Teachings and Tenets

Prior to achieving enlightenment, Buddha described his condition as being like a person who is "asleep," i.e., unconscious about the nature of reality and the human condition. Those like Gautama who attain enlightenment are thus Buddhas or thopse who have become the "Awakened Ones." Buddha's enlightenment--seeing the true nature of things--resulted in the formulation of The Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. Both the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path form the core of Buddhist teachings.

Buddhism is unique in that it is fundamentally a religion without either a single god or secondary deities. References are frequently made to god, gods, demi-gods and demons, but these are not so much entities to be worshipped, as they are metaphors of the human condition. In Tibetan Buddhism,for instance, the fearsome demons that are depicted in paintings are recognized as the demons within which threaten or pursue all humans, but which must ultimately be dealt with by humans themselves. Humans, and particularly those who follow the teachings of Buddha, thus strive to achieve enlightenment as individuals through meditation and the practise of Buddhist principles. By doing so they must bring everyday behavior and consciousness into harmony with the forces of the universe.
After he achieved enlightenement, Buddha went to Varanasi, a spot long held sacred by Hindus. At a place called the Deer Park in Sarnath Buddha articulated his doctrine of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path to five of his followers. Over several hundred years following the death of Gautama Buddha the essential practices have been systematically codifed and are followed today by followers of both the Mahayana and Theravada schools of Buddhism.

The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are:

all existence is dukkha or suffering;
suffering arises out of tanha or cravings and adherence to what is not actually possible;
suffering can cease, and the end of suffering is Nirvana;
the end of suffering can occur by following the Eight Fold Path.

The Eight Fold Path

The way out of the cycle of birth, suffering and death is possible through what Buddha called the Noble Eight Fold Path. The Eight Fold Path includes having:
right understanding
right thought or right mindedness
right speech
right action
right livelihood or right living
right effort
right mindfulness or right attentiveness
right concentration.

Buddhism also teaches that there are six means known as the paramitas through which lay persons may acquire merit and hence progress toward nirvanaThey may:
engage in charitable giving(dana);
conduct themselves morally, or with integrity(sila);
practise patience(ksanti);
express their devotion with energy and vigor(virya);
practise meditation(dhyana);and
cultivate wisdom(prajna).

The emphasis on conduct is codified in The Five Precepts where Buddhists are reminded to abstain from:

the taking of life;

the taking of what is not given;

all illicit sexual activity;

lying;

intoxicating substances.

Karma and Rebirth

Karma,or the moral law of cause and effect, is a determining factor in the cycle of birth, suffering,death and rebirth. Buddhism teaches that after death, the tanhaor cravings of the human spirit continues to search for a new existence. Karma or how one has lived one's life previously determines in what form one will re-enter the cycle of birth, sufferring and death.

According to Buddhist lore there are six realms into which a spirit may be reborn:the realm of gods; the demigods and human beings;the realm of animals; the realm of so-called hungry ghosts and the realm of hell.The realm of the gods, demi-gods and humans are considered relatively propitious realms into which a spirit may be born. Hungry ghosts and animals on the other hand are condemned to misery and suffering, while those reborn into hell may be assured of every manner of pain and discomfort.

Karmic justice thus ensures that whatever realm a sentient being is assigned to after death depends on moral conduct, acts of kindness, and avoidance of harmful behavior. Ultimately, the attainment of nirvana itself is closely linked not only to one's conduct or actions, but to the nature and tendencies of the human condition. These conditions may also threaten the attainment of nirvana if one does not exercise the necessary vigilance.

The impediments to attaining nirvana are the so called "attributes of individuality." These include the body, (rupa) sensations, (vedana) thoughts, (samjna) and individual consciousness (vijnana.)

Many of the Buddhist tenets such as nirvana, karma and moksha (the ultimate release of the ego) may be traced to the teachings of Hinduism and Jainism. Sikhism which emerged later was also to incorporate some of these principles. Buddha, however, made several changes that gradually distinguished Buddhism from Hinduism and Jainism.Unlike Hinduism with its caste system and Brahmin priesthood, Buddhism recognizes the fundamental equality of sentient beings. All humans, regardless of gender, race or caste, are theoretically capable of achieving enlightenment. Historically in Buddhist history, for instance, women have played important roles as leaders and teachers.

Buddhism is also different from Hinduism and Jainism in that Buddha introduced the notion of the Middle Way. Having spent many years himself living the rigorous life of an ascetic, Buddha came to the conclusion that enlightenment does not come from extreme practices or self-denial, but through moderation in all things.

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