The source of Buddhist teachings is. Buddhism: basic ideas and dogmas

Buddhism is a religion that arose incredibly long ago. It is considered one of the oldest in the world. The origin of the religion occurred in the middle of the first millennium BC in India and immediately attracted numerous followers. Buddhism (books talk about the basic principles of the Buddha’s teachings, consider the role of man in the world and give much more useful information) is preached by a huge number of people. Today there is such a thing as Zen Buddhism. In a broad concept, Zen is a school of mystical contemplation, and the teaching is based on Buddhist mysticism. Another area of religion is Tibetan Buddhism, which is meditative techniques and practices combining the traditions of the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools. The truths of Tibetan Buddhism are focused on the transmission of Teachings based on rebirths famous people who practiced faith. If we consider Buddhism briefly (we can talk endlessly about religion and the process of its formation and development), then the religion appeared as a confrontation with the foundations ancient india, which was experiencing a serious cultural and economic crisis at that time. The asceticism of Buddhism became a counterpoint to class changes. The history of Buddhism begins with its founder - Buddha Shakyamuni (in worldly life - Siddharth Gautama). Buddhism - Wikipedia examines in detail the history of the formation of the religion - and today has a huge number of followers. Establish a connection with God!

Buddhism Center - where you can learn the basics of Buddhism

According to many, the center of Buddhism is located in India. After all, India (Buddhism as a religion appeared here) is traditionally considered the birthplace of the religion. If we talk about where the center of Buddhism is located in the country, then this is:
Bihar;
Kapilavast;
Royal Palace;
Sarnath.

The center of Buddhism in Tibet is located in the country's capital, Lhasa. This is the main place where all pilgrims strive to go in order to comprehend the truths of Buddhism.

The center of Buddhism in Thailand is, of course, Bangkok. This is where people flock to learn the truths of Buddhism. You can understand the basics of Buddhism without leaving the country. In Russia, there are many holy places for those who accepted the teachings of Buddha on the territory of Buryatia. The center of Buddhism can be found in St. Petersburg, on the shores of Lake Baikal and, of course, in Altai. It is here that Russians prefer to comprehend the truths of Buddhism

Philosophy of Buddhism

Buddhism is the main religion of many Asian countries. When choosing the path of Buddhism, it is worth knowing that it does not belong to a religion whose central figure is considered to be God, who created surrounding a person world. The philosophy of Buddhism supports an idea different from other beliefs - there is no eternal soul, which subsequently atones for all sins committed during life. But no matter what a person does, everything comes back (the philosophy of Buddhism interprets the path of life this way). This will not be God's punishment, but the consequence of thoughts and actions that left an imprint on his personal karma. This is the essence of Buddhism, at least an important part of it.

The foundations of Buddhism, formed by the Buddha, are expressed in four postulates.

If we talk about Buddhism, then within the framework of the teaching, human life is suffering. Everything around us has no permanence, and everything that has arisen is subject to destruction. Fire becomes a symbol of existence, but it only carries suffering. These are the truths of Buddhism, calling to understand life differently.
The cause of suffering is desire. Attachment to the material world and its benefits makes one desire life. And what stronger desire live, the greater the suffering will be experienced.
There is only one way to save yourself from suffering - by giving up desires. And this is possible only upon achieving nirvana - a state that frees a person from desires and passions. This is the philosophy of Buddhism.
To achieve nirvana, one must follow the eightfold path of salvation.

The fundamentals of Buddhism in the form of the rules of the Eightfold Path of Salvation look very specific:
correct understanding of the world - you need to realize that the world around a person consists of sorrow and suffering;
correctness of intentions - you need to limit your own aspirations and desires;
right conversations - words should bring only good;
correctness of actions - you need to bring only good to people;
correct image life - you need to live in such a way as not to harm living beings (this is the only way to save yourself from suffering, the teachings of Buddhism say);
the correctness of the efforts made - a person’s inner infusion should be focused on good deeds;
correctness of thoughts - the cause of all evil is the call of the flesh, and by getting rid of carnal desires, you can get rid of suffering (these are the teachings of Buddhism);
Constant Focus – The foundation of the Eightfold Path is constant training and focus.

In these rules in to the fullest expresses the fundamentals of Buddhism. Completing the first two steps helps a person achieve wisdom. The following three help regulate morality and behavior. The remaining steps along the Eightfold Path of Salvation discipline the mind.

The essence of Buddhism

What is the essence of Buddhism? The main position of religion, and therefore the teachings of Buddhism, is the equivalence of being and compassion. The religion does not reject the assertion of Brahmanism about the transmigration of souls, but there are still some changes that reflect the essence of Buddhism. Buddhists consider reincarnation and all types of existence to be an inevitable evil and misfortune. The goal of a Buddhist is to end the chain of rebirth and achieve the state of nirvana, i.e. absolute nothingness. It is this desire that is the essence of Buddhism.
Today Buddhism is the main teaching of South and Southeast Asia. It is also found in America and Europe, where Buddhism is the main religion for a relatively limited number of people.
Main schools of Buddhism

The first followers who practiced the teachings of the Buddha during his lifetime renounced any property. Students were recognized by appearance- these were shaven-headed people dressed in yellow clothes who did not have a specific place of residence. And this was the path of Buddhism during the formation of the religion. After the death of the Buddha, the teaching was canonized. As the teachings existed, the schools of Buddhism known today developed.

There are three main schools of Buddhism, which were formed during different periods of the religion’s existence.
Hinayana. This school of Buddhism is characterized by an idealization of the monastic lifestyle. Only by renouncing the worldly can a person achieve nirvana (free himself from the chain of reincarnations). Everything that happens to a person in his life is the result of his thoughts and actions. This is the path of Buddhism according to Hinayana long years was the only one.
Mahayana. The teachings of this school of Buddhism teach that, just like a monk, a pious layman can also achieve Nirvana. It was in this school that the teaching of bodhisattvas appeared, helping people find the path to salvation. In this school, a renewed path of Buddhism is being formed. The concept of heaven arises, saints appear, images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appear.
Vajrayana. The teachings of this school of Buddhism are Tantric teachings, based on the principles of self-control and meditative practices.

The ideas of Buddhism are numerous and one can talk about Buddhism endlessly. But the main thing is to accept that human life is suffering. And the main goal of a follower of teachings that support the ideas of Buddhism is to get rid of it (here we do not mean suicide, as the completion life path, and the achievement of nirvana - a state after which a person’s rebirth and return to life is impossible - like the path of Buddhism).

What is the difference between Buddhism and other beliefs?

When talking about Buddhism, it is worth noting that, unlike monotheistic religious movements, it does not:
one God the creator;
ideas about the creation of the world (the Universe has always existed);
the ever-living soul;
the possibility of atonement for sins committed during life;
unconditional faith in something;
devotion elevated to the rank of absoluteness;
religious organizations (the Buddhist sangha is always a community!);
the concept of heresy, since there is no single canon of text, as well as indisputable dogmas;
the only Universe, since the worlds in Buddhism are infinite and numerous.

The main difference between Buddhism and Christianity (and other faiths) is the absence of a mandatory renunciation of other religions. The only requirement is not to violate the foundation of Buddhism and its truths.

Buddhism - countries professing a religious direction are numerous - one of the oldest world religions. India - Buddhism, as a teaching, appeared here - today professes Hinduism.

Hinduism and Buddhism - differences in faith

But one should not assume that Hinduism and Buddhism are interchangeable. This is a deeply erroneous opinion. There are many significant differences in the teachings and the main ones can be called the following:
The highest goal of Hinduism is to break the chain of successive reincarnations and connect with the Absolute. Buddhists strive to achieve Nirvana (the state of supreme grace). This is the difference between Hinduism and Buddhism.
The next difference between Hinduism and Buddhism is their prevalence around the world. Hinduism is a religious movement practiced only in India. Buddhism is a religion beyond nationalities.
Casteism is typical of Hinduism, while Buddhism implements the concept of universal equality. And this is another direction that separates Hinduism and Buddhism.

Buddhism symbols

Humanity views Buddhism as one of the world religions. But, if you study belief in more detail, then it is more of a philosophy. That is why the gods of Buddhism and the symbols of Buddhism cannot be perceived as objects of cult worship. Because the symbols of Buddhism do not express faith in something divine, but a person’s worldview.

The symbols of Buddhism are numerous, but the main symbolism is considered to be the image of Buddha Shakyamuni, who gave rise to this religious movement. And although such veneration is somewhat reminiscent of worship God's image, Buddha - a real man who sought and received enlightenment. The teachings of Buddhism use the image of Buddha as a symbol and living proof human capabilities: every follower of the teaching can achieve enlightenment and this will not be a gift from the gods, but his own achievement.

The next, no less important Buddhist symbolism is the Jammachakra (Wheel of Law). Visually, this is a wheel with eight spokes. Its center is a point of awareness that studies the rays of truth.

It is worth noting that the symbols of Buddhism can be quite complex. Bhavacakra (Wheel of Life) is one of the most complex Buddhist symbols. On the surface of the wheel there are images of all the worlds that Buddhist mythology recognizes, as well as the states of man that accompany his path to achieving nirvana. The wheel clearly illustrates the teachings of Buddhism.

An important symbol of teaching becomes Orange color: It is this color that the rays emanating from a person are painted in when he reaches nirvana.

It is worth knowing that the considered symbols of Buddhism exist contrary to the precepts of the Buddha. Initially, there were no sacred images. But any religion needs visual expression, because that is human nature.

Gods of Buddhism

Buddhism is one of those few religious beliefs in which there are no gods in the usual Christian sense: here God is not considered as a supreme being who controls human life. The gods of Buddhism (devas) are the same people, but living in a different, more beautiful dimension. Another point in which the gods of Buddhism differ from humans is the presence of supernatural abilities and unlimited power, which allows the deities to fulfill any whim. But just like a common person, a deva is obliged to follow the path of enlightenment, overcoming all obstacles.

There is no creator of the universe, as such, in the Buddhist religion. It is believed that the Universe is infinite. But the “expansion” of the existing world and the creation of new dimensions (worlds in Buddhism, according to teaching, are numerous), are carried out by special beings - bodhisattvas. These are not the gods of Buddhism, if we consider them within the framework of a religious understanding, but at the same time they are at the very top of the hierarchical divine ladder. This is explained by the fact that having achieved nirvana, bodhisattvas abandoned it, sacrificing their enlightenment to the well-being of other beings. And following the path of Buddhism can help everyone - man or god - to become a Bodhisattva.

Rites of Buddhism

The rituals of Buddhism are numerous. Below are just a few of the main ones.
The rituals of Buddhism are very non-standard. For example, taking refuge is one of the main Buddhist rituals. It is believed that it is after its completion that a person sets off on the path of searching for truth. In addition, the ritual is seen as the acceptance of the basic values of the teaching: recognition of the Buddha as a Teacher, one’s own transformation and unity with other people.
Vesak holiday. Buddhists bring gifts. Day and night passes in meditative practices
The rituals of Buddhism include Buddhist New Year. On New Year's Eve, Buddhists empty the house of all unnecessary things by undergoing a cleansing ritual - Gutor. The holiday is spent in prayers that continue until the morning. After completion - six o'clock in the morning - the parishioners are congratulated and everyone goes home. Special attention Buddhist rituals focus on the death and burial of a person.

Buddhism: where to start your path?

Buddhism for beginners should be considered as an understanding of the basics of the religion and the basic beliefs of its followers. And if you are ready to completely reconsider your life, then you can join the Buddhist community.

The most important concept for Buddhists is dharma — it represents the teachings of the Buddha, the highest truth that he revealed to all beings. "Dharma" literally means "support", "that which supports." The word "dharma" in Buddhism means moral virtue, primarily the moral and spiritual qualities of the Buddha, which believers should imitate.

Buddhism basically contains many ideas and teachings of Hinduism, the main one of which is doctrine of samsara- a constant chain of rebirths determined by laws karma. The main goal of the thoughts of the Buddha himself, and then the meaning of life for all Buddhists — getting rid of the cycle of samsara and achieving nirvana (in Hinduism, the analogue of the word “nirvana” is the word “moksha”) - a state in which there are no rebirths. Of course, in the depths of Buddhism there existed and still exists today many different movements, schools, sects that differently interpret the meaning and purpose of human life and talk about different means achieving this goal, but still the concept of nirvana is the central concept of the Buddhist religious-mythological system.

According to the theory of Buddhism, about nivvana nothing definite can be said except that this is a state of freedom, peace and bliss (although these words are inadequate to describe nirvana.) In modern Buddhism it is believed that nirvana can be achieved during life, but it is fully achieved only after death. physical death of the body and liberation of the soul. Nirvana — this is not death, but life, but only in a different quality, the life of a perfect, free spirit.

The largest collection of Buddhist texts recognized as canonical (correct, true) is the Tripitaka (in the Pali language - “three baskets”). According to legend, these records were originally made on palm leaves, which were placed in three baskets.

The Tripitaka includes more than 15 thousand narratives, stories, legends, sermons, teachings, aphorisms and commentaries on them. For about 500 years, all this was transmitted orally. It took even outstanding monks about 25 years to memorize such a large amount of text. To maintain the accuracy of what was transmitted, the monks periodically gathered in special councils, where there was a system of re-checking what was memorized through cross-expressions. In the 19th century The canonical text was carved on 729 stone slabs and a pagoda (temple-chapel) was erected above each slab.

The Tripitaka consists of three parts.

- Vinaya-Pitaka(“basket of regulations”) is a book of regulations for monks, which lists offenses, punishments for them, describes ceremonies, daily routine in the community, customs (bathing, dressing, using household items, life during the rainy season etc.).

- Sutra Pitaka(“basket of conversations and teachings”) consists of five parts. The sutra includes the sermons of Gautama Buddha as presented by his beloved disciple Ananda (therefore, each sermon begins with the words: “So, I once heard ...”). The most interesting part of the Sutra is Dhammapada, representing a popular exposition of the entire Buddhist teaching. The Dhammapada is a reference book for every Buddhist. Another book from the Sutra is very interesting to read - Jataka. This is a collection of legends and fairy tales collected throughout Asia. They tell of the many incarnations of the Buddha even before his birth in the person of Siddhartha Gautama. The word “jataka” is related to the Russian word “life”.

- Abhidharma Pitaka(“basket of pure knowledge”) contains philosophical treatises of Buddhism, generalizing and systematizing all teachings.

Hello, dear readers – seekers of knowledge and truth!

As you know, knowledge of any subject begins with studying its basics. Therefore, we invite you today to talk briefly about the main ideas of Buddhism: learn the most important things about this storehouse of wisdom, go back two and a half thousand years ago, get acquainted with Buddha Shakyamuni and study the main provisions of his philosophical heritage.

This article will also tell you about the fundamental truths, commandments, sacred scriptures and outline the boundaries between different schools Buddhism.

A little history

The concept of “Buddhism” was introduced not by adherents of this movement, but by European figures about two centuries ago.

Today Buddhism is known on all continents. He is especially revered in Asian countries, Far East. But Buddhists, who number almost half a billion people, also live in Western countries.

There are Buddhist communities in many large European cities. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Russia - this is not the entire list of countries where the legacy of Shakyamuni is revered.

Key Ideas

It is important to understand that Buddhism is not a religion in the usual sense, it is rather a philosophy, a tradition, a system of views on life, the main goal of which is to achieve enlightenment.

There is no God here whose origin is transcendental and whose worship is resigned. Buddha is not God, he is a man who managed to achieve nirvana, and he tells his disciples his path.

The emphasis is on the fact that a person himself must have the desire to change, understand the nature of this world, clear the mind of vain thoughts, indulge in deep reflection, achieve harmonious relations with the world around us, get rid of passions, desires and be saved. This is called nirvana - complete liberation from suffering.

Nirvana can be achieved by observing strict ethical rules, constant meditation, reciting mantras, a modest, ascetic behavior, and also with the support of various bodhisattvas and buddhas - beings who have already achieved Enlightenment.

Nirvana ends the rotation of the wheel of samsara - a series of rebirths. Buddhists do not doubt the idea of reincarnation, but in every life people are born, get sick, die, which in itself is suffering. By leaving, you can get rid of it forever.

Important concept Buddhist tradition, known to many - . Any of our actions, feelings and even thoughts are reflected in the future. They, good or destructive, will leave a karmic imprint and will inevitably lead to consequences.

The laws of cause and effect are inextricably linked with this view. Shakyamuni taught that everything has conditions of occurrence and entails certain consequences.

Buddha said: " Good reason forms good result. Bad reason- bad result. My reason is my result.”

Philosophy defines the core values:

Buddha is a great Teacher, and everyone who has reached the truth along his path is called a Buddha;
– doctrine, its provisions, concepts;
Sangha is a Buddhist community that teaches correct adherence to rules and immutable principles.

On the path to liberation, you need to learn to confront difficulties and brush aside the so-called “three poisons”:

ignorance, departure from the truth;
indulgence of passions and bodily desires;
angry, uncontrollable behavior.

The Buddhist tradition adheres to the main ideas:

four noble truths;
five commandments;
middle way;

Truths

Shakyamuni told his disciples four noble truths:

there is a lot of suffering in the world - dukhi;
they have a reason behind them - desires;
there is a way to get rid of suffering;
this path leads to nirvana.

Commandments

do not harm living beings, do not kill them;
don't steal;
dont lie;
do not commit adultery;
do not use intoxicants.

Middle way

Buddha bequeathed to his descendants to adhere to the “middle path.” This means that one should not rush to extremes from a life entirely consisting of pleasures to complete asceticism, which can cause harm to a person. We need to find a middle ground that will contribute to spiritual and physical development.

Eightfold Path

You need to go through eight stages on the road to self-improvement, the main reward of which will be the highest stage - nirvana. All steps are important, they interact, so it is important to point in the right direction:

understanding, vision of the world;
thoughts, intentions;
words;
actions;
Lifestyle;
efforts, efforts;
attention, mental and sensory control;
concentration, which is achieved through meditation.

Holy books

The main book, like the Bible for Christians, like the Koran for Muslims, for Buddhists is the Tripitaka. It is a collection of scriptures compiled into three different volumes. Hence the name, which translates as “three baskets”.

Vinaya-Pitaka. Describes the rules of behavior of monks within the community, about five hundred rituals performed, gives examples from the life of the Awakened One and interesting parables about some traditions.
Sutra Pitaka. It contains over ten thousand famous sayings of the Teacher and reveals the details of his life.
Abhidharma Pitaka. A section on the theory of philosophy, which systematizes concepts, knowledge, and fundamental principles of Dharma.

Schools

Buddhist view centuries-old history spread far beyond the borders of the homeland, carrying with it thousands of adherents. It transformed, changed, flowed from one form to another. The basis of Buddhism remains intact, but still some views on the world order may differ from one direction to another.

In one of them, for example, the person of the Buddha is worshiped and deified by bodhisattvas, while in another there may be no recognition of any authority except one's own heart. According to one school, only monks who have accepted asceticism can become a Buddhist, while another accepts into its ranks everyone who sincerely believes.

There can be a lot of such examples, so it is customary to separate the main currents, which, in turn, are divided into smaller directions.

Theravada

The most ancient school, which appeared shortly after Shakyamuni's parinirvana. It is considered the most strict and conservative. According to Theravadins, only a monk can achieve nirvana.

There are no special rituals, a pantheon of saints, or images in the form of sculptures. At the heart of everything are the actions, thoughts and correct behavior of a person.

Mahayana

A school that gives hope even to the laity to break out of the circle of rebirth, which means suffering, and achieve Awakening. It is also known as the "Great Chariot".

This direction presents images of saints - boddhisattvas, buddhas, so that they help believers in such a difficult matter.

Vajrayana

Familiar to many also as the “Diamond Chariot”, it places tantra at the center of dharma - the art of self-development, healing through various practices, meditation, self-control, self-awareness.

In our time, the geography of Buddhism is incredibly wide; there are several classifications of its movements, and in their listing many call average figure eighteen. Among them are Tibetan schools, for example, Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, as well as Japanese Shingon, Zen , neo-Buddhism and many other branches.

Conclusion

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! The Buddhist world is amazing, we are just beginning to discover it. Share this article on in social networks, and we will search for the truth together.

It is impossible in a short article to describe everything that I want to say about Buddhism and describe all types of schools and philosophical movements. But let's try, based on the most important of them, to understand what Buddhism is and how this orthodox spiritual teaching influences the spiritualization of society, how its awareness and responsibility develops.

To do this, we must talk a little not only about religion itself, but also about how humanity has gone through several thousand years of its existence with it. We will try to be objective when assessing this doctrine.

Buddhism− is a religious and philosophical doctrine, world religion, which refers to the personality of the Buddha as an enlightened person, mentions his revolutionary approach to the relationship between man and God, in comparison with the then existing religious orders. The founder of this ancient religious denomination, which arose in the 6th century. BC. (in Northern India) is Shakyamuni Buddha.

It is very difficult to determine the exact number of Buddhists; there are approximately 500 million of them around the world, most of who lives in China.

Buddhism focuses on human aspects− the main provisions of this religion. It, especially in its most modern directions, says that we ourselves are responsible for our own destiny, not only in this life, but, no less important, in the next incarnations of the immortal soul.

Four classical principles

The assumptions of original Buddhism are extremely simple and are based on four classical principles:

1. Life is suffering;

2. This truth explains why suffering exists - we suffer because we want it;

3. This principle of Buddhism talks about observing ourselves in order to get out of the power of suffering, while we must completely renounce our desires;

4. This rule is a series of instructions on how to achieve this state (in many points coinciding with the Christian Ten Commandments).

These are the foundations of Buddhism, which over the centuries have been fully transformed into the state religion, and have also become an integral attribute of the secular and cultural life of the entire Eastern community.

Basic Concepts of Buddhism

Three main concepts:

1. Dharma - there is truth and wisdom, the very core of the science of the transcendental Buddha.

It gives an understanding of what is happening to us and what should happen. As a result of our understanding of this truth, we must do something about ourselves. Our inner duty is to free ourselves from suffering. Everyone must come to their true selves by completely liberating their spiritual beginning from all kinds of layers created by our ego.

2. Karma − is a cause-and-effect relationship of events that determine our current and future living conditions. It is who we are and arises from who we were and what we did in previous incarnations. Each new incarnation is a chance to improve your destiny.

3. Nirvana - the last great concept of Buddhism and is the best “reward” for our good deeds towards ourselves and other people, the world around us, and existence as a whole. It is a consequence of the interruption of rotation, alternating birth and death until final liberation from the sufferings and desires of this world.

Types of Buddhism

I do not pretend to be an exhaustive completeness of the story; I show only the main types of Buddhism and the enormous cultural life that hides behind one of the most numerous religions in the world.

Theravada Hinayana. This type of Buddhism has survived in South Asia and includes South India, Ceylon, Indochina. This is the most old uniform Buddhist teachings. Very old texts of the Buddhist canon have been preserved, which contains a rich collection of commandments and parables. This is the most primitive form of the Buddhist religion and is not widespread.

Chinese Buddhism.Grown in India, he rushed to China, which became an ideal “relay station” for the entire East, and then to the West. As a result of such complex metamorphoses and transformations, the Chan school was created in China, which is the basis of Zen Buddhism, which spread to Japan and Korea. The school was founded by Bodhidharma Buddha, who arrived in China in the fifth century BC. Over time, it became the most important original form of Chinese Buddhism, which received a prominent place among other schools of thought and belief in China - Confucianism and Taoism.

Tibetan Buddhism. It is the most colorful, most picturesque Buddhist destination in the world. It consists of two elements. First, the structure of the religion itself is Lamaism, another name for Buddhism currently practiced in Tibet. It became a major local belief - a religion full of ghosts, magic and gods. The second characteristic of Lamaism that differs greatly from other schools of Buddhism is the unusually strong position of the priests (lamas). Before the Chinese invasion, Tibet was the most theocratic state in the world - a third of the population were monks.

Japanese. This type of Buddhism is divided into several sects, of which I will consider the most important in chronological order. They originate from two main traditions - Rinzai and Soto.

Shin Buddhism comes from the name Amida Buddha, who reigns in the "pure land" paradise. In order to go to heaven, a Buddhist must recite the name of Amida Buddha. This concept has been widely known throughout the history of Buddhism in India and China, but it was only in Japan that the monk Honen (1133-1212) declared that the inspired recitation of the Buddha's name was sufficient. You do not need good thoughts, deeds or meditation, you simply repeat the formula of Namu Amida Butsu (hence the other name for this sect - nembutsu) and this can achieve salvation.

The monk Sinran, who lived 1173-1262 and was a disciple of Honen, after some time came with his own original thesis that the very existence of every person's life is not given by the Buddha and it is no longer necessary to call his name in order to be saved and come to eternal bliss and harmony.

Nichiren is perhaps the most controversial version of the Buddha's teachings. The sect was founded by Nichiren, who lived from 1222 to 1282 and was a great religious reformer. The origin of this tradition was facilitated by historical events At that time, Japan was plagued by military conflicts and natural disasters.

He used this fact to argue that in order to achieve peace and tranquility, one religion needed to be created in Japan - Buddhism in a form that would help achieve enlightenment. Thus, a fanatical, ultra-nationalist religious movement is created, a kind of “Japanese national Buddhism”.

What is Zen Buddhism? It is the most developed form. Rejects any external religious attributes - hierarchies and rituals, as well as any intellectual aids, promoting enlightenment (sermons and sacred books of Wisdom). Enlightenment comes here and now, and only through contemplation does liberation from egoism occur. This state is achieved through zazen or sitting in the lotus flower position, enjoying the breath - these are the conditions necessary to accept the compassionate nature of the Buddha.

Rinzai Zen Rinzai is the most important Japanese Zen movement, also founded by a monk who was not very satisfied with Japanese Buddhism and decided to travel to China (where Buddhism came to Japan) to learn the true understanding of this religion. Thanks to him, the fundamental principles of Buddhism (Chinese Chan) were spread to Japanese islands, called in the new dialect Zen. This is the beginning of one of the two main Zen traditions;

Soto Zen.Soto is a Japanese school that was founded by a monk named Dogen, who was a student of Reverend Rinzai and took many elements of thinking from him. However, like the master, he went alone to China to the local sources to gain knowledge about the true dimension of Buddhism. This is how another type of Japanese Zen appeared, which is still popular and is practiced by many fans.

Korean Buddhism. In Korea, this type of teaching has centuries-old traditions. However, one hundred or two hundred years ago, this teaching seemed to have lost its meaning. This was before the mid-twentieth century. But in the wake of growing interest in Zen Buddhism in the West, Korean Buddhism is also experiencing a renaissance. The best example is the school of Zen-Kwame Um.

Perhaps the species presented here and their brief descriptions were useful for those interested in this ancient religious denomination. I am deeply convinced that the idea of being a Buddhist is one of the most valuable human desires, which in some strange way is close to every person.

Every person should know Interesting Facts about Buddhism– a religion that is different from others. Every year the teachings of the Buddha attract more more people from all over the world. What makes a person so interested in Buddhism? Religion, based on human reflection, helps to find and know oneself.

Buddhism is a religion that is different from others. Buddhists do not believe in gods. They believe in goodness and that life after death exists. To have better life in the next life, you need to live correctly. This affects the structure of karma. Bad life generates bad karma in the next life.
In Hindi, the word "Buddhism" is derived from the word "budhi".. It means wisdom. In turn, Buddha is a “Sage”. This figure is described as the wisest person who was able to know the desires of the human soul.
Buddhist monks under no circumstances prepare their own food.. They must beg for it as alms. This is necessary in order to disseminate as much information as possible about popular religious teachings.
Buddhism says that every person's life is filled with various events.. We all overcome various challenges sooner or later. Man himself is to blame for this suffering. It depends only on ourselves whether the soul will rise above the body or not. Therefore, it is important to achieve harmony. After all, only the soul is eternal and all your sins can be redeemed.
Religious teaching contributes to the development of martial arts. Followers of the religion around the world spread the glory of hand-to-hand combat. This body control technique is popular all over the world.
Buddhists do not have a specific time to go to temple.. A person visits it only when he can.
Female nuns are allowed to hold the position of nuns, but their rights are limited.
Nuns are prohibited from criticizing monks and challenging their words, but monks are allowed to do so.
Mahatma Budh, which means “Great Soul” in Hindi, is considered the founder of the religious doctrine of Buddhism. This is not God, this is a real person who was very scared when he encountered an old man, a sick man and a corpse. Having run away from his house, he began to talk about human life.
Mahatma Budha's original name was Siddhartha. He was once a real prince. One fine day he left his house. He stopped under a tree and wondered why there was so much pain and suffering in the world. Siddhartha tried to understand whether it was possible to save a person from pain and sadness. Soon he was able to find answers to his questions. Self-knowledge gave birth to religion.
If you visit the Buddha Temple you will notice huge prayer wheels. Sometimes people carry them in their hands. There are religious messages written on these wheels that speak about the need to turn these wheels. They depict the cycle of life of every person in Buddhist culture - life-death-life.
If you look at Buddha, you get the impression that he was fat, but he was not.. He was a moderate eater and watched his lifestyle. This freed him from his predisposition to obesity.
Mahayana Buddhists living in Japan, China and Tibet do not spread the original teachings of the Buddha. They claim and believe that he went to open space to talk to the angels and revealed his teachings to them. The angels conveyed all the teachings to the monks, and they, in turn, wrote everything down and told ordinary people.
You can often see Buddha in the form of an elephant, deer or monkey. Legend has it that he loved to tell his students about past lives. Fantastic tales are reminiscent of fairy tales in which animals can talk and perform mystical feats. Such books are easy and pleasant to read.
Some percentage of the religious doctrine of Buddhism belongs to Hinduism. This is the most popular religious doctrine in India.