Buddhism: practice, religious views and beliefs

Top 3 Most popular Buddhist Books

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Buddha; Siddharta Gautama - the founder of Buddhism

Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

The main types of Buddhism today

Buddha Panel I
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There are basically two main streams in Buddhism today. There is Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism.

Mahayana Buddhism has the Bodhisattva Vow as its main focus. Think Zen Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism.
More about Mahayana Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism has the teachings of the Buddha as kept alive by the Samga (Buddhist monks) and the texts in the Pali Canon as its basis.

More types of Buddhism

Buddhism from Tibet, China and Japan

Buddhism pictures

View of Boudha Stupa over the blue Hilton swimming pool, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu,Taragaon, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal by Wonderlane

Nectar intiation, monks, nun, laypeople, His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya on throne, katag under the tent, murals, students, Sakya Lamdre, Tharlam Monastery, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal by Wonderlane

Holding a vajra empowerment wearing 5 Dhyani Buddha Crowns, lay people, monk, nun, Sakya Lamdre, Highest Yoga Tantra, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal by Wonderlane

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Introduction into Buddhism

Buddhism practices, philosophy, views and religious beliefs

Central Buddhist Thought: Key points of Buddhist beliefs
The Six (or Seven) Paramitas: Translation and explanation on te Six (and seven) Paramitas: perfections or virtues.
Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism: Basics in Buddhism: practice and religious views and beliefs.
The Five Precepts - Pancha Sila - Pansil: The five precepts are the basis of Buddhist morality. To take Pancha Sila, that is, to vow to live according to the following rules of conduct, is a set of vows a lay-person may take on.
Even Balancing of Five Faculties: The Buddha, in his teaching of the Truths, stresses the even balancing of five faculties. They are those of faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and understanding.
Does the bridge of compassion require continual maintenance?: Questions and answers on compassion and fear: how compassion does not require maintenance...
Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation quotes, theory and gifts: Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh quotes on peace, a smile, suffering and happiness

What do Buddhists Believe?

A great introduction into the religious beliefs of Buddhists

What Do Buddhists Believe?: Meaning and Mindfulness in Buddhist Philosophy

by: Tony Morris

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 02/13/2012)

If you need an introduction into Buddhism - this is a great place to start. Get to know the beliefs of most Buddhists, the varieties of Buddhism (Christians don't all believe the same things either) etc.

Buddhism: where is it practiced?

Buddhist practices

In the West we are used to people being of only one religion at a time. This is changing, but it is still easy for people to give a clear answer to the question: 'are you a Christian?'. The answer to the question: 'are you a Buddhist?' is traditionally harder.

In Japan for instance it is quite normal for people to only start practicing Buddhism when they are old, or sick. Before that time the label 'Shinto' seems to fit better. In Japan, and to a lesser extent in other Asian countries, there is no sense that you have to be Buddhist OR Christian.

This means that it is especially hard to make a map of the world religions and where they are practiced. The following map is more of a 'this is where Buddhist practices and beliefs have had a historical impart or are now still alive' map. There is no claim that a majority of the people in these countries pray daily, for instance.

Adherents.com notes that the following countries have the largest Buddhist populations.

China - 102,000,000
Japan - 89,650,000
Thailand - 55,480,000
Vietnam - 49,690,000
Myanmar - 41,610,000
Sri Lanka - 12,540,000
South Korea - 10,920,000
Taiwan - 9,150,000
Cambodia - 9,130,000
India - 7,000,000

Note that any number given to China is speculation.

Spread of Buddhism, 1921

Karma and Rebirth

The most important Buddhist religious beliefs

The word reincarnation doesn't fit Buddhism very well - as it suggests that there is a soul that reincarnates. But since karma goes on, something is reborn nonetheless...
That's why Buddhists often prefer the term 'rebirth'.

Buddhist themes

Religious views in important topics

The spiritual path in Buddhism: All Buddhism aims to be a path that leads to enlightenment (Nirvana). Stressed are issues like insight and calmness of the mind.
Meditation and the Relativity of Thought in Buddhism: Articles on Buddhist meditation, and the limitations of thought-processes.
Buddhist philosophy: sunyata: Articles on Sunyata. The terms Sunyata (or Shunyata), void and emptiness are synonyms in Buddhist philosophy. They are ways of expressing the sense that all we see, feel and observe is relative, in fact non-essential and not self-sustaining.
Karma and buddhism - Buddha's World: Spiritual essays on Karma and reincarnation or rebirth with religious explanations on these concepts.
History of Buddha and Buddhism - Buddha's World: Historical material on Buddhism. Includes a time-line and extensive information on Ashoka. With essays and mythology on the life of Buddha, and his previous lives (jataka-tales)
Timeline of Buddhism: a Chronology: Chronology of central parts of Buddhist history.

The sacred syllable - AUM

Practices of buddhism

This mantra is used in Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism in general as well as Hinduism.

Buddhism books

Buddhism talked about online

More Buddhist religious views and beliefs

Political Turmoil Threatens Archaeological Treasures in Maldives: MALE, Maldives ? Nearly a week after vandals stormed into the National Museum here and destroyed almost 30 Buddhist statues ? some dating to the sixth century ? the broken glass has been swept away and the remnants have been locked up.
New Buddhist retreat opens in Blount County: Two American Buddhists' journey around the world recently landed them in East Tennessee, after they were charged by their teacher to open a retreat center in Blount County. They celebrated the effort with a bulb planting at the site Sunday afternoon.
Unconventional Lama reveals highest Buddhist teachings: Lama Ole Nydahl is a contemporary Buddhist teacher who at seventy-years-old enjoys skydiving, fast motorcycles and bungee jumping. Lama Ole Nydahl is a contemporary Buddhist teacher who at seventy-years-old enjoys skydiving, fast motorcycles and bungee ...
A Buddhist in the house: In the ?meet the actor? session after the play, one woman in the audience shared her delight that the lizard scene was ?sooooo Buddhist.? (You may recall the vignette in which a visitor from hell is plagued by a lizard on his shoulder that represents ...

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Buddhist teachers

Buddhist ritual

Practices of buddhism

Buddha with flowers
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In religious studies all kinds of things are ritual. Meditation for instance - is a ritual. Nothing wrong with ritual - it's just stuff people do repeatedly.

Buddhism is known in the west as a non-ritualistic religion, but that's really just the part of Buddhism that got transferred to the West. Buddhism as practiced in Asia does include a lot of ritual.

I'm not going to number all the Buddhist rituals out there, just the ones that really define a Buddhist.

Anyhow here are two of the main rituals Buddhists performed in all Buddhist countries:

To take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha

This ritual is what defines a Buddhist. To take refuge is often a ritual done more than once in a lifetime and in Theravada Buddhist countries a lot of other rituals start by taking refuge.

Buddha stands for Gautama Buddha.
Dharma means the Buddhist teachings (in this context)
Sangha can stand for the fellowship of all Buddhists - but the word Sangha is also often used to refer to the Buddhist monks (and nons, if there are any).

More on taking refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha

Taking the Five Precepts

In Buddhist countries there is a practice that distinguishes 'lay Buddhists' from ordinary Buddhists. It is also practiced on Buddhist holidays by serious Buddhists. This practice is the Taking of the Five Precepts.

The five precepts are:

Do not take life

Do not take what is not given

Do not distort facts

Refrain from misuse of the senses

Refrain from self-intoxication through alcohol or drugs

Most of these are reasonably clear, I think.
The part about not refraining from the misuse of the senses refers to unlawful sexual activities. For married people this just means they should keep it within the marriage. For monks and nuns this means refraining from sexual activity altogether.

More on pansil - or the five buddhist precepts

Taking the Bodhisattva Vow

This one is a bonus. There is no reason to think the Bodhisattva Vow goes back all the way to Gautama Buddha.

Still, in Mahayana Buddhism taking the Bodhisattva Vow is about as normal as taking the five precepts is in Theravada Buddhism. people vow to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

More on the Bodhisattva path

Other rituals

There are also rituals associated with monks and nuns. Buddhist ritual for lay people and monastics will vary a lot per country.

Buddhist ideals

Practices of buddhism

The Bodhisattva Vow is the expression of compassion within the Buddhist religious context (mainly Mahayana).

The Spiritual Retreat - a modern version of an ancient practice

Buddhism is in a process of transformation world wide. It used to be all about monks (and a few nuns). The monks were supported by lay Buddhists and the ideal life was that of the monk. In the 20th century many of the practices of monks have become part time practices for lay people as well.

Meditation is done in the home these days - but it's also taught in spiritual retreat centers.

Ashram is technically a Hindu word. The way they are run though is not unique to Hinduism. For instance Plum Village, the spiritual retreat centre of Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh has features that fit the label. Except it's Buddhist. Since ashrams can also be places for general spiritual practice, it's a fading line. See the link below for more on Ashrams and spiritual retreats.

More Buddhism

Add your favorite Buddhist links. (in English)

Buddhism: practice, religious views and beliefs

Introduction to Buddhism

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

Top 3 Most popular Buddhist Books

Best Buddhist Christmas Gift ideas

Buddha; Siddharta Gautama - the founder of Buddhism

Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

The main types of Buddhism today

More types of Buddhism

Buddhism from Tibet, China and Japan

Buddhism pictures

Introduction into Buddhism

Buddhism practices, philosophy, views and religious beliefs

What do Buddhists Believe?

A great introduction into the religious beliefs of Buddhists

Buddhism: where is it practiced?

Buddhist practices

Karma and Rebirth

The most important Buddhist religious beliefs

Buddhist themes

Religious views in important topics

The sacred syllable - AUM

Practices of buddhism

Buddhism books

Buddhism talked about online

More Buddhist religious views and beliefs

Buddhist teachers

Buddhist ritual

Practices of buddhism

Buddhist ideals

Practices of buddhism

The Spiritual Retreat - a modern version of an ancient practice

More Buddhism

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