The Four Noble Truths: The Basics Of Buddhism

The Basics of Buddhism
Cherry Harris
Axia College of University of Phoenix

The religion of Buddhism originated in the country of India, however it is now practiced in many different parts of the world. Buddhism is becoming a vastly popular religion throughout the western continents. Buddhist follow a number of beliefs which are outlined in a number of different doctrines out into motion by the Buddha who lived more than 2,500 years ago. The instructions provided in this doctrine illustrate a life of selfless consciousness, void of negative actions. Although, Buddhism encompasses similar religious principles, the foundation of this religion is unlike any other. Through discussion with practicing Buddhists, it is possible to understand
Siddhartha lived a life of leisure due to the many riches of his family. Stories say that Buddha 's father protected him from unpleasant things. One day Siddhartha was able to see a sick person, a elderly individual and a dead person and became unsatisfied with temporary fleeting happiness. Buddha later saw a monk in search of liberation from suffering. This changed his life and set into motion the events that would shape Buddhism. The core beliefs of Buddhism are outlined in doctrines known as The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, and The Five Skandhas. The four nobles truths is a collective teaching in reference to suffering. The first noble truth explains that life inevitably involves suffering. Buddhists believe this is true because suffering is evident in many forms. All individuals, even when they are not experiencing any personal suffering of their own, are still witnesses to the suffering of others. This principle is also known as dukkha. Although this word has no definite English translation, it has come to mean suffering. The second noble truth outlines the causes for suffering. Buddhists believe that the true cause of suffering is desire. They
When compared with a religion such as Christianity, the two bare very different beliefs, however some of the key principles are alike. Buddhist believe in what 's known as the Buddhist deity. This is not the Buddha himself, instead it is considered to be the enlightened state in physical form. Many Buddhists call this a state of Buddha and feel that it can be achieved by Buddhist followers through devout living. Christian principles also believe that a deity can possess human form. This is seen in the teachings about Jesus Christ. Jesus, thought to be God 's mortal son, is also believed to be God in Human form. Christians also feel that after acceptance of God 's will, he becomes a part of each follower. Both religions believe in and instruct a degree of private time for spiritual enrichment. Buddhists, however, practice meditation; a time of self reflection and consciousness of all things. Christians use this time for prayer, which is a display of devotion to God. During prayer Christians will repent of their sins, ask for forgiveness, pray for blessings and seek assistance from God with problems. A fundamental similarity between these two religions is the belief in karma. Karma is the belief that an individuals behavior will effect other things in his/her life. Although, Christianity does not adhere to the term Karma, they do emphasize that you reap what