Could someone give me a brief theology of Buddhism?
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Well, I think theology is the wrong word since Buddhism is none=theistic. Still, here is a brief description of Buddhist beliefs. \n\nBuddhist beliefs revolve around a few basic principals. The first being the Four Nobel Truths:\n\n1) All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.\n2) There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire rooted in ignorance\n3) There is an end of suffering, called Nirvana.\n4) There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path.\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path (listed below) is an intellectual understanding of the truth. The 'KNOWLEDGE' of Buddhism is liked to a finger pointing the way to the mood. The truth of Buddhism would be the moon. With knowledge, we point to the truth, just as with a finger we point to the moon. IF you focus on the finger, you will miss the moon but without the finger you will not know where the moon is. The same is true of the Knowledge and truth of Buddhism.\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path: (Divided into three categories)\n>Wisdom\n1) Right Understanding - Looking at the world without attachment and desire, without ego.\n2) Right Thought - Keeping the mind on what is at hand and being resolved on renunciation, freedom from ill will, and on harmlessness.\n\n>Ethical Conduct\n3) Right Speech - Abstaining from lying, divisive, abusive and idle chatter.\n4) Right Action - Abstaining from taking life, stealing and improper sexual activities\n5) Right Livelihood - Doing what is right with ones life.\n\n>Concentration or Mental Development\n6) Right Effort - A persistent desire and an matching endeavor to participate in proper activates the are good and just.\n7) Right Mindfulness - Remaining focused on ones actions, speech, thoughts and lively hood.\n8) Right Concentration - by abandoning all selfishness and adopting a heart of compassion, keeping ones mind on what needs to be do including the helping of others.\n\nTo aid in the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, the Five Precepts or the moral tenants of Buddhism are:\n\n1. To refrain from harming living creatures (ahimsa).\n2. To refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).\n3. To refrain from sexual misconduct. (causing Physical, emotional or mental harm to yourself or others.)\n4. To refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat).\n5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.\n\nThe practice of Buddhism is found in studding the Sutras and more importantly for Ch'an (Zen) meditating to free the 'Unborn Buddha-mind' that is within all of us. \n\nI have included a couple of links that should help you learn more is you are interested.\n\nI hope this helps.
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Since you are interested in learning, you are obviously not doing something wrong.  There is a great book called "Buddhism: plain and simple" by Steve Hagen, it costs about 7 bucks on amazon and is a good introduction to Buddhism.\n\nAfter reading this short and easy book, you will realize that buddhism is not really a religion to follow, but simply a way of looking at the world that makes a lot of sense and can easily be applied to your everyday life, if you choose.  Buddhists don't worship the buddha and he is not a God, just a person who lived once and no longer does.  \n\nUnlike most religions, There is no reason for anyone to ever know that you regard buddhist teachings as useful, and you can practice other religions while studying buddhism and engaging and buddhist practices.  Buddhists don't usually come out and say "I'm a Buddhist" except if they are trying to make their parents mad or something, which of course is not exactly part of the teachings.\n\nAlso, buddhism does involve the concept of karma, but it's not like do good things so good things will happen to you, it's more like, try to want good things a little less and fear bad things a little less because being trapped in desire and fear can prevent you from seeing certain truths.
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hehe\n\nGreat question. If God were Buddhist what would She do with Christians? Reincarnate them, they must achieve nirvana on their own by seperating from attachments and striving only for God (although Buddhism leaves the question of whether there is or is not a God up to the individual, but they do not believe that there is an individualized soul. So if God were Buddhist then God has apparently already reached the conclusion that there is a God, but She then also says there is no individualized soul that reincarnates, the essence of us is what reincarnates according to Buddhism). \n\nGreat question. I enjoyed this one. Thanks!!!
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try:\n\nhttp://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/ysi/Kids/FAQ/askexperts2.htm\n\nand \n\nhttp://buddhist.uchicago.edu/med.html
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Basic Buddhist beliefs. \n\nThe Four Nobel Truths:\n1) All worldly life is suffering. Causing us to lead an unsatisfactory, disjointed life.\n2) Suffering is caused by the ego. Things such as attachment and desire are rooted in the ego through ignorance.\n3) There is a way to end suffering. \n4) The way to end suffering is found in the Noble Eightfold Path\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path: (Divided into three categories)\n>Wisdom\n1) Right Understanding - Looking at the world without attachment and desire, without ego.\n2) Right Thought - Keeping the mind on what is at hand and being resolved on renunciation, freedom from ill will, and on harmlessness.\n\n>Ethical Conduct\n3) Right Speech - Abstaining from lying, divisive, abusive and idle chatter.\n4) Right Action - Abstaining from taking life, stealing and improper sexual activities\n5) Right Livelihood - Doing what is right with ones life.\n\n>Concentration or Mental Development\n6) Right Effort - A persistent desire and an matching endeavor to participate in proper activates the are good and just. \n7) Right Mindfulness - Remaining focused on ones actions, speech, thoughts and lively hood. \n8) Right Concentration - by abandoning all selfishness and adopting a heart of compassion, keeping ones mind on what needs to be do including the helping of others.\n\nTo sum all of this up and cover a few other basic ideas, Buddhists believes that all beings are united in this world, we are all a part of each other, thus the ego is in fact detrimental to our own happiness since if we embrace the ego, we will unintentional hurt others. And if we are all united, then we will in fact be hurting ourselves. \n\nBuddhists also believe that compassion is the key to happiness and that the Buddha Mind, that which we must nurture if we wish to become enlightened, is our natural state. As Michelangelo talked about stripping marble away from the sculpture the was contained within, so do Buddhists talk about stripping away the self to release the Buddha within. \n\nOn a more spiritual level, Buddhist generally believe in reincarnation, a cycle of birth, death and rebirth. When we reach enlightenment, this cycle is broken and we are able to move into the next step of existence, Nirvana. \n\nA few notes. Buddha is NOT god. Some Buddhist believe in a god or gods, others do not. The common factor is that the perception of gods or a god are that he/she/they are not responsible for us, but rather we are responsible for ourselves. Most Buddhist do not have faith in a god or gods in the traditional western sense. In fact, a god would be little more then a being that has exceptional y good karma and will one day be born again as a human. \n\nI hope this helps.
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So Buddhism and Christianity by definition are different religions, and one should be careful when trying to "mix" them. For example, Buddhism does not believe in a "creator-God" who controls the world and similarly, Christianity does not believe in karma or rebirth. \nOn the other hand, it may not be a bad idea to look at what we can learn from each other: the beautiful Christian practice of helping others in need is just as useful to Buddhists, as Buddhist meditation techniques can help Christians.\n\nmeditation (there's nothing 'spiritual' or 'buddhism' about it):\nThe practice of meditation basically complements the inherent nature of your mind. The negative patterns that we talked about--aggression and anger--are not inherent characteristics of the mind. So when you practice meditation and begin to relate to the inherent state of the mind, these enlightened qualities can surface, and the intensity and frequency of the habitual patterns are subdued. Then you can discover such potential qualities as compassion and loving-kindness.\n\nprayer in buddhism:\nBuddhists don’t pray to a Creator God, but they do have devotional meditation practices which could be compared to praying. Radiating loving-kindness to all living beings is a practice which is believed to benefit those beings.\n\nin buddhism: chanting mantra (prayer) & meditation compliment each other.\n\nin christianity: prayer is a communication with god. meditation is a stress relieving method (like yoga). they don't compliment each other by most christian denominations.\n\nin buddhism:\nUnlike other religions, it does not even attempt to answer questions like 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' . Buddhism regards such questions as at best unanswerable and probably intrinsically meaningless. The only purpose of life is what we personally give to our own lives. Buddha suggested that the most meaningful use of life was to seek liberation from ignorance, suffering and the cycle of samsaric rebirth, both for one's self and others. But this 'meaning' does not reside 'in the sky' or in any way outside of the individual, and it cannot be imposed, but must be freely chosen.\nMost other religions go further than Buddhism, and if asked 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' will usually come up with an answer along the lines of 'To fulfil the will of God.' \nThis invites the further question of 'What is the will of God', which usually brings forth an answer to the effect that 'God's will is to create life, the universe and everything'.
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Just come back from a Buddhist temple 1 hour ago!Had a visiting monk from California giving a sermon on morality!\nSo what goes on in the temple?When there is no function devotees might come and do meditation.Not much decoration,but we have a big Buddha image with neon light behind the head!You are welcome to visit any of the Buddhist temple!
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Buddhist follow the eightfold path that governs thier acts. That goes for the physical and spiritual sense of self and well being. I wil try and copy thier morals which can direct itself if questioned.\n\n\nRight Viewpoint - Realizing the Four Noble Truths (samyag-dṛṣṭi, sammā-diṭṭhi) \nRight Values - Commitment to mental and ethical growth in moderation (samyak-saṃkalpa, sammā-saṅkappa) \nRight Speech - One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way (samyag-vāc, sammā-vācā) \nRight Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm (samyak-karmānta, sammā-kammanta) \nRight Livelihood - One's job does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly (weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.) (samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva} \nRight Effort - One makes an effort to improve (samyag-vyāyāma, sammā-vāyāma) \nRight Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness (samyak-smṛti, sammā-sati) \nRight Meditation - State where one reaches enlightenment and the ego has disappeared (samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi) \n\n\n*note* I have studied these principals before and each path to cleanse sufferring has deep details involved. I actually have a notebook that I made that breaks down most religions. And the details for these paths can be further explained. Basically, use Right Thought. This is from wikepedia.
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3 page article, hope this might help:\nhttp://www.wie.org/j14/tworkov.asp?page=1\n\n\nand this (scroll down to 'america'):\nhttp://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/to-west.htm
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I found this (the link is below)\n\nHow do I become a Buddhist?\nJoin a Buddhist sangha (a temple, church or group), support them, be supported by them and continue to learn more about the Buddha's teachings. Read about the teachings, apply them in your life, attend services and retreats, open your heart and mind to the working of Great Compassion. Then, when you are ready, you can formally become a Buddhist by undertaking the Affirmation or Ordination Ceremony.\n\nAffirmation and Ordination\n \nThe decision to become a Buddhist is marked by either Affirmation or Ordination Ceremony. These two types of ceremonies are different but share certain religious aspects. First of all, the Affirmation Ceremony or the Kikyoshiki is unique to Shin Buddhism only. It is a form of personal religious confirmation, in which the participant publicly acknowledges his/her orientation and commitment to the Pure Land path of Shinran Shonin and the recognition of the working of Great Compassion (Other Power) in their lives. As stated above, this ceremony is unique to Shin Buddhism, which is a lay religious movement and not a religious order. This ceremony does not entail the transmission of tthe Three Jewels or the Five Precepts from teacher (monk) to disciple. In Shin Buddhism, we are each others teachers. Moreover, according to Shin Buddhism, the ultimate transmission can only come from the direct and personal experience of the working of Great Compassion, which is called shinjin or true entrusting. What's more, Shin Buddhism does not formally have lay precepts, which can be received from human to human transmission; instead they manifest naturally through the shinjin experience.\n \nThe Affirmation Ceremony allows the participant to publicly acknowledge his/her personal faith experience in the Buddha (Amida), the Dharma (the working of Other Power) and the Sangha (those who entrust themselves to the Other Power). Furthermore, the Affirmation Ceremony may also confirm the Five Precepts as the best ways to compassionately live in our suffering world. Again this is not a transmission of the ethical code but just a reminder of its importance. In addition, the Affirmation Ceremony may include the reciting of the Six Paramitas, the Bodhisattva Vows and the Shin Buddhist Affirmation as reminders of the Buddhist path. In this ceremony, recipients are given a Buddhist name (homyo), an Affirmation Certificate and Shin Buddhist Okesa. There is usually a small donation requested to cover the costs.\n \nIn contrast, the Ordination Ceremony is only conferred by a fully ordained monk, in which the lay participant receives the  human to human or teacher to student, transmission of the Three Jewels and the Five Precepts and sometimes even can take the Bodhisattva Vows. The participant is then ordained as a lay follower or as it is know in sanskrit as an upasaka (ordained lay male follower) or upasika (ordained lay female follower). He/she then receives a certificate and a Buddhist name. As a result, the ordainee is formally initiated as a lay member and linked to a monastic order, in which he/she dedicates him/herself to the Three Jewels and the Five Precepts. The ordaining monk is usually seen as the lay followers main teacher.  These ordained lay followers may then, in the future, decide to intensify their practice and become fully ordained as monks (bhikkus) or nuns. The Ordination Ceremony is conducted by monastic orders only. Since the BFF is a lay congregation, it  does not conduct ordinations. If you are interested in lay ordination please refer to our links page and click on the Hai An Pagoda in New Britain, Connecticut and e-mail the Venerable Thich Tri Hoang.
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My dear friend, \n\nBelow I have done my best to try and explain the sects of Buddhism to level comprehensible to the general public; I sincerely hope it helps you.\n\nHowever, I first must briefly touch on the answer given by [Ronin], which is undoubtedly more a source than an answer.  To comment, our friend here has asked us to help her understand the differences between the branches of Buddhism, as she hasn't "been able to understand them perfectly and was wondering if anyone could put them into layman’s terms for [her]".  Citing wikipedia does neither for her, and I believe you may even insult her by suggesting she does not know how to search for information.  People come her, to the answers services because they have been unsuccessful in their quest for an answer; hence it is up to people who may know the answer to try and assist them in any way that we can, and not simply throw them more incomprehensible information.\n\nA period after the pir-nirvana of the Lord Buddha, the "Elders" and the "Novices" of Buddhism had an argument regarding the preservation of offerings for an overnight situation.  This let to a fine separation into 2 factions of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahasamghika (Elders and Novices) - the terms used previously are given in the ancient language Sanskrit.  In fact, the Mahasamghika was the stepping stone or hint that another form of Buddhism would take place, and that form would be known as Mahayana Buddhism.  Mahayana Buddhism was introduced to the world by Nagarjuna Buddha (or Nagarjuna Bodhisattva - depending on tradition), and the Mahasamghika slowly dissipated into another form of Buddhism, known as Hinayana.\n\nSo to briefly bring things into perspective:  Hinayana, Mahayana and Theravada.  However, this is not the end yet.  Some people actually place Theravada Buddhism under the banner of Hinayana Buddhism.  So, there are mainly the two branches: Hinayana and Mahayana (but readers please take note, it is not that I am in total agreement of this; I merely wish to use it as an example to simplify matters).  Now, to help you understand the differences.  Places like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka, India etc are all examples where Hinayana Buddhism is prominent; their Dharma Robes are easily distinguished tending to look like a very large cloth wrapped around their body.  Countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, Tibet, Japan etc are all examples where Mahayana Buddhism is prominent; their Dharma Robes are not so easily distinguished tending to vary from tradition, but one thing is certain, and that is they often have a look of Chinese Tang Dynasty Royal Family robes.\n\nWell, "is that all", you ask?  No, because within the Mahayana tradition there is another lineage of Buddhism, known as the Tantrayana (or Vajrayana).  All the countries mentioned in the category of Mahayana fit this description, but please take note that there is an extremely large amount of overlapping.  And to complicate matter even further, these branches of Buddhism are separated in another general manner:  Exoteric and Esoteric.\n\nSo to conclude:\nExoteric Buddhism - Hinayana Buddhism (Thailand, Sri Lanka...etc)\n             - Mahayana Buddhism (Taiwan, Korea, China)\n\nEsoteric Buddhism-Tantrayana Buddhism (China, Tibet, Japan)\n\nRemember, it all depends in what context you are speaking of.\n\nI hope I have helped you, and would appreciate criticism and education from the learned friends of the world wide web.\n\nvhy
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I figure that Buddhists are like Jews and Catholics - they are people.\n\nAdditionally Budhism, Judaism and Catholocism are all essentially the same as well - each says the truth or spirit of God is within.\n\nIt's just when people get involved to adulterate these pristine beliefs with their own personal agendas that we have religious conflict.
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check out on a buddhist monastry near you to make enquiries on retreats.\nfor the world's buddhist directory, you there'll be listings on buddhist temples/ monastries, with email addy & website.
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I'm a Christian, and my boyfriend is Buddhist.  I'm very interested in how the two intersect, and they can and do very easily.  The teachings of Christ and Buddha are similar in many areas.  The book "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh is a great examination of that.  There have also been many Buddhist Christians, with the adherents following Christian doctrine and Buddhist philosophy.  I think they work well together.
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Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life.\nA Different Way of Faith \nThis makes Buddhism different from many other faiths for it is not centred on the relationship between humanity and God. \nBuddhism doesn't fit the pattern of other faiths and needs to be seen in its own terms to be understood properly.\nBuddhists do not believe in a personal creator God.\nIt does not have the concept of a Saviour, nor of Heaven and Hell in the popular sense. \nBuddhism doesn't demand blind faith or belief, and says that people should test its teachings against personal experience.\nThe Bare Essentials of Buddhism \n\n2,500 years old \n\n\n350 million Buddhists worldwide \n\n\nFounded by Siddhartha Gautama in India\n\n\nThe path to Enlightenment or Buddhahood is through the practice and development of morality, meditation, and wisdom.\n\n\nBuddhists do not believe in a creator God nor a personal God, but Buddhists are tolerant of those whose beliefs are different from theirs.\n\n\nBuddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent — change is always possible.\n\n\nBuddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important.\n\nBeliefs\n\n  \n \n \n Tibetan monks use prayer wheel  \n \n \n\nSummary of the Teachings of Buddha\nAdmission to the monastic sangha involves two rites of passage: \n\nKarma: Actions have consequences; so our lives are conditioned by our past actions\n\n\nRebirth: Consciousness continues after death, and finds expression in a future life\n\n\nLiberation from karma: By following the Buddha's path one escapes the cycle of craving and suffering\n\n\nThe Four Noble Truths: The essentials of Buddhism\n\n\nEnlightenment:The highest goal of life is to reach Enlightenment; a state of being that goes beyond suffering\n\n\nDharma: The teachings and hence the way to nirvana\n\n\nThe Core of Buddhist teaching\nAt the heart of the Buddha's teaching lie The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path which lead the Buddhist towards the path of Enlightenment.\n\nFacing the Truth\nThe Buddha taught that the human tendency is to avoid the difficult truths of life and this in turn leads to suffering. \nBy enabling the mind to be at peace through meditation a human being can confront reality and overcome hatred and craving. \n\nfor more information visit :
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There are many schools, sects and subsects of Buddhism. As with Christianity, no consensus exists within Buddhism about gay and lesbian relationships. Buddhism is most concerned with whether an action is helpful and based on good intentions. This differs from Christianity which often evaluates an action, based on whether it is good or evil; positive or sinful according to a system of morality. \n\nApparently, the Buddha did not leave any teachings on homosexual orientation or homosexual behavior. He strongly encouraged his followers to "be a lamp onto yourself" -- to examine and test the truth of religious teachings before accepting them.\n\nMany women, gays and lesbians have been attracted to Buddhism because of its relative lack of misogyny and homophobia, when compared to some other religions. But others report "virulently anti-gay sentiments and teachings from religious teachers in Tibetan and other Buddhist" schools
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The Buddhist doctrine would be the teachings of the Buddha. I suppose technically you would have to read all of the Sutra and all the discourses on the sutras to know the full "Buddhist doctrine."  The beautiful thing about Buddhism is that the 'doctrine' isn't all that important... At least not in the Chan (Zen) tradition. Even in the more textual traditions of Buddhism, the 'doctrine' of Buddhism is not as important as the 'spirit' of the teachings of the Buddha. In other words, knowing the Sutras is good, Understanding what Buddha meant and living a life in accordance with these teachings is better. \n\nIf you want to know what some of the basic Buddhist beliefs are, just read below. \n\nFirst a few notes. Buddha is NOT god and is not considered a god.\n\nBuddhists believes that all beings are united, we are all a part of each other, thus the ego is in fact detrimental to our own happiness since if we embrace the ego, we will unintentional hurt others. And if we are all united, then we will in fact be hurting ourselves.\n\nBuddhists also believe that compassion is the key to happiness and that the Buddha Mind, that which we must nurture if we wish to become enlightened, is our natural state. As Michelangelo talked about stripping marble away from the sculpture the was contained within, so do Buddhists talk about stripping away the self to release the Buddha within.\n\nThe main teachings are:\n\nThe Four Nobel Truths:\n1) All worldly life is suffering. Causing us to lead an unsatisfactory, disjointed life.\n2) Suffering is caused by the ego. Things such as attachment and desire are rooted in the ego through ignorance.\n3) There is a way to end suffering. \n4) The way to end suffering is found in the Noble Eightfold Path\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path: (Divided into three categories)\n>Wisdom\n1) Right Understanding - Looking at the world without attachment and desire, without ego.\n2) Right Thought - Keeping the mind on what is at hand and being resolved on renunciation, freedom from ill will, and on harmlessness.\n\n>Ethical Conduct\n3) Right Speech - Abstaining from lying, divisive, abusive and idle chatter.\n4) Right Action - Abstaining from taking life, stealing and improper sexual activities\n5) Right Livelihood - Doing what is right with ones life.\n\n>Concentration or Mental Development\n6) Right Effort - A persistent desire and an matching endeavor to participate in proper activates the are good and just. \n7) Right Mindfulness - Remaining focused on ones actions, speech, thoughts and lively hood. \n8) Right Concentration - by abandoning all selfishness and adopting a heart of compassion, keeping ones mind on what needs to be do including the helping of others.\n\nOn a more spiritual level, Buddhist generally believe in reincarnation, a cycle of birth, death and rebirth. This is called samsara. When we reach enlightenment, this cycle is broken and we are able to move into the next step of existence, Nirvana. \n\nThere are many schools and sects of Buddhism and some very in practice greatly. However, the underlying principals are virtually identical regardless of the school or tradition of Buddhism. \n\nFor more detailed information, please check out the references I have posted bellow. \n\nI hope this helps.