BASIC BUDDHIST FACTS
Buddhism is not something we believe in, but something we do.
The first step in becoming a Buddhist is taking refuge in the Three Jewels. By taking refuge, we commit ourselves to the Buddhist Path and following the Buddha’s teachings. The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. They are called jewels because they are the most precious things to Buddhists.
Some people think there is only one Buddha, but there are many Buddhas. The four great Buddhas of our time are:
1. Shakyamuni, the Enlightened Buddha
2. Amitabha, the Buddha of Limitless Light
3. Medicine Master, the Buddha of Healing
4. Maitreya, the future Buddha
A Buddha is not a god.
Buddhists do not believe that the Buddha is a god. They believe he was a human being who became enlightened, understanding life in the deepest way possible. The Buddha told people not to worship him, but to take responsibility for their own lives and actions. He did not speak of a creator, but of a wonderful force of energy that links all beings together.
Buddhism does not have a bible, but many holy books.
The teachings of the Buddha were passed down by word of mouth and not written down until around 400 hundred years later. They were compiled into three sets and written on long narrow leaves and stored in baskets, called the “Three Baskets” or Tripitaka.
Buddhists believe in karma, the law of cause and effect.
Karma is a fair and just rule. It is like a boomerang. Every action and every thought we have, good or bad, will come back to us in the future. We have a choice to create new karma by what we say, do, and think. Intention is a major part of karma. If we accidentally step on an ant, we do not make negative karma. However, if we intend to kill the ant, negative karma is created.
Buddhists see themselves as part of nature, not apart from it.
They do not kill animals or use insecticides or pesticides.
Buddhists believe in rebirth, that each of us has many lives.
The same way there is yesterday, today and tomorrow, we also have past lives, a present life and future lives. We are born, grow old, die, and then are reborn again. This cycle is called the Wheel of Rebirth or saṃsāra. Actions in one life are likely to affect what we become in future lives. Buddhists say that this cycle can be broken by making kind and wise decisions in everything that we do and say. We can eventually become enlightened and reach a state of perfect peace.
Filial respect for parents and family life is the most important teaching of the Buddha. After his own enlightenment, the Buddha returned to teach his family the Dharma, bringing them peace and happiness. When his father became old and sick, the Buddha stayed by his bedside and washed and fed him.
The Buddha was the first to ordain women and untouchables in the history of religion. He believed that everyone had the same potential for enlightenment. His aunt, his wife, and his half-sister became the first Buddhist nuns.
Buddhist monks and nuns rely on the kindness of donors for their food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. In Southeast Asia, some monks and nuns go on alms round. They do not ask for food, but silently accept whatever is put in their bowls. This is not considered begging, but an opportunity for laypeople to create blessings.
Lay people are valuable in Buddhism, because they support the monks and nuns, so they can carry on the Buddha’s work. In this way the sangha and lay people benefit each other and together keep the Dharma alive.
In some Buddhist countries it is common for young boys to live some time as monks as part of their training and education.
Some Symbols of Buddhism
Prayer Wheels
Mantras are written inside the prayer wheels. When the prayer wheels turn, the mantras are repeated again and again to purify our karma. Some prayer wheels are tiny and turned by hand, while others are huge and turned by the wind.
Lotus Flower
A symbol of enlightenment.
In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol of the Buddha’s awakening and a reminder that all beings have the same potential to attain enlightenment. The lotus grows out of mud and rises to the water’s surface to bloom in beauty and purity, so too can the human develop the virtues of a Buddha and rise above desire and attachment to reveal its true nature.
The stage of the lotus flower represents the stages on the spiritual path. For example, a closed bud is synonymous with the beginning of the journey. A partly open flower indicates walking the path. A fully blooming flower signifies the end of the journey-enlightenment.
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi tree represents the fig tree at Bodh Gaya, under which Siddhartha became enlightened. Bodhi means
‘enlightenment’. The Buddha achieved awakening under the shelter of a sacred fig tree known as the bodhi tree. Since then, the bodhi tree has become a symbol of the Buddha’s enlightenment, and the heart-shaped leaf, a symbol of the potential that lies within each of us to awaken.
Traditional offerings for the altar
Flowers: enlightenment
Light: wisdom
Incense: peace
Water: purity
Food: generosity
Bells
Since ancient times, temple bells have summoned monks and nuns to meditation and ceremonies. The gentle ring of a bell during chanting helps followers to focus on the present moment and let go of daily worries. A sense of peace and calmness can be enhanced by the sound of the bell. For this reason, wind bells are often hung on the eaves of stupas and temples to create peaceful and meditative spaces, with their tinkling sounds.
The ring of the bell is a symbol of the Buddha’s voice. It also represents wisdom and compassion and is used to call upon the heavenly deities for protection and to ward off evil spirits. Many old temples have bells at the entrances that one needs to ring before entering.
Mala (Recitation beads)
A mala usually consists of 9, 21, or 108 beads strung on a string. Each bead represents one. However, the bead is not alone, but is connected with all the other beads to make a whole strand. As individuals, we may think we are separate, but we’re not. We are connected to each other, to our family, to the world. We are all living beings together. One cannot exist without the other.
The idea of the mala is to move one bead at a time, focusing on a breath, a mantra, or a Buddha’s name. This method creates positive spiritual energy.
Buddhist Temples & Structures
There are four kinds of Buddhist structures:
1. temples 2. pagodas 3. stupas 4. monasteries
They vary from country to country with different styles and decorative designs.
Temples
Temples are places for meditation, chanting and to learn the Dharma. The most important part of a temple is the main hall with Buddha images and an altar. People make offerings of flowers and incense at the altar and bow in respect to the Three Jewels. There are usually cushions on the floor to sit on, but chairs are also provided.
Stupas
The first Buddhist structures were dome-shaped buildings called stupas. They contain the relics of the Buddha, a gem, a hair or a tooth. People do not enter a stupa but pay their respect by walking around the stupa in a clockwise direction. Sacred books are stored in some stupas.
Pagodas
A pagoda is a tower with many floors, each with a graceful roof and a top roof capped by a spire. Pagodas are designed to symbolize the five elements: Fire, Air, Earth (the square base of temple), Water and Wisdom (the spire on top).
Monasteries
A monastery is the home of monks and nuns. It also serves as a center for meditation and learning Buddhism. Lay people often visit the monastery for retreats or to study and live the Buddhist teachings in a peaceful place. Monasteries are often isolated in forests or mountains and are meant to be self-sufficient. They grow their own food or rely on the lay community for support.
The Buddha’s teaching can be simply summed up into three parts:
Four Dharma Seals
Four Noble Truths
Noble Eightfold Path
The Four Dharma Seals reflect the genuine teachings of the Buddha, just as a legal document is stamped with the royal seal. They can be simply explained by using the following terms:
Anicca (impermanence)
Everything in life, our feelings and thoughts, people, animals, plants, bacteria and countries are always changing and reacting. Without change, there could be no life, no flowers, no grandparents, and no happiness.
Dukkha (suffering)
People suffer because they want things to be permanent when they are not. They cling to things that are ending and try to avoid things that are unpleasant. But thanks to change, we can change suffering into happiness.
Anatta (non-self):
Nothing lives on its own, not even you or me. We are alive due to our parents, air, food, water, and everything around us. We cannot even remain the same for two moments. We are born, grow old, get sick and die. There is nothing that can be called a permanent “I” or a soul. That which carries on to our next life is our life force, or karma. The concept of “me” and “mine” is an illusion we create with our minds.
Nirvana (true peace)
By accepting and understanding that change is a part of life, we can be content with what we have and who we are. We can reach the state of Nirvana, a state of complete selflessness. The word nirvana means to blow out a candle. It is not a place, like heaven, but more a state of being in harmony with the universe and is beyond words.
The Four Noble Truths
After he became enlightened, the Buddha first taught the Four Noble Truths to five hermits in Deer Park near Benares. They became the first Buddhist monks, the beginning of the Buddhist order called the sangha. The Four Noble Truths are:
· The First Noble Truth is that life is full of unhappiness. No one can stay happy for long. We become sad when we cannot get what we want or when we lose something that we prize, or a loved one dies.
· The Second Noble Truth is that suffering and unhappiness are a result of unfulfilled desire. No matter how good or how much we receive, we never seem to have enough. And we certainly don’t want things we do not like.
· The Third Noble Truth is that we can end suffering, but we have to give up wanting what we don’t have and stop being envious of what others have. This is not easy to do. It takes a good deal of diligence and self-discipline.
· The Fourth Noble Truth is the Buddha taught that the way to conquer feelings of greed and selfishness is to follow the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path covers eight of the most important things in our lives—from the way we think and speak to how mindful we are of others. By carefully following the Eightfold Path, we can live a life of virtue and find peace of mind and enlightenment. Sometimes these eight steps are called the Middle Path. Life should not be too hard or too easy.
1. Right view: Developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths.
2. Right thoughts: Thinking kind thoughts about others, beginning with ourselves.
3. Right speech: Speaking in a kind way, free from lies and angry words.
4. Right action or conduct: Protecting the rights and feelings of others–also caring for the natural environment.
5. Right work: Earning an honest living, careful not to harm the environment or any person or animal.
6. Right effort: Developing a positive attitude and changing our bad habits.
7. Right mindfulness: Being aware of our feelings and alert to what is going on, not daydreaming.
8. Right concentration: Focusing on one thought at a time, to be calm and peaceful.
The Six Perfections
The Six Perfections are a set of positive qualities to develop on the Bodhisattva Path.
1. Giving: The wish to give freely, without expecting a reward
2. Precepts: Development of good behavior
3. Patience: Calmly facing the difficulties in life
4. Effort: Being energetic and overcoming laziness
5. Concentration: Staying relaxed, with the mind focused
6. Wisdom: Combining intellectual understanding with insight into the way things really are
Why do Buddhist monks and nuns shave their heads?
It is said that when the Buddha left the palace, the first thing he did was cut off his hair and put on a yellow cloth. Since then, it has become a custom for monks and nuns to shave their heads when ordained. It reduces vanity and reminds them of their vows.
Why do Buddhists bow to Buddha images?
Buddhists bow in front of Buddha images to express their gratitude. Buddha images are not idols but symbols of the highest human potential.
Buddhists also bow to their own Buddha nature, the Buddha inside. They touch the earth and turn their palms upward in a gesture of openness and humility. This purifies the body, mind, and spirit.
