Buddhism as a world religion is one of the most ancient, and it is not in vain that there is an opinion that without understanding its foundations it is impossible to feel all the richness of the culture of the East. Under its influence, many historical events and basic values of the peoples of China, India, Mongolia and Tibet were formed. In the modern world, Buddhism under the influence of globalization has gained as followers even a few Europeans, spreading far beyond the locality where it originated.
The rise of Buddhism
For the first time they learned about Buddhism in ancient India, around the 6th century BC. Translated from Sanskrit, it means "the teachings of the enlightened," which really reflects its organization.
Once, a boy was born in the Raja family, who, according to legend, immediately got on his feet and designated himself as a creature that surpasses all gods and people. It was Siddhartha Gautama, who subsequently underwent a significant transformation and became the founder of one of the largest world religions that still exist. The biography of this person is the story of the origin of Buddhism.
Gautama's parents once invited a seer to bless a newborn for a happy life. Asit (that was the name of the hermit) saw 32 marks of a great man on the boy’s body. He said that this child would become either the greatest king or saint. When his father heard this, he decided to protect his son from various religious movements and any knowledge about the suffering of people. However, living in 3 palaces with rich decoration, Siddhartha at 29 years old felt that luxury is not the purpose of life. And set off on a journey beyond the castle, keeping it a secret.
Outside the walls of the palaces, he saw 4 spectacles that changed his life: a hermit, a beggar, a corpse, and a sick man. So the future founder of Buddhism learned about suffering. After that, Siddhartha's personality underwent many metamorphoses: he hit various religious movements, sought a path to self-knowledge, studied concentration and austerity, but this did not lead to the expected results, and those with whom he traveled left him. After that, Siddhartha stopped in a grove under the ficus and decided not to leave here until he found the Truth. After 49 days, he gained knowledge of the Truth, having reached a state of nirvana, and found out the cause of human suffering. From then on, Gautama became a Buddha, which means "enlightened" in Sanskrit.
Buddhism: philosophy
This religion carries the idea of not causing evil, which makes it one of the most humane. She teaches followers self-restraint and attainment of a state of meditation, which ultimately leads to nirvana and an end to suffering. Buddhism as a world religion differs from the rest in that Buddha did not consider the basis of this teaching to be divine. He suggested the only way - through the contemplation of his own spirit. Its purpose is to avoid suffering, which is achieved by following 4 noble truths.
Buddhism as a world religion and its 4 main truths
- The truth about suffering. Here comes the assertion that everything is suffering, all the key moments of the individual's existence are accompanied by this feeling: birth, illness and death. Religion is closely intertwined with this concept, practically connecting all being with it.
- The truth about the cause of suffering. By this is meant that any desire is the cause of suffering. In philosophical understanding, this is the will to live: it is finite, and this gives rise to suffering.
- The truth about ending suffering. The state of nirvana is a sign of the cessation of suffering. Here, a person should experience the extinction of his drives, affections and achieve complete indifference. Buddha himself never answered the question of what it is, like Brahmin texts that claimed that the Absolute can only be spoken in negative terms, since it cannot be put into words and mentally comprehended.
- The truth is about the way. This is an octal path that leads to nirvana. A Buddhist must overcome three stages, which have several stages: the stage of wisdom, morality and concentration.
Thus, Buddhism as a world religion is significantly different from others and offers its followers to adhere to only general directions without specific guidelines and laws. This has contributed to the emergence of different directions in Buddhism, which allows everyone to choose the closest path to their soul.