What You Need to Know about Buddhism

Posted on September 6, 2007 in Latest News

Buddhism recognizes two paths to enlightenment. One form, where you attain it on your own without guidance earns you the title of a Buddha e.g.Siddhartha Gautama If you reach enlightenment with the help of a buddha, you are known as an arahant. Enlightenment, bodhi, liberation or Nirvana is when you realize the true nature of reality.

The Noble Eightfold Path are divided into 3 sections, physical actions (Sila), meditation and concentration (Samadhi) and spiritual insight (Prajna)

Sila – physical actions

• Right Speech – One speaks in a non hurtful, non exaggerated and a truthful way
• Right Actions – Avoiding actions that would do harm
• Right Livelihood – One’s way of livelihood should not hurt others; directly or indirectly

Samadhi – meditation and concentration

• Right Effort — One makes an effort to improve
• Right Awareness — Mental ability and consciousness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness
• Right Concentration — Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion

Prajna – spiritual insight

• Right Thoughts — bringing about a change in the pattern of thinking, by thinking right thoughts.
• Right Understanding — Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be.

These are very important beliefs on which Buddhism is formed.

Comments

One Response to “What You Need to Know about Buddhism”

  1. Tamara on January 28th, 2008 11:16 pm

    this is so interesting!!! I didn’t know anything about this!!!!!

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