Understanding the Teachings of Buddha

In the 6th century, India was the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous religious movements, Buddhism. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who had renounced his royal life to find answers to the problems of human suffering and death, and attained spiritual enlightenment through meditation, which came to be known as Buddha. It is wholly based on the life of Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment, and his teachings.

Gautama was the son of King Suddhodana, the Chief of the Sakya Clan of Kapilavastu, located in the foothills of Nepal. Although the privileges of his social caste surrounded him, Gautama had a spiritual inclination and tried to understand the true meaning of life. While travelling, he encountered an ageing man, an ill man, a dead body, and an ascetic one day. Seeing their pathetic conditions, Gautama was convinced that at the end of all existence. In the hope of comprehending the truth of the world around him, Gautama renounced his princely title and became a monk, depriving himself of worldly possessions. The culmination of his search came while meditating beneath the Bodhi tree, where he was finally enlightened. He realised how to be free from suffering and thereby achieve salvation. 

Teachings of Buddha

The doctrines or teachings of Buddha are aimed entirely at the liberation of humans from suffering and are collectively called Dharma or Dhamma. It reveals truths as taught by the Buddha and encourages people to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which will lead them towards achieving enlightenment. Buddha gave importance to the virtues: wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity, and compassion. The core of Buddhism is formed from Buddha’s teachings which are:

• The Three Universal Truths;
• The Four Noble Truths; and 
• The Eightfold Noble Path.

The Three Universal Truths

As Buddha preached, there are three universal truths: 

• Nothing is lost in the universe: In the universe, all things exist in a cycle. Matter turns into energy, which in turn changes back to matter. A plant grows from the soil. A dead leaf decomposes into soil. Human beings are born from human beings, which again reproduces humans. Thus, nothing is lost, and the universe returns whatever is taken.
• Everything Changes: Nothing is permanent in this world. Life is ever-changing, flowing on and on like a river. Life never ends; it evolves, just like humans evolved from their predecessors. Our ideal self keeps on changing.
• The Law of Cause and Effect: Buddha believed in karma based on the law of cause and effect. He thought that whatever a man sows, he reaps. The condition of man in this life and next depends on his deeds, and he has to bear the consequence of his actions. Neither sacrifices nor any prayers to God can change a man’s destiny. Good deeds produce good outcomes; evil deeds have bad results.

Four Noble Truths 

The Buddha preached the Four Noble Truths:

• The truth of suffering (dukkha): All human beings in life are suffering somehow or the other. At birth, we suffer, so do we suffer in elderliness, sickness, and death. To be separated from a loved one is suffering; failure and struggles lead to struggling. Suffering is inevitable in this life. 
• The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya): Buddha relates the cause of suffering to desires and attachment. The illusion of worldly passion and the craving for sensual pleasures lead to suffering.
• The truth of the end of suffering (nirhodha): It is possible to stop suffering and achieve enlightenment. For the suffering to cease, the desire that lies at the root of all worldly illusions must be removed for the mind to attain complete liberation and non-attachment.
• The truth of the path that frees us from suffering (magga): Buddha lays down the Noble Eightfold Path as the steps to achieve enlightenment. 

Eightfold Noble Path 

Buddha emphasised the development of wisdom, moral character, and concentration. After his enlightenment, Buddha set forth the Eightfold Noble Path to free one from suffering in his first sermon. They are:

• Right understanding/Samma ditthi: It refers to the true perception of the Four Noble Truths.
• Right thought/Samma sankappa: One should be able to differentiate between right and wrong intention. The clarity in thinking helps build good character.
• Right speech/Samma vaca: One should always speak kindly and consciously, respecting and trusting others.
• Right action/Samma kammanta: It involves abstaining from hurting others, criticising others, and being well-behaved. One’s actions should in no way hurt others or cause trouble.
• Right livelihood/Samma ajiva: Buddha advised not to earn one’s living by harming others or seek happiness by making others unhappy. One’s way of making a livelihood should not cause suffering for others.
• Right effort/Samma Vayama: It implies promoting good habits for oneself. Bad habits should be abandoned, and good ones should be adopted and enacted.
• Right mindfulness/Samma sati: It refers to one’s attention on self, body, attitude, and feelings. Self-awareness is required to eliminate hatred, craving, and ignorance.
• Right concentration/Samma samadhi: To attain a higher level of consciousness, true concentration is required to develop an understanding of imperfection and impermanence.

If an individual follows the Eightfold Noble Path, he may attain Nirvana, a state of all-knowing lucid awareness, free from desire and sorrow, an escape from the cycle of birth and rebirth, in which there is only peace and joy.

The Five Precepts

Buddha also laid down five recommendations to check one’s behaviour (5 teachings of the Buddha). These recommendations, collectively called the Pancha Shila, are:

• Abstain from taking life or any kind of violence. Ahimsa or non-violence should be the main principle of morality.
• Refrain from taking what is not given; do not steal.
• Restrict oneself from misuse of the senses, not indulge in sensual pleasures.
• Do not tell lies or use wrong speech about others.
• Avoid consuming any intoxicating drink and drugs, for it clouds the mind and restricts one from thinking clearly and seeing reality.

Conclusion

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion founded by Gautama Buddha, the Enlightened One. Buddha’s teachings, also known as Dharma or Dhamma, are aimed entirely at the liberation of humans from suffering. It reveals truths as taught by the Buddha and encourages people to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which will lead them towards achieving enlightenment. Buddha gave importance to virtues such as wisdom, kindness, generosity, patience, and compassion.

Buddha preached three universal truths: Nothing is lost in the universe; Everything Changes; and the Law of Cause and Effect. The Buddha taught about Four Noble Truths: The truth of suffering: everybody suffers; the truth of the cause of suffering: worldly desires; the truth of the end of suffering: removal of desires; and the truth of the path that frees us from suffering: Eightfold Path. Buddha emphasised the development of wisdom, moral character, and concentration. After his enlightenment, Buddha set forth the Eightfold Noble Path to free one from suffering in his first sermon. Buddha also laid down the Pancha Shila, actions to be avoided, to check one’s behaviour.