What Do Buddhists Believe?
Buddhism is a living faith consisting of approximately 600 million devotees worldwide. It is the dominant belief of Hawaii. It is also a missionary faith with more Buddhist missionaries in California than missionaries in Japan. Along with Hinduism, Buddhism has been actively growing on the college campuses of the West.
Buddhism is the result of atheistic aspects of Hinduism that were dominant in the 6th century BC. Buddhists are those who follow the Buddha, or “Enlightened One.” Siddhartha Gautama was born about 563 BC in Kapilavastu (northern India near modern Nepal). After the “Four Passing Sights” (sick man, old man, corpse, and recluse) and the “Great Going Forth” around 534 BC, Gautama became the “Buddha” (literally, “Enlightened One”) around 527 BC.1 He died about 483 BC of food poisoning.
Buddhism is divided into three main schools. The Mahayana school is the “Greater Vehicle” and is found in China, Korea, and Japan. The Therevada school is the “Doctrine of the Elders” and is found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia (Kampuchea), and Vietnam. Zen Buddhism is popular in the West and is a sect of the Mahayana school. The Vajrayana school is called “Tantrism” or “Lamaism” and is primarily located in Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia. The Therevada school is the most rigorous of the various schools as it is closest to the original doctrines and does not regard the Buddha as deity. This school regards the Buddhist faith as a worldview, that is, not a type of worship. On the other hand, the Mahayana school has acclimatized many different beliefs and therefore worships the Buddha as a god. The Vajrayana school has adopted many fundamentals of shamanism and the occult which would include taboo breaking (deliberate immorality) to be a path leading to spiritual enlightenment.2
The Scripture of Buddhism
Buddhism does not embrace one particular scripture. Buddhist writings are many. However, there is a basic set of Buddhist writings that are recognized as being authoritative.
The Tipitaka (or Three Baskets) is the scripture of the Theravadin or Hinayana Buddhism. The Tripitaka is the more common Sanskrit title of the Tipitaka. It refers to the form as it appears in Theravadin Buddhism.
The Vinaya Pitaka is the basket or collection of disciple. It contains rules of Buddha and his disciples. The Sutta Pitaka is the basket of discourses. It contains dialogues between Buddha and his disciples. The Abhidhamma Pitika is the basket or collection of metaphysical writings.
The Teaching of Buddhism
The Buddhist religion does not believe in an absolute god. Buddha denied belief in a god who would exercise influence over his life. However, he did believe in deities that lived in the heavens. The Buddhist teaching in regards to God means that man is not accountable to any benevolent being. God is not important to achieve salvation.
Although there is no god that one is accountable, there is a moral code (sila). The Buddhist is not to murder, either human or non-human. There is to be no stealing or lying. Monks are to celibate, whereas others are not to engage in sexual immorality. Buddhists are not allowed to use intoxicants.
The goal of Buddhism is to reach self-perfection. At that point, the self will cease to exist. The essential elements of the Buddhist religion can be summarized in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
The Four Noble Truths affirm that (1) life is filled with suffering which is inevitable (dukkha); (2) suffering is caused by desire to exist, in part, as an independent self (samudaya); (3) suffering will cease only when self-desire is overcome (nirodha); and (4) desire can only be overcome by following the Eightfold Path.3 Dukkha is the idea that Buddhists must acknowledge suffering in order to be free from its inevitability in life. To acknowledge the source of suffering, which is desire, is the Second Noble Truth. The concept of nirodha affirms that escape from suffering is possible. The Eightfold Path is the answer to be liberated.
The Eightfold Path attempts to eliminate desire and hence suffering as a result. It consists of right understanding (knowledge of the Four Noble Truths), right thought (renunciation of bad actions and ideas), right speech (no harsh or frivolous words), right actions (a life of self-control), right livelihood (an honest living), right effort (not taking an easy way in life), right mindfulness (awareness of actions and thoughts), and right concentration (training the mind). The Eightfold Path is taken not only for personal reasons, but also for the benefit of all living beings.
One cannot have mere intellectual knowledge of Buddhism for experience is critical. The Four Noble Truths must be practiced, especially mindfulness meditation. This technique can induce an altered state of consciousness, a state of mind wherein one is not thinking critically or is able to use sound judgment. The more one practices this technique, the more detachment the self has with the past and future. This technique is based on the idea that the “ego” self does not exist but is seen instead as the images on film in a camera. The real self is beyond conception and division; it is who living beings really are. This cultivation of mindfulness trains the mind to observe whatever arises from moment to moment without judging it, changing it, or holding to it. Eventually, one will reach a place of contentment.
Buddhists also believe that nothing in the current life is permanent (anicca). In other words, individual selves are really non-existent or “without soul” (anatta). Alexandria David-Neel, a Tibetan Buddhist, explains as follows:
The elements called illusion, desire, karma, and birth, which constitute the individual life, have no real existence in the absolute meaning of this word; they have none even in the restricted sense as regards the conditions of life in samsara [“wheel-turning”]. The rope which was taken for a snake is not in itself a snake, nor is it ever a snake, either in the darkness or in the light. What is it, then, that is called phenomenal reality (samsara)? Obsessed by the unreal demons of their “ego” and their “mind,” stupied people—those who are of the world—imagine that they can perceive separate entities, whereas in reality these do not exist….4
Samsara is the attachment to worldly things. The path of knowledge will reveal the true meaning of life. Nirvana can then be experienced to some degree in the present life by transcending time. The easiest way to do this is through chanting, such as, “om mane padme om” (“om, the jewel is in the lotus, om”). The syllable “om” is Sanskrit. The jewel is representative of eternity, or timelessness. The lotus represents the flower that both blossoms and will perish. Samsara is comparative of this time factor so that one can achieve a taste of nirvana. Buddha described it as follows:
There is a sphere which is neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air, which is not the sphere of the infinity of space, nor the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, the sphere of perception, or non-perception, which is neither this world, neither sun nor moon. I deny that it is coming or going, enduring, death, or birth. It is only the end of suffering.5
Everything in this life is the result of an impersonal law of moral causation (karma). Reincarnation is the belief in an unceasing cyclical process of continuous suffering. The Buddhists goal in this life is to break out of this cyclical process. This takes place by “blowing out” (nirvana) life itself, as one would extinguish the flame of a candle, in order to enter a permanent and transcendent state of pure non-existence of the individual self.6 Buddhists speak of being free from desire as “to be cool” and “to be at peace.”
Buddhism teaches that reincarnation as a human being, animal, god, or whatever is a non-permanent existence. Each existence will differ but none of the reincarnated states lasts forever. Sooner or latter, a rebirth will occur. One’s rebirth is determined by one’s past and present actions (karma). It is because of the law of karma that death and rebirth occurs endlessly in either one realm of existence or in another. Even though it is claimed that karma is a law, Buddhists do not teach that there is a Lawgiver. Buddhists do not believe that a Lawgiver is necessary since the law of karma occurs as an independent and external force without need of any type of intervention.
Due to the belief in karma, the life of a Buddhist is quite impersonal and cruel. It is because of karma that no plea can be made for mercy. The only means of liberation from bad karma is continuous effort toward self-perfection. It is only be acquiring good karma that Buddhists can be liberated from a life of inevitable suffering.
Buddhism teaches that no permanent rest in this cyclical process of death and rebirth can occur unless the Noble Eightfold path is followed. So long as the Eightfold Path is followed, one will eventually reach nirvana wherein the self is free from the cyclical process of reincarnation. Even though the self ceases to exist in nirvana, it is taught to be a permanent and transcendent state of supreme happiness.
It is taught that those who understand the law of karma and reincarnation will live with a superior perception of the world. For instance, understanding the Buddhist belief that every action has an effect in the present and future will help one strive toward the eradication of self. It is this knowledge that is alleged to help Buddhists face the difficulties of life with optimism. Understanding the law of karma is believed to help people achieve good in this life since good actions will result in a greater rebirth. Therefore, good karma is intentional and can be either through mental disciplines, ethical actions, and understanding). Only Buddhas and Arahants do not build up bad karma since they have overcome all of their desire.7
Although the law of karma does entail suffering upon an individual for previous acts in a former life, Buddhism does not teach that anyone is responsible for what appears to be evil in the world. Ultimate redemption from evil will only come as one escapes into nirvana. Therefore, salvation is not possible in the present world.
Conclusion
Buddhism is an outgrowth of Hinduism, but it is an emphasis upon asceticism, and mystic contemplation as a religious expression. Buddhism offered a way to escape the pain and sorrow of life in the outside world. By turning inward and relating to the dominant force in the universe, one was supposed to achieve a sense of peace and satisfaction. An ideal future was possible in a non-conscious existence, blended with the dominant world force. The individual becomes one with the supreme god in a pantheistic system, where God is all in all, and all is God.
According to Buddhism, suffering in life is inevitable as a result of self-desire. As a result, the Eightfold Path is critical to follow in order to be free from desire and alleviate suffering. Buddhists view ignorance rather the sin as the way of salvation.8 Therefore, the Eightfold Path must be followed in order to have right understanding.
It is common to hear that in witnessing to Buddhists, the Eightfold Path can be used to introduce Buddhists to the God of the Holy Bible. For instance, right understanding is that Jesus is the only way to God; He is the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). Furthermore, salvation can be found in no one or nothing else but Him (Acts 4:12). Right thought is the result of trying to serve God (1 Cor. 10:31), but thoughts that are unkind or selfish come sinful desires and wrong motives (Jas. 4:1-3). Right speech is according to the fact that God said every man is accountable for every word spoken (Mt. 12:36). Right actions are to obey Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:21) and to live by the wisdom of God in order to produce righteous actions unto Him (Jas. 3:17). Right livelihood is that God will provide for those who put Him first in everything (Mt. 6:31, 33). Right effort is to follow Christ and to persevere to overcome every hindrance to the contrary (Heb. 12:1, 2). Right mindfulness is that man is a sinner (Rom. 3:23) and cannot submit to God’s righteous law (Rom. 8:7). Those who are followers of Jesus must renew their minds to think in a Christlike manner (Phil. 2:5). Right concentration is to set ones’ heart and mind on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He will bring an end to sin and suffering (Col. 3:1-4). Caution must be exercised though in recognizing that the Eightfold Path is distinctively Buddhist. Each path is defined in light of Buddhist beliefs and teachings. The Christian contrast must be clear.
1 J. Isamu Yamamoto, Beyond Buddhism (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1982), pp. 18-22.
2 Richard A. Gard, ed., Buddhism (New York: George Braziller, 1962), pp. 27-38.
3 Yamamoto, Beyond, p. 25.
4 Alexandria David-Neel, Buddhism: Its Doctrine and Its Methods (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1977), p. 247.
5 Andrew Powell, Living Buddhism (New York: Harmony Books, 1989), p. 28.
6 Gard, Buddhism, pp. 121-124.
7 Ibid., p. 61.
8 Stephen Neill, Christian Faith and Other Faiths (Great Britain: Oxford University Press, 1970), p. 51.
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