Buddhism

Good Day,

I wanted to stat the week out talking directly about Buddhism, after all this blog and website are called the daily Buddha!

There seems to be much confusion about buddhism, what it is and what it isn't, so I thought this week I might post a basic introduction and some background information in hopes of shedding a little light on the methods and purposes people take it up.

When you hear something about Buddhism in the daily news you usually think of it having a background of huge idols and yellow-robed monks, with a thick atmosphere of incense fumes. Maybe you never felt that there was anything in it for you, except an exotic spectacle.

But is that all there is in Buddhism?

Although generally regarded as a religion, Buddhism is basically a method of cultivating the mind. It is true that, with its monastic tradition and its emphasis on ethical factors, it possesses many of the surface characteristics that we associate with religion. However, it is not theistic, since it affirms that the universe is governed by impersonal laws and not by any sole creator.The Buddha was a teacher and not a god; and it regards devotion not as a religious obligation but as a means of expressing gratitude to its founder and as a means of self-development. Thus it is not a religion at all from these points of view.

Buddhism knows faith only in the sense of confidence we develop with curiosity and exploration. A Buddhist is not expected to have faith or to believe in anything merely because the Buddha said it, or because it is written in the ancient books, or because it has been handed down by tradition. We may, of course, agree to take the Buddha-doctrine as a working hypothesis and to pursue it's methods; but we are not expected to accept anything unless our reason accepts it. There is no need for blind acceptance of anything in the Buddha-doctrine.

Buddhism is a way of life based on the training of the mind. Its one ultimate aim is to show the way to complete liberation from suffering by the attainment of the Unconditioned, a state beyond the range of the normal untrained mind. Its immediate aim is to strike at the roots of suffering in everyday life.

There are general guidelines and basic truths, but more on that in tomorrows post! For now understand that Buddhism can and does work hand in hand with many religions and faiths, it is not an exclusive practice or one that says all other faiths are off limits, it is simply a way of seeing the world for what it is and ourself for what we are!

Have a wonderful day and consider this - Buddhism holds that everything is in constant flux. Thus the question is whether we are to accept change passively and be swept away by it or whether we are to take the lead and create positive changes on our own initiative. While conservatism and self-protection might be likened to winter, night, and death, the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize ideals evokes images of spring, morning, and birth.

Peace and Love, Jim