essence of Buddha's Teachingsalthough many of them remain inexplicable. They are the truth of suffering, the truth about the cause of suffering, the truth about the end of suffering and the truth about the path that leads to the cessation of suffering.
Simply put, suffering exists; he has a reason; it has an end; and he has a reason to end. The concept of suffering is not intended to convey a negative worldview, but rather a pragmatic perspective that concerns the world as such and is trying to correct it.
The concept of pleasure is not denied, but recognized as fleeting. The pursuit of pleasure can only continue what ultimately is an unquenchable thirst.
7. One cannot become a follower of the “native” teaching
Even born in a Buddhist family, you will not be one. The first hurdle to overcome is the understanding that Buddhism is not a belief system.
When Buddha realized enlightenment, then he realized that he was so far from ordinary human experience that there was no way to explain this. Instead, he devised a practice path to help people realize enlightenment for themselves.
Thus, the doctrines of Buddhism are not intended for simple belief. There is a Zen saying: "The hand pointing to the moon is not the moon. " Doctrines are more like testable hypotheses or pointers to the truth. What is called Buddhism is the process by which the truths of doctrines can be realized for themselves.
6. Buddhist meditation - the path to self-improvement
Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Buddhist meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm vision of the true nature of things..
Engaged in certain meditative practices, you study the patterns and habits of your mind, and this practice offers the means to develop new, more positive ways of being.
With regular work and patience, these focused states of mind can go deeper into pacified and energized states. Such an experience can have a transformative effect and can lead to a new understanding of life.
5. Belief in reincarnation
When Buddhism was founded 2500 years ago, it included the Hindu faith in reincarnation. Although Buddhism has two main divisions and innumerable differences in regional practices, most Buddhists believe in samsara or the cycle of rebirth.
Sansara is governed by the law of karma: good behavior gives rise to good karma, and bad behavior gives rise to evil karma. Buddhists believe that the karma of the soul moves between bodies and becomes "the germ of consciousness"In the womb.
Like Hindus, Buddhists see unenlightened samsara as a state of suffering. We suffer because we desire a transition. Only when we achieve a state of complete passivity and free ourselves from all desires can we escape samsara and achieve nirvana, or salvation.
Many Buddhists believe that a person can end the reincarnation cycle by following the Eightfold Path or the middle path. An enlightened being embodies the guidelines of the Eightfold Path: the right look, the right intention, the right speech, the right action, the right livelihood, the right effort, the right mindfulness and the right concentration.
4. The doctrine is divided into Hinayana and Mahayana
After the death of Buddha, Buddhism was divided into two sects, namely Mahayana and Hinayana.
Hinayana follows the original teachings of the Buddha. This teaching emphasizes individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation. This sect of Buddhism believes in the heavenlyness of Buddha and believes in idol worship.
The Mahayan sect spread from India to several other countries such as China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Mangolia. Mahayana believes in mantras.
Its basic principles were based on the possibility of universal liberation from suffering for all beings. That is why this sect is called Mahayana (Great conductor) His principles are also based on the existence of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas embodying the nature of the Buddha.
3. Buddhist monks followers of wandering ascetics from early religions
Asceticism is the practice of denying physical or psychological desires to achieve a spiritual ideal or goal. The origins of asceticism lie in human attempts to achieve various ultimate goals or ideals: the development of the "whole" person, the creative potential of a person, ideas, "I". It is unlikely that any religion would have formed without traces or any signs of asceticism, and Buddhism, including.
2. The teaching is widespread in the countries of South, Southeast and East Asia
There are several countries in which a very large proportion of the followers of Buddhism. Country with highest population - Cambodia. Of the more than 15 million people, more than 13 million — or 96.9% of the total population — are Buddhists. Other countries with a high percentage of Buddhist residents: Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Mongolia.
Each of the above countries has a Buddhist population, which is at least 55% of the total population. However, these are not the only countries in which millions of Buddhists live.
Countries with a Buddhist population of at least 10% of the total population: Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Macau, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Northern Mariana Islands, Nepal.
1. The main differences from other teachings and beliefs
The key difference between, on the one hand, the original Buddhism, and, on the other hand, all other world religions (Hinduism and the Abrahamic faith of Judaism, Christianity and Islam) are that the central dynamic of religion is the elimination of suffering through the human activity of Awakening, and not human relations with gods or a god.