Fundamental Teaching of Buddhism

India is the land of diversity, and people here practice various religions and cultures. All religions attain certain customs and teachings that influence followers to practice preaching. Buddhism is the second-largest religion practised in India, and its teachings and guidance are followed in many regions of Asia and the world. Buddhism is all about practising self-control and exploring the best version of self with meditation and certain other principles. Considering who was the founder of Buddhism relates to many meaningful and inspiring stories of Gautama Buddha who is the founder of Buddhism.

Buddhism: Explanation

• Buddhism is not just a religion but a path to the betterment of life and inner self
• The founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama, presently referred to as Gautama Buddha
• The followers of Buddhism are known as the Buddhists. Buddhism has 3 basic pillars around which the practices and guidance are based and are followed

First Pillar: Buddha

• The first pillar is Buddha, which refers to who was the founder of Buddhism
• Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was no incarnation but was born as the prince of a royal family in KapilVastu (presently in Nepal)
• At the age of 29, he left his home and became an ascetic and explored the path of spirituality and truth
• He announced his enlightenment after the constant meditation of 49 days
• With few disciples known as Buddhist monks, he spread the teachings and guidance for self-exploration and satisfaction

Second Pillar: Dhamma

• The second Pillar of Buddhism relates the history of Buddhism to its ancestral roots
• Dhamma, referred to as Buddhism’s teaching, is the second pillar of this religion
• Considering the overview of all the teachings and guidance regarding life and its betterment
• It comprises four noble truths of life and an eight-fold path to liberation
• In Buddhism’s entire teachings, meditation keeps a strong place for self-exploring and self-assessment
• Below are the mentions of four noble truths mentioned in Buddhism:
  • Sabbam Dukkam is the first noble truth of Buddhism, which means the world is full of misery (dukkha) and sorrow. According to the history of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha realized this by seeing the condition of an older man and a sick in his kingdom
  • Dwadashi Nidan, Pratitya Samutpada, is the second teaching of Buddhism and noble truth that mentions that the prime reason for all the sorrow and misery is desire (Dukkha Samudaya). He further mentions that needs and desires must be categorized, and desires must be controlled
  • Nirvana is the third and most important teaching of Buddhism, which mentions that all the miseries and sorrows must be eliminated by controlling the desires (Dukha Nirodha)
  • The final noble truth of Buddhism is Ashtanga Marga which mentions the eight-fold path to control the desires (Dukha Nirodha Gamini Pratipada) successfully. This eight-fold path was mentioned by Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of Buddhism

Third pillar: Sangha

• Buddhist monks and nuns referred to as followers

Eight-Fold Path of Buddhism:

• The eight-fold path to achieve liberation from desires is Buddhism’s basic pillar. These eight-fold relate to each aspect of life and provide the crisp and clear solution for each life’s misery, sorrow, and problems. The Buddhist follows all the paths mentioned by Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and the guide of eight-fold paths

Let us discuss the eight-fold path in brief with their explanation:

• Samma Ditthi: It means the right understanding regarding nature’s things and elements. It empowers us to focus on understanding things deeply before reaching any conclusions. It relates to the indulgence of wisdom in human nature
• Samma Sankappa: This relates to right thought and mentions practising universal love, selflessness, and non-violence
• Samma Kammanta: This part of the eight-fold is related to human moral conduct. It mentions practising the right action and refraining from immoral activities like killing, unchastity, etc
• Samma Ajiva: It mentions to select the right livelihood means to earn with right and morally correct methods
• Samma Vayama: It means to put the right effort to promote truth and kindness and eliminate evil thoughts from self and society
• Samma Vaca: This teaching of eight-fold forces for right speech and refraining the abusive and malicious language
• Samma Sati: It is related to empowering the right mindfulness in the inner self to practice intelligence, attentiveness, and awareness
• Samma Samadhi: It connects with the right concentration of mind eliminating the unwholesome and corrupt thoughts and achieving the diligent and completely aware mind state

Conclusion

Buddhism is the religion that mentions controlling certain thoughts and actions to achieve enhanced mind-intellect and liberation. Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of Buddhism, mentioned the noble truths and eight-fold path to achieve Nirvana. The eight-fold path relates to exploring self-intellect and preparing it to achieve liberation from all negative thoughts and deeds. Many people in many countries are studying and following the four noble truths and the eightfold path to achieve wisdom and salvation.

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