Simply Buddhism

Many people interpret Buddha as a big fat guy, that will give you luck if you rub his belly. This may be true, but Buddhism is much bigger than that. Buddhism is the journey towards a rise above suffering. Buddhism, achieved by the enlightened one-“Buddha” suggests how to make the journey, what to look for, and assures that the journey indeed is a tough and demanding one. It is not something to follow unquestioningly but is a truth to be realized by an individual in his own way.

Buddhism is the path discovered by a man as ordinary as any of us, who, 2500 years ago saw clearly into the true nature of reality but who became divine by his thoughts and actions and assures every other ordinary person that it is possible to attain the same divinity. Siddhartha Gautama born as a prince realized that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, so he explored the different teachings religions and philosophies of the day, to find the key to human happiness. He was on the search for was the cause and cessation of human suffering. After six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path' and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddha until his death at the age of 80. The four truths that Gautama Buddha propounded are that: Suffering is universal; It is caused by desire. Suffering can be uprooted if desire is uprooted. That can be done by following the famous Eight Fold Path which includes: Right Understanding, Right Motives, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation.

Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Muslim', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that is why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought. Buddhism is a path towards knowledge and living with the knowledge that life does not exist without suffering and one must rise above it to live successfully with it. One must break the shackles of the cycle of desire, temptation, temporariness, disappointment, because these lead to suffering. And the most interesting part is Buddhism is accessible to everyone who really wants it and thus is very democratic in nature.