Buddhism is a religion and philosophy Orientals, founded by Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha.
THE buddhist philosophy is guided by the teachings of the Buddha, and believes that the path to liberation lies in the awareness that can be achieved through spiritual practices and beliefs, such as meditation.
It is one of the largest religions in the world, with millions of practitioners around the world and not just in the East.
Buddhist religion in its classic form is not theist, that is, it does not have a God. Buddha did not believe himself to be a deity to be worshipped, but rather a spiritual guide with followers of his beliefs and practices.
Buddhists believe that physical and spiritual awareness leads to enlightenment and upliftment, called nirvana. It is the highest plane of consciousness, where the being is free from the pain of the physical world.
Buddhism also believes that all beings have incarnations and reincarnations. Therefore, the individual must be good to all beings, since in another life one can experience that form. This reincarnation cycle is called Samsara.
Buddhist doctrine is divided into two major branches: Theravada, the oldest Buddhist school, and Mahayana, which includes Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, among other lines.
The Three Gems, also known as the Three Treasures, Three Refuges or Triple Gem, are the foundation of Buddhist traditions and practices. Are they:
- the Buddha (The enlightened one);
- the Dharma (the supreme law or doctrine preached by Buddha) ;
- Sangha (the group formed by the disciples of Buddhism).
This base gives the necessary strength to accept what cannot be changed, finds the energy to act in what can be adjusted, and especially the awareness and discernment of a thing or other.
There are different strands of Buddhism. For example, Nichiren Buddhism or Nichiren Buddhism is based on the teachings of Nichiren, a Japanese monk who lived in the 13th century.
Kadampa Buddhism, another lineage of Buddhist thought, was a school created by the Indian Buddhist master Atisha.
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Know more about:
- Tibetan Buddhism;
- Buddha;
- Hamsa;
- Masonry;
- religious diversity;
- Shinto;
- Zen;
- Dharma;
- Mandala.
