The Basics of Buddhism

Buddhism is an education that teaches how to be one with our Buddha nature or God or Tao. "The truth is one, sages call it many names," is a famous Dharmaic quote. Buddhism can be applied to any walk of life and is compatible with any other religious practices. The basics of Buddhism is a moral code that teaches how to live a positive life. The four noble truths, eight fold path,and the five precepts are the fundaments that Siddhartha Gautama taught right after becoming the Buddha. Buddha means "awakened one" is Sanskrit. Awakened from the delusion of this world and realizing that we are of one similar nature.

The four noble truths are, according to the Buddha, that:
1. Life is suffering.
2. Desire is the cause of suffering.
3. Suffering can be stopped.
4. To stop suffering follow the eight fold path.

Life is suffering means that we should acknowledge the things that cause us to suffer like: birth, aging, illness, death, union with what is displeasing, separation from what is pleasing, and not to getting what one wants. Once you know what is the cause of your suffering you can begin to look at the reasons behind it. Meditation helps to see your habit energies that cause suffering. After you see the specific illness you can treat it by following the eight fold path.

The Buddha said, "if a person does not follow the eight fold path, one lives one's life like a preoccupied child playing with toys in a house that is burning to the ground." The eight fold path can be divided into three sections of morality, mastery over one's mind, and wisdom. Morality consist of three parts:
1. Right speech where one speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way.
2. Right actions are wholesome actions, avoiding actions that would do harm.
3. Right livelihood means not harming in any way oneself or others.

Samadhi is to develop a mastery over one's mind. The mind being like a monkey thoughts come and go without warning. Actions are often performed like a programmed robot. The key to samadhi has three sections:
1. Right effort or exercise means you always try to improve yourself. Yoga, meditation, and chanting are forms of mind exercises that tame the monkey mind.
2. Right mindfulness and awareness is the mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness.
3. Right concentration and meditation is being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion. Right livelihood means not harming in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly.

Prajna is the wisdom which purifies the mind. Within this division fall two more parts of the noble eight fold path:
1. Right understanding which means understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be.
2. Right thoughts that change the pattern of thinking.

The eight fold path can be interpreted in a number of ways. Spoken of as being a progressive series of stages through which the practitioner moves, the culmination of one leading to the beginning of another. Others see the path as requiring simultaneous development.

The five precepts are a moral code to purify the senses. The precepts, known as Sila, are one of three practices that lead one to Buddha hood. The other two being meditation, known as samadhi, and wisdom, known as panya. There is no punishment for breaking the precepts, but if a precept is broken then acknowledgement and repentance should be taken. The five precepts are as follows:
1. To refrain from taking life. (many Buddhist choose vegetarianism for this reason)
2. To refrain from taking that which is not given. (if not offered to you then do not take it)
3. To refrain from sensual misconduct. (adultrey or immoral sexual)
4. To refrain from lying. (false speech or leading one to believe something untrue)
5. To refrain from the taking in of intoxicants. (drugs, alcohol, or any substance that affects mindfulness)

Following these five precepts will lead to peace of mind, because a free conscience sleeps well at night. Creating positive karma attracts positive things, so by refraining from these acts which cause suffering you can live happily. Not only will you gain better sleep and happiness but you can begin to change the world. A popular saying is, "if you want to change the world, first you must change yourself."

The primary guiding principle in Buddhism is the middle way. The middle way is to avoid the extremes of excess and deficiency. Happiness can be obtained through following the Buddha's teachings. These ways of conduct can fit into your current practice, because they don't ask for you to pray to a specific higher power. In a nut shell, Buddha just wants us to be happy and displays unconditional compassion.