Spade 1 Sierra Spade English 111 Aaron Anderson 09 March 2014 Buddhism Every person believes in something.

Some may believe in mythical creatures; while others believe in a god, or gods, who control our universe. However, these beliefs are very different than believing in the teaching of attaining a perfect enlightenment by destroying the causes of all suffering: greed, hatred, and delusion. These people believe in a religion called Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion to over 300 million people around the world. To most of these people, Buddhism is more than just a religion; it is a way of life. According to the website Buddhist Studies: Basic Buddhism, Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to true happiness. Practicing Buddhism means changing yourself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. There is no worship or theology in Buddhism; there are only teachings from the Buddha based on his observations of the way things are. The Buddha lived between 563 and 483 BC. He was merely a man, not a god His true name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was part of a royal family, but chose to leave his privileged life to find the key to human happiness. After studying and meditating for 6 years, he was finally enlightened, which means he understood life in the deepest way possible. The Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the Truth, or the Dhamma the principles of Buddhismuntil he died when he was 80 years old. Even

Spade 2 though they dont worship him, Buddhists will bow to his picture or statue to show gratitude for his teachings. There are many teachings from the Buddha, but the basic concepts can be explained in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, which are also explained on the website Buddhist Studies: Basic Buddhism. The First Noble Truth is that life is suffering; we endure physical and psychological suffering. It is an undeniable realistic truth, rather than a pessimistic one. The Second Noble Truth is that suffering has a cause. We suffer because we are constantly trying to survive and prove our existence. We also suffer because we want and crave what we dont have. However, getting what you want doesnt guarantee happiness. The Third Noble Truth is that the cause of suffering can be ended and true happiness can be achieved. We do this by abandoning our expectations about how we think things should be, causing us to become happy and free. We then have enough time and energy to help others. The Fourth Noble Truth is that the Noble Eightfold Path is the path that leads to the end of suffering. The Noble Eightfold Path is split up into eight different steps. The first step is called right view, which occurs when we see things simply, as they are. The second step is called right intention. This teaches that we should work with what we have and our intentions should always be pure. The third step is right speech. Once our intentions are pure, we are able to say what needs to be said in a very simple, genuine way. The fourth step, right discipline, means we give up all the unnecessary complications that usually make problems with our relationships. Right livelihood is the fifth step on the path. This point teaches that we should earn our own living and be happy with our job, whatever it may be. The sixth step is right effort. This teaches that we should not struggle with our negative tendencies. Instead, we should gradually work with them. The seventh step, right mindfulness, tells us to be mindful of the tiniest details in our lives. Right concentration, or absorption, is the eight step on the path. This teaches that our minds should be completely absorbed in nowness things as they are. The only way to achieve this is through sitting meditation, which is the act of spending time in quiet thought.

Spade 3 Such as Christianity has a set of rules defined in the Ten Commandments, Buddhism has a set of rules called the 5 precepts. However, unlike the Ten Commandments, breaking these rules does not result in punishment. Instead, they encourage figuring out how to avoid breaking them. They are more like a moral code within Buddhism rather than a set of rules. Simply put, these are the main five: not to take a life of anything living, not to take anything not freely given, to refrain from sexual conduct and sensual overindulgence, to refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid intoxication, losing mindfulness. Two other important teachings of the Buddha are Karma and Wisdom. Most people have heard of receiving good or bad karma. In the Buddhist teachings, Karma is the law that every cause has an effect; similar actions will lead to similar results. For example, if we do a good deed/action, we will eventually get a wholesome result back. However, if we do a bad action, we will eventually receive an unwholesome, painful result. The other teaching is that wisdom should be developed with compassion. True wisdom is not achieved by simply believing what we are told. Instead, it is achieved by experiencing and understanding truth and reality. Wisdom requires an open and objective mind. The last main part of the Buddha teachings is Nirvana. It is often thought to be related to heaven from Christianity teachings, but it actually only means the end of our struggles. Nirvana is also considered as freedom from all worldly concerns such as greed, hate, and ignorance. This is the state Buddhists refer to as enlightenment. It is the ultimate goal for all Buddhists, although very few have achieved it. Its a condition that cant be described; it can only be experienced directly. Buddhism is a belief system that is tolerant with all other types of religion. The Buddhist way of life is peaceful, loving, and full of kindness and wisdom. It is a religion differing from all others. The teachings of Buddha can relate to any person, of any age and in any country; its something anyone could believe in. Follow the step by step path and it will lead to lasting happiness.